Not the worst, but not as pretty as I’d like. The Kindle browser has some unsightly elements (the header and URL bar) that can’t be hidden.If you want to be able to update the data on the screen, the page needs to automatically reload itself.Left to its own devices, the Kindle will go to sleep after a while, and show its screensaver.You could just build a web page, point the browser to it, and stick it up on the wall. The Kindle actually has a built-in web browser, which would ALMOST be enough on its own. Also, it’s way easier to make a flexible layout in HTML and CSS than when you’re drawing things on the screen manually. The nice thing about having it just display a web page is I can easily make updates without having to mess with the Kindle itself. There are limitations though, and also updating the code on the device is kind of a pain in the butt. In previous iterations of this project, I had a lot of code running on the Kindle itself, fetching data and drawing stuff to the screen. It runs a Linux-based OS, and once it’s jailbroken, you can access a command line and do lots of things you could do in Linux anywhere else. The Kindle is actually a pretty capable little computer. a Raspberry Pi and a standalone e-ink screen, but the parts would cost at least $150, and the final product would be much bulkier. You could build something similar with e.g. A jailbroken Kindle (more on what jailbreaking is later) is perfect for the job: it packs all of these things into an impressively small package, and it’s super cheap. This device needs a few things: a good-sized e-ink screen, a processor to put stuff on that screen, and a wi-fi connection. When you don’t need to look at it, you can forget it’s there, unlike a backlit screen. When the light in the room is dim, it doesn’t call attention to itself.Īn e-ink display feels more like a poster on your wall than a computer. It doesn’t give off light like a backlit screen would. The beauty of e-ink is its ability to fade into the background. E-ink has some limitations (it’s black and white, it’s slow to refresh), but for my purposes here those are fine. I don’t care, just skip to the instructions Why e-ink?įor me, an e-ink screen is the most important part of this device. The setup process has a few steps, but if you’ve used a command line before, you can totally do it. A used Kindle is the only hardware required, and you can pick up a serviceable one from eBay or BackMarket for $30 or less. I’m very happy with the result, and even more happy with how easy it is to put together. I experimented a lot before landing on this setup. Once a minute, it loads a screenshot of a web page I built that shows a few different kinds of data I want easy access to: calendar events, weather, the status of packages I’ve ordered, etc. This is the device I landed on: a wifi-connected Kindle 4, mounted on the wall in a simple laser-cut acrylic frame. It should be easy to check, but just as easy to ignore. Something I can glance at in passing, without giving my full attention or opening myself up to whatever other interruptions my phone might have in store. I’ve found myself wanting a less intrusive channel for ambient data. I can choose to let myself be interrupted, or I can compulsively check in to see what the latest alerts might be. It’s usually in a pocket or purse, so the ways it can get our attention are limited: a buzz, a notification on the lock screen, a red dot on an app icon. Things we want to know about without going looking for them.Ī phone isn’t actually great for this kind of ambient awareness. But our phones are also the nexus of all kinds of data we want pushed to us - news, messages, notifications, alerts, status updates. That’s all fine for calculators, cameras, music players, and the like - things that are there when we need to use them, and can forget about when we don’t. For the most part, it’s a good trade-off: what we lose in the tactile pleasures of a good single-purpose device, we gain back tenfold in having all those devices in our pocket all the time. You might not buy another camera again, and you probably won’t buy a calculator. What if the technology was actually already in the room when we got there?Īs he points out, a lot of tools that used to be separate have now converged into one: the phone. What if we didn’t have to / weren’t meant to carry our technology with us as we moved around town? Your next smart home device is a $30 used Kindle - Matt Healy M Your next smart home device is a $30 used Kindleįrom a piece my friend Naveen wrote a while back called Wearables versus there-ables:
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |