weathernote1.jpg

Weather Note

a visual covid-oriented weather reminder

This is a combination weather station and reminder. We can all check the weather on our phones, but sometimes and especially when one is trying to get out the door all that is needed is a quick way to the weather conditions. This weather station supplies a quick visual of current conditions: sunny, cloudy, rainy or snowing, the temperature and a brief note. Additionally, a motion-activated sensor triggers a scrolling display that offers up a helpful message: “mask + keys”

Video: The Weather Note in Action

Visual Displays for Weather Conditions and Construction

Details

The full details on this project and instructions are located at:

https://www.instructables.com/Weather-Note/

Reflection

This was an interesting and challenging project. Internet of Things (IoT) is all around us these days.

Next steps with this project would include a temperature reading every three hours rather than the high temperature for the day. The OLED screen is cute, but the word wrap cuts words off and that’s ugly. Plus it would be good to have more screen real estate. Right now the alphanumeric display text is only accessible by digging into the code. Eventually, it would be great to be able to change that via an IoT feed. The alphanumeric display should only flash on when someone is within a few feet.

alphanumeric display text is only accessible by digging into the code. Eventually, it would be great to be able to change that via an IoT feed. The alphanumeric display should only flash on when someone is within a few feet. The purpose again of that is to reduce the bright lights effect, but also reduce the blindness we all can develop when things do not change in our environment. (This is why it’s not a bad idea to change where photos and paintings are on one’s walls.) Finally, the shadow box should be replaced with a nice more stream-lined case and more work should be done to smooth out the overall look of the diffusion on the face. The exposed 7 segment and alphanumeric displays should be behind diffusion material.