If you’re an Arduino expert looking to dive in to the world of Linux command line, or if you’re a Linux sysadmin who wants to dabble in the world of microcontrollers and Internet of Things (IoT) experiments, we’ve got a project for you. Likewise this build is great for complete novices, as all the steps are thoroughly documented with commented code for learning and modifying.
The S.M.A.R.T. Alarm Clock by Tony DiCola automatically sets alarms based on calendar events. Built with the Arduino Yún, the project has some nifty features for soft- and hardware right out of the box:
- Updates itself every two hours, or press the REFRSH button to force-refresh
- When an alarm goes off, press anywhere on the screen to disable the alarm
- Pressing the CANCEL button will disable alarms for 24 hours
- Easily customize the alarm sound with any MP3 (although the default “annoying alarm” really does work!)
- Use a special email subject word to allow others to wake you on-demand
Basically an Arduino and a tiny Linux distribution in one makes this possible, and built-in wi-fi makes connecting to your home network a snap. Read more about the Yún’s specifications, the Linux distribution running onboard, its I/O functions, and more over at the Arduino website. And watch our spin on this beginner-friendly Weekend Project:
Tony DiCola also gave a live demo of the project last week on Adafruit’s Show and Tell that gives you an idea of how fast the refresh and notification systems work with Temboo‘s service. It really is fun to play with this Internet of Things, and makes one wonder what else is possible with this and other IoT projects. Some obvious ideas include: The holy grail of input control, voice-activation; gesture control and software learning (and yes I backed that project, so I’ll see first-hand how it compares); and an alarm clock that brews coffee (perhaps that’s the real holy grail of mods). How would you add to, improve, or modify the SMART Alarm Clock? Leave a comment below and let us know.
Regardless of where you want to take your alarm clock’s functionality, you’ll eventually want to package it all up in an enclosure of sorts. Whether to inspire you or to bribe you with one of the coolest notebooks of all time, the first five makers of SMART Alarm Clock enclosure designs submitted here or over at the project page, and made available for all to enjoy, will receive a complimentary Maker’s Notebook from the MakerShed.
3D-printing an enclosure will be the obvious tool of choice, especially considering the addition of the TFT touch shield won’t allow everything to fit in existing enclosures. Upload your files online, and then shoot me an email. Once we’ve confirmed your enclosure design fits and would work for others, we’ll send you a notebook! But only the first five challengers will receive one. I’ll remove this offer when the challenge is met. So act now, and get creative. I want to see what ideas you have in mind for a SMART Alarm Clock enclosure!
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