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Hardware

Ambient Devices Releases Hardware/Software SDK 16

Posted by timothy from the oooh-shiny dept.
bcorrigan78 writes "Ambient Devices has officially release a hardware/software SDK for the Ambient Orb with FULL schematics that allow you to build your own. This is a very cool company. Check it out here. Now, can any of you hardware guru's provide the rest of us with a how-to on building one?" You're not the only one asking.
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Ambient Devices Releases Hardware/Software SDK More

Ambient Devices Releases Hardware/Software SDK

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  • Who would want one... This is right up there with those annoying things that play relaxing "Nature Sounds".
    • I'm still wondering what the hell this is used for, and why it requires a pager backbone.
      • It allows them send a text command over the pager service that changes the color of the device. Their computers are set up to send out the "change color" commands based on stocks weather and instant messages. This means that you don't have to be at home, and don't have to have a computer to operate it. You can go to your favorit webcafe, do an online trade, and let the color of the ambient orb tell you how your stock is doing throughout the day. You can send it with your kid to college, and tell him Gre
        • This is an excellent idea -- but does require the family to have some basic HTML skills do be able to operate the ambient developer channel.

          Ambient should sell an accessory that let's you remotely configure your ambient device through another device.

          For instance, send an orb to your son. Then have a jog dial [griffintechnology.com] with similar pager technology in your house, and let you set it to several different states to control the color of a remote Orb. Could be a great way to discretely message amungst people.

  • If you have a desire to let your data room double as a disco. Just smack some mirrors on all of your cooling fans and issue fish tank platform shoes at the door.
  • There are lots of good uses for these. Imagine a IT consulting company installing a network and placing one of these on the desk of the client. "Call me if it changes from any color than green" Even better, do your job right and set your notification up so that you know the minute it changes and call them. Or, company health meter... DIffeent colors indicate different financial problems.
    • Even better, do your job right and set your notification up so that you know the minute it changes and call them ...thereby eliminating the need for the orb in the first place. :)

      • Actually, most people would be impressed if their networks guy(gal) called them the minute they noticed they had a problem, and did not have to wait until after they called him/her.

        It makes for good customer relations if you can call as soon as they know they have a problem (or as soon as "that glowy thing you stuck on my desk started flashing strange light pattern things and I don't know what happened, but it made all my files on my 'Global' folder disappear, and the folder has an x on it and..." ).

        How

    • Really, this is a great idea.

      It's a non-technical way of ensuring that your customer gets details on system health.

      Very, very good idea...
  • When I first saw these things, I couldn't tell how much effort would be involved with reverse engineering the interface so that it could reflect the current state of my servers. Now that they've opened it up (and show the simplicity of the interface) it's much more appealing. Thanks guys.

    <evil plot mode>Now how do I convince the boss we need one at work?</evil plot mode>
  • The inventors of the "mood ring" have revealed the secret formula. Apparently, it's just liquid crystal.
  • The circuit's pretty simple...

    I'd be tempted to hook the thing up with Microchip's RF stuff rather than a pager....I'd only be interested in controlling the thing from my home network.

    -psy
  • Just plug the orb into any standard power outlet and it is up and running on a nationwide wireless network - no internet connection required.

    Ok, I thought this was a nifty piece of hardware that you could just hook to a PC and program. WTF is this about a "wireless network"?? Is there no plug in this thing?
    • That's right, it isn't a computer peripheral, it is an information display device (an "ambient device" if you will).

      you can buy the developer kit [ambientdevices.com] if you want to hook it up to your computer, but it works great just wireless, no computer or net connection necessary [myambient.com].

      Basically they are saying why be stupid enough to wait 10 years for WiFi to finally be broad enough that everyone can buy one, just put it on a wide-area network so anyone can buy one today.

      Probably they'll make a wifi one later for compus

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