Author: Peter Jones

I could just dump the data, bit the idea of a CSV output sounds sexy, it means I can burst out all the data.

Soo… something like this on the headers:
// output headers so that the file is downloaded rather than displayed header(‘Content-Type: text/csv; charset=utf-8’); header(‘Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=data.csv’);

That was pulled from here.

Wow. I totally attributed shit. Actually, I think I usually do, bit it is an example of my being kinda precocious. Note: I tried to “type” persnickity which my phone read as precocious. Which itself is precocious.
Every single company involved in the cellphone industry is a giant bottle of vinegar.

Started prototyping on the Arduino. I then realized that was stupid. I bent the shit out of the headers I soldered on, wasn’t necessary, and then figured out what was really causing me grief. It turns out the library for the accelerometer I’m uses variable names that are used in the library for the Thing. I was kinda suspecting this, I looked into it, I brushed it by looking at the comments. Problem solved.
Note to self: STATUS is a shitty constant name in a library.
I’m now able to pull the data and post as a webpage. My task tonight is figuring out how to do the same thing as a data dump. Ideally CSV style so I can log for a walk around the block and then dump into a data visualizer of some kind. I’m guessing I’m looking for a period of about 1-3 seconds, obviously up and down on the Z axis, but maybe a little something on the Y. Then, if I’m all hardcore, which I am, I’d love to add a little bit more back end on identifying the motion type.
I feel confident I should get some data going this week.
HUMPDAY!

It looks like I’m waiting for my 4g RePhone now until October. That’s a good thing. Yes, there’s a delay, but the final product is what I really wanted, so yeah. #blessed
To get a good baseline, I’m trying to download a pedometer for my phone, but of course my current phone and downloads aren’t friendly to each other. I’ll have to do this when I get home.
I think tonight I’ll start prototyping everything on the Arduino, and then migrate the code over to the Thing. Should have gotten a Thing Dev Board also. Now I know why someone would want something so much burlier. Should I be adding and removing headers or just plan top leave headers on?
Next time.

Right, made some progress tonight. I still feel on track to get this thing logging something by the end of the week. That’s my current goal. I want the accelerometer reading data, saving data, dumping data, end of week. Then it’ll be a thing of identifying steps and having the data be useful. Then it’s strap on everything else and add an enclosure.
Tomorrow I’ll hook the accelerometer up to the Arduino and get a handle on I2C. One that’s done, switch it to the Thing and probably log data to Sparkfun’s data thing. Proceed from there.
Totally doing this.

Worked on a couple of my projects this weekend.
Found the Thing, and because I remembered I originally got it to build the Wif an activity monitor, started working on that. Well, first I had to find it. After the hours or so, I found the right box that also had the accelerometers and stuff. Soldered headers to the Thing, and ran through Sparkfun’s demo code. It’s all pretty straight forward. Next is adding on the accelerometer and maybe a temperature sensor or two.
I also cross-stitched. Or whatever it is I’ve been doing.

I wonder if I could make an LCD… I mean on the brute end it’s easy enough, but down to the fine pixels should probably be difficult. Maybe using a laser on an etch-a-sketch? I understand the technology from everything I’ve been reading up on, but I obviously don’t have access to that tiny of transistors. Maybe I should focus on replacing the back light. Then I’d just have to work up a lower power controller. The thing that kills me is that none of this should be hard, it’s just the datasheets and components are only available to the big boys.

This is getting to be my new obsession. I might just also a finished laptop together, just so o can jump on real work, like finding the perfect screen.
It’s not like I’m asking much.

Low cost
Reasonable resolution
Low power
Reasonable refresh

I know there’s the whole triangle of consumption and what not, but the numbers I’m looking at are horrendous. I ginseng even looks at repurposing an etch-a-sketch.
I might still do that one though.

In a bid to me the most anachronistic person I can, I’m reconsidering the interface for the laptop. Hand solder a keyboard, yes. But what about doing it all with a monochromatic LCD. I might even whip up an amber backlight to relive the good old days of the 8080 luggable. This would probably help get the power needs down, and might mage for an even more interesting piece. The only thing is, trying to find a large enough LCD at a competitive price.

Gah… More stuff to keep in my head. I’m really kinda tempted to get the cheap solar garden stakes and gut them for parts.

I didn’t finish the base hoop this weekend, bit I got done good work in on it. It turns out needle pulling thread through fabric is a little louder than we expected. Then I ran out of black. I think I did something wrong. Getting more thread tonight, and figure I have another two hours of stitching or so.