SEND A TWEET
TO YOUR
OFFICE DOOR
And let your
coworkers know
what you're up to
ERBATIEEESpectrum,
staffers routinely
put Postt notes on
their doorsand eubiclesto
Tet colleagues know they're
out. But you can'tslapa note
‘on your door if you decide
towork at homeat the last
‘minute—whieh, as Tlearned
this winter, happens quite
often when you havea very
pregnant wile about to go,
into labor any instant
‘That's why Iset out to
replace those yellow sheets
cofself adhesive stationery
with somethingless, ub,
aanalog_-something that
‘would allaw metopost the
‘updates electronically, An
Jidea then popped upin my
hhead: Twitter for my door.
Ittumscut tobea
simple DIY projet thet
anexperienced hobbyist
can complete in a few hours.
Orif you're mend thisis
‘your first serious hardware
project, it might take you
couple of monthsand
nearly drive you insane.
Itworked out in the
end, Now, whea I'm home—
‘oractually anywhere with
‘my phone—Tean send a
tyweet toa small LCD that
hangs by my door thus
keeping my coworkers
informed of my whereabouts
‘The LCD also shows eurreit,
weather conditions in New
York City: I thought my
colleagues would appreciate
this value-added service,
‘Thehardware setup
is fairly straightforward.
‘The main components
an Arduino, the popular
16 wr. eseseectRuM . wunezon
‘microcontroller for
DIY projects. Fused
‘a Duemilanove model
(US$40). Youtl also need
amaccessory board called
the Ethernet Shield (845),
‘hich allows the Arduino
toconnect to the Internet
Forthe LCD, Lused a
SSparkfun black on-green
s-volt model with four
lines of20 characters each
(830), which I connected
tothe Arduino witha
thin ribbon wire 5)
‘An Ethernet cable plugs
{nto the shield, which
attaches directly to the
Arduino, Three wires
connect the Arduino to
theLCD—onefor data bits,
transmitted serially, che other
‘wo for power and ground.
Tewould have been great
tohavethe device getits
Internet access wirelessly,
put that would have involved
‘more complicated hardware
and frequent battery
replacements. So drilled
small hole nthe walland
sana cable, oping that the