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I built Timeframe, our family e-paper dashboard

hawksley.org

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Re: I built Timeframe, our family e-paper dashboard

#311

Post by rolfus »

deepriverfish wrote: post #102
rolfus wrote: post #73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I made this thing [1] for us, it uses a cheap 10" e-paper display off aliexpress, an ESP32 and a couple of I2C sensors. The case is 3D-printed. It runs on two 18650 batteries, and all in all it cost less than 100$. The OpenWeather API is free for personal use. [1] https://mjones-foui.no/img/wall_clock_1.png

hi I've been interested in doing something like this for myself, what tools and software did you use?

I source most of my components from aliexpress. It's been a while, but these are the components I used:

Microcontroller: FireBeetle 2 ESP32

Display: Generic 10" e-Paper display with driver board included

Timekeeping: DS3231 Real Time Clock Module

Temperature and humidity: BME280 module

Charging: Type-C USB 2S Li-ion BMS

That, along with a breadboard, two 18650 batteries, some resistors and capacitors make up the hardware. I modelled and 3D printed the case. I used the PlatformIO plugin (available for VSCode-based IDEs) for programming and transferring code to the esp32.

Weather API: https://openweathermap.org

For actual firmware I'd take a look at matada's github for inspiration (see the other reply in this thread). My own code isn't of the photogenic sort.

Re: I built Timeframe, our family e-paper dashboard

#312

Post by xomiachuna »

fanatic2pope wrote: post #121

Cool project. I solved a problem (not really the same problem as this, mind you) for my family using a much older technology. I bought a big pane of glass from the hardware store, built a wooden frame for it with a shelf for an eraser and dry markers. I hung it up in the kitchen and now when we need to leave "sticky" notes to each other we just write on it. We keep our shopping list on it, we write small poems and dr…

Cool idea! At some point I was musing about making or buying a dashboard tool like in the post, but over the years I found that I dont actually need the complexity that comes with it.

An analogue communication medium for myself and others is indeed something that might be much more impactful and human-cetric than a smart system.

Thanks for the inspiration!

Re: I built Timeframe, our family e-paper dashboard

#313

Post by xomiachuna »

AuthAuth wrote: post #18

This is awesome but I still find it funny that he said he wants a healthy relationship with technology then goes and fits his entire house out with technology. It doesnt seem like any of this would really be useful as you'd have to enter all the useful data manually(calendar). For example the washing machine. You dont need real time information because you know how long it takes since you've done it 1000s of times an…

It's a pattern among tech folks to try to solve things with technology.

It is hard to stop yourself from treating every minor inconvenience as nail for which you have a handy hammer, and I find myself overcomplicating things in my life as a result.

The goals are noble but the methods bring a lot of the complexity simply repackaged (and potentially amplified).

Re: I built Timeframe, our family e-paper dashboard

#314

Post by rmccue »

bavaga wrote: post #249

This article makes me want to finally start the dashboard project that's been living in my procrastination backlog for years. One of the main blockers has been the cost of larger, high-resolution e-paper displays. I was considering using an ESP32 to drive one, but the display pricing always felt like the convenient excuse. Reading through the helpful comments here, I'm starting to think there might be more viable opt…

I’ve been procrastinating on one as well, but I can recommend the Inkplate devices, which come with a ESP32, battery, and a case (optionally); handy platform to hack on. (If only it were so easy to finish the project…)

Re: I built Timeframe, our family e-paper dashboard

#315

Post by ojagodzinski »

bob001 wrote: post #54
ojagodzinski wrote: post #15

~3000€ to show information in some random places in the house even though the household members have a device with a screen called a smartphone next to them 24/7 ? Well, it's cool, but the usability of it all is below average. Declutter your life and don't install any more screens in your home ;)

Pick up phone (may be in another room), unlock phone, open app, navigate to information in app (often fairly annoying due to modern low information density app design and multiple apps), return to original location. Versus. Just look at screen.

- pick up phone (unlock done automatically via face/finger/location)

- swipe finger to the right to show weather OR swipe finger to the left to show callendar

Android widgets show me much more information about weather and calendar view than these monitors (and are free: weawow https://weawow.com/i/app-download + google callendar).

Re: I built Timeframe, our family e-paper dashboard

#316

Post by [deleted] »

cweagans wrote: post #214
NikxDa wrote: post #2

This is super cool, and I wish something like this existed at my place, as it enables information sharing without the need for phones/actual screens that shine in your face when the lights are low or tempt you to doomscroll. That said, the large primary display this uses is $2000. That's very hard to justify for any "normal" household, and that's without any mounts, backend, services etc.

You might be interested in knowing about https://trmnl.com . No affiliation beyond interest in buying a few in the future. They have a 10.3" version in the works.

[deleted]

Re: I built Timeframe, our family e-paper dashboard

#317

Post by 542354234235 »

dewey wrote: post #259
AuthAuth wrote: post #18

This is awesome but I still find it funny that he said he wants a healthy relationship with technology then goes and fits his entire house out with technology. It doesnt seem like any of this would really be useful as you'd have to enter all the useful data manually(calendar). For example the washing machine. You dont need real time information because you know how long it takes since you've done it 1000s of times an…

Disclaimer: I use Home Assistant too and I'm guilty of all these things. Home Automation is just a hobby like "productivity" tools or going all in your coffee setup. You tell yourself you are saving energy, or freeing up your mind from remembering mundane tasks but in reality it's just like a model train set. It's fun to set up, play around and maintain it for some people. If you'd do the math of setting up hundreds…

You are freeing your mind from mundane tasks you don't like, by filling your mind with automation tasks you do like. I find it is a good trade.

Re: I built Timeframe, our family e-paper dashboard

#318

Post by 542354234235 »

spiralcoaster wrote: post #203
Exoristos wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Strong correlation with those who go outside.

Seems like if you were going outside often, you wouldn't need an e-ink display to tell you the weather because you'd be outside... experiencing it

The same reason you use a calendar, to plan for the future. I can see the weather right now, but to plan, I want to know the weather in an hour, this afternoon, tomorrow, this weekend. When I am getting ready at 5am, I want to know if I can bike to work, and bike home in the afternoon, without getting rained on. If I'm thinking about weekend plans, should it be kayaking or board games? The weather affects those choices and having an unobtrusive way to just be aware of the future weather is nice to have.

Re: I built Timeframe, our family e-paper dashboard

#319

Post by 542354234235 »

prforated wrote: post #273
eb0la wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you have to walk the dog and know in advance it will stop or start raining in 20 minutes....

No forecast is accurate to 20 minutes. You get x% of rain over the next hour or so at best.

Accuweather's Minutecast is usually accurate for rain to within 5 minutes and have used it to time my bike commute. It uses your specific location and if rain is passing over that specific spot, and when, over the next 4 hours.
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