How to make a Physical Gmail Notifier
The hardware itself is the popular Arduino board, the tinkerer’s dream device. I’m actually using a Boarduino, but any variant should work (subject to a small but important detail, see below). This might be particularly interesting with a Bluetooth Arduino..
The Arduino talks with your computer over a serial connection, which runs over the normal USB cable you use to communicate with your Arduino.
What is Arduino?: Arduino is an open-source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software. It’s intended for artists, designers, hobbyists, and anyone interested in creating interactive objects or environments. Arduino can sense the environment by receiving input from a variety of sensors and can affect its surroundings by controlling lights, motors, and other actuators.
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That is cool looking but boy, I would hate to be a slave to that. Email is already distracting enough, I doubt a glowing cube would help me stay focused on some of the boring law books I’m required to read. Now if it flashed when their was a DUI in the area of Pennsylvania I cover, that would be excellent. Like a DUI batman sign? Anyhow, I’m distracted enough when my blackberry blinks that I have email.
Thanks!
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