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Show HN: Physical Pomodoro Timer with ESP32 and e-paper screen

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Re: Show HN: Physical Pomodoro Timer with ESP32 and e-paper screen

#41

Post by egypturnash »

thunder-blue-3 wrote: post #9

Every time I see something pertaining to a pomodoro timer, I'm reminded of interviewing with a YC founder in downtown san mateo in the early 2010s (he was working on websockets + slide deck/prezi-like tech iirc), and half our interview consisted of him hyping up this technique. The company went under within a year, and I could never respect this technique afterwards

understandable, it's a very useful way to trick yourself into getting shit done but it's also very possible to turn "making the perfect work tracker-timer-app" into a giant rabbit hole instead of just getting a cheap, goofy-looking kitchen timer and keeping some notes on paper.

Re: Show HN: Physical Pomodoro Timer with ESP32 and e-paper screen

#42

Post by rukenshia »

btbuildem wrote: post #37

Always interested to see a "device" type of project on here -- they tend to be the most challenging, even if the goal is simple. The intersection of object design, electronics and code is a great playground. I really like the choice of screen, and generally the considerations given (and explained in the readme!) for purpose and usability. Couple of notes on the object design (and this is something I find very challen…

great questions!

- knob: yeah, if I were to redesign that part I would move it to the top. I had a total schedule of 4 weeks for this project, and I didn't feel confident enough to rebuild (and print prototypes) of the case when I encountered the weight problem, but that would definitely make it better

- I did fillet/chamfer (almost) every edge I believe, I also printed the final case with fuzzy skin to make it feel higher quality

- The knob was originally meant to also allow you to change the timer, so having a dial felt like the right thing to do. Didn't turn out that way, so yes three buttons might be the better UX for the menus I ended up with (and would make the device smaller)

- The shroud actually started out as a way to prevent light leaking (and then I re-printed it in white so that it would boost the LED diffusion a bit together with the diffusion plastic film), but I like your idea of having an LED strip around the edges of the screen - didn't think of that!

- I am usually more of a Blender guy, so I followed a tutorial for doing knurling in onshape. The tool really doesn't like that much geometry and is laggy to work with, but feel free to check out the onshape file (linked in the README)

Re: Show HN: Physical Pomodoro Timer with ESP32 and e-paper screen

#43

Post by SamBam »

hiddencost wrote: post #36
kaonwarb wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Of course that's an easier solution to the problem. OP is quite clear in the writeup that this is a project for the sake of trying new tools to make something for a friend. A fun hack need not be constrained by meeting a real market need. It can just be fun.

It's a joke. Pomodoro means tomato.

But it's also not a joke.

Pomodoro timers are designed to increase productivity. But once of the things that many people who try to increase their productivity discover is that they sink so much time into these tools that they are less productive. Because the underlying procrastination isn't solved, and these tools are a wonderful outlet for procrastination because it feels productive.

That may indeed not be OP's problem, but anyone looking at this saying "I need to be more productive, I should make one of these" would be better off with the tomato.

Re: Show HN: Physical Pomodoro Timer with ESP32 and e-paper screen

#45

Post by Procrastes »

TechDebtDevin wrote: post #33
ISL wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yep. Any timer will do. If you find yourself programming an eInk display and a microchip in order to improve your procrastination, it is time to stop working on the project, get a physical timer, and work on the thing. If you feel inclined to shop around for a timer before getting to work, I'll save you the search. These work great. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TLC9SFZ (but any timer will do). Go do the thing. You're…

Watches that are already on most people's wrist work great too!

It's interesting that your experience is different, but in my region and social circles, I haven't seen anyone wear a watch in ten years or more, other than the occasional smart watch. That habit doesn't seem to last long, either. For people I know, watches have turned into fashion accessories for millionaires.

Re: Show HN: Physical Pomodoro Timer with ESP32 and e-paper screen

#46

Post by jfim »

ISL wrote: post #29
teddyh wrote: post #13

Physical pomodoro: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/34/Il_pomod... >

Yep. Any timer will do. If you find yourself programming an eInk display and a microchip in order to improve your procrastination, it is time to stop working on the project, get a physical timer, and work on the thing. If you feel inclined to shop around for a timer before getting to work, I'll save you the search. These work great. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TLC9SFZ (but any timer will do). Go do the thing. You're…

They also sell physical hourglasses if you don't want to be interrupted by a distracting beeping thing once the timer is over, especially if the activity you're trying to start with a pomodoro requires concentration like coding.

Re: Show HN: Physical Pomodoro Timer with ESP32 and e-paper screen

#48

Post by maccard »

Procrastes wrote: post #45
TechDebtDevin wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Watches that are already on most people's wrist work great too!

It's interesting that your experience is different, but in my region and social circles, I haven't seen anyone wear a watch in ten years or more, other than the occasional smart watch. That habit doesn't seem to last long, either. For people I know, watches have turned into fashion accessories for millionaires.

I wear a watch. Nothing fancy, but I do have a few of them (and none worth more than 2-£300.) it’s about the only accessory I wear so it’s nice to have some variety. My day to day is a smart watch (and has been for a few years now). Lots of my circle is similar.

Re: Show HN: Physical Pomodoro Timer with ESP32 and e-paper screen

#49

Post by jfim »

mavamaarten wrote: post #35

I'm so sad that ePaper displays are still so expensive. They'd be perfect for splashing some home assistant driven goodness around my house. But the tiny ones are too tiny for my taste, and the big ones too expensive.

If you're not dead set on having eink, there's always the ESP 32 cheap yellow display board: https://makeradvisor.com/tools/cyd-cheap-yellow-display-esp3...

Re: Show HN: Physical Pomodoro Timer with ESP32 and e-paper screen

#50

Post by dullcrisp »

hiddencost wrote: post #36
kaonwarb wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Of course that's an easier solution to the problem. OP is quite clear in the writeup that this is a project for the sake of trying new tools to make something for a friend. A fun hack need not be constrained by meeting a real market need. It can just be fun.

It's a joke. Pomodoro means tomato.

I’m pretty sure that’s the origin of the term
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