“Internet of Things” is the convergence of real world objects and the web. Allowing you to control and monitor things via web pages and web services. ioBridge has created a platform to allow any device to be connected to the web. From Twittering Toasters to ChristmasLights, our world-wide user community are creating an internet of things.
Visit ReadWiteWeb.com for more information and discover more about ioBridge and other Internet of Things products and services.
A number of ioBridge users created some amazing ioBridge-based projects for this Halloween. We were impressed with the diversity and how they interacted with the IO-204. From using some new offline features of ioBridge to using social networks to poke fun at their Halloween prey.
We have a steam powered steampunk pumpkin that blows smoke out if it’s ears. We have a spider dropping on it’s victim and snapping a photo and posting to Twitter via TwitPic. We also have a motion sensing, talking skull that scares co-workers in the owner’s cubicle. Check them out!
Richard MacManus of ReadWriteWeb wrote an article about ioBridge and Matt Morey’s home automation project via Twitter. Matt created a system that allows him to not only get messages from his office, but to control lights and devices using Twitter. He now has a real-time, two-control system for automating some processes at his office using the ioBridge IO-204 monitor and control module.
“ioBridge enables sending data to -- or controlling objects from -- social networks, email, text messaging.”
Thanks to Oprah, Twitter is a household name. You can’t avoid it. But, Twitter uses are starting to flourish thanks to an API and dedicated developers. Matt Morey has developed a two-way, home automation application using Twitter to control lights and LCDs and monitor temperature and light sensors. His app interfaces Twitter with the ioBridge IO-204 by using the PHP Widget Control API.
Follow MattsOffice on Twitter
Matt’s Twitter application allows him to make updates to his Twitter feed and send commands to his IO-204 to turn on lights, send messages to his serial LCD screen, and get temperatures and light sensor readings. He also has a nifty extension that allows you to see a view from his office by sending him a tweet, which takes a snap shot from a digital camera and posts it on TwitPic.
OharaRP created a wireless LED scrolling sign that displays messages received from the Internet. The sign uses an array of 8x8 LED modules connected together -- expandable to 16 segments. The LED’s are controlled by a MAX7219 controller board that can receive messages from an Xbee wireless module and is power by 5VDC (using a standard mini-USB plug). The sign has a wireless base station that forwards text and commands towards the sign relayed from Twitter or an ioBridge widget embedded on a website.
In this photo OharaRP sent IOBridge to the sign from his iPhone.
XBee Wireless LED Sign
If you would like to learn more about this project check OharaRP’s blog or watch his very instructional demonstration of his Wireless LED Sign Project on YouTube.
Since Jason’s Fishcam has hit the scene, there have been a few ioBridge-based aquarium monitor and control projects pop up. The fish cam has evolved into interactive displays, temperature monitoring, water level control, fish feeding, tank aeration, Twitter integration, killer gators, and burping frogs. The interface for full control and monitoring of aquariums are using a web browser or iPhone. The systems use the IO-204 Ethernet module to control outputs, lights, X10, and servos and monitor inputs, temperature, and water levels.
Check out Pete’s TankedCAM.com and Kevin’s BurpTheFrog.com for some really awesome interactive aquarium projects with full on Web 2.0 services.
Here is a cool video from TankedCAM demonstrating all of the interactive features.
ioBridge has been shipping the IO-204 all over the world. We recently found a number of projects going on in Japan. Shingo created a project that tweets his temperature every hour and announces the sunrise with a message to Twitter. You can follow his temperature on Twitter.com/ioBridge_JP. On his blog you can read all about the project (in Japanese). You can figure out how he created his Twitter API interface with a very easy ColdFusion script (source code included). Take a look at his ioBridge photo-stream on Flickr and find stunning photos of the IO-204 module in action. I noticed that he has a new project involving his refrigerator. Looks like he has sensor detecting the door opening or closing. Can’t wait to see what Shingo thinks of next.
What does Twitter, ioBridge, and a servo have in common? They are part of a MoMo Project by the Mobile Monday Amsterdam team from The Netherlands. Across the world you will find a giant Twitter Meter that reacts and changes position when people tweet certain keywords on Twitter — let’s call it a Twitter-o-Meter or a MoMoMeter.
We got to tune in using qik.com and watch the project as it happened. They were at a Protospace – a FabLab that looked absolutely amazing – a world class facility with 3D printers and laser cutters and micro-controllers to rapidly prototype new ideas.
Thanks for finding us on Twitter and sharing the project. Your web app is awesome. Good luck with Mobile Monday.
Read more about the project and see some neat 3D creations on PanMan’s blog and on Protospace’s website.
Posted on his “I am ShadowLord” blog, a hacker sent in his toaster that twitters when he makes toast . Hans has a setup that use uses the ioBridge IO-204 module and an event created on iobridge.com (which handles the Twitter part). You can follow Hans’ toaster at twitter.com/mytoaster. The circuit is really simple which you can check it out on Instructables.
Social Networking for Your Toaster
Wired, Hack A Day, Make Magazine, and several other new sources have picked up the Twitter Toaster story. Congrats, Hans!
Some of our beta testers are developing Twitter integration with their projects using an ioBridge Event. This inspired us to start Twittering our latest projects, news, and events. You can follow our tweets on twitter.com/iobridge.
