Harshad's Lab Journal

Idea: Automating Whiteboards

Mon, 09 May 2011 13:50:28 -0700

The whiteboard image is the first idea, … is second iteration, but mostly sticking to the script, the text here is a more detailed description, with improved ideas.

People and companies use whiteboards, a *lot* of stuff that goes on the whiteboard needs to be saved for later reference.

Use

a webcam, with simple image processing software.
a better still camera to capture the whiteboard (optional)
passive infrared tracking system to sense when it's safe for the camera to click (optional)
a small computer - to wire these all together

Whiteboard is a regular plain whiteboard with one exception — a small box on top right corner with "save" written under it.

Once you're done writing and need to save a copy of the whiteboard, just put a checkmark / cross / black patch in the save box and walk away from the board.

The software senses the change in the box and makes a photograph via the webcam itself, or using a dedicated camera.

There's one more thing - you can't stand in front, but you may also have the habit of marking to save, and then adding final touches (I'm sure I'll do this) - hence the infrared sensor - it will pause the camera till the person moves out of the picture.

Once the photo is made, it can be transferred via email to everyone present - turn on your phone's bluetooth and send vcard with your email to the bluetooth receiver named 'whiteboard' or if you have email capabilities, send an email to whiteboard@organization.com , and it will reply back with attached photo. You can only do this till the next whiteboard is saved.

Also, every time a whiteboard is saved, the image repository will be updated automatically. So you can later visit the networked drive or web interface and download relevant images.

This whole thing can be put together within a small package using the embedded systems on chips + linux and a barebones USB webcam (that too can be integrated).

I am not going to perform reality checks on these ideas whenever I can: checking if anybody holds a patent to that idea… this one was submitted to US Patent Office by Microsoft Corporation in 2008… here's the link: http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=O-3IAAAAEBAJ . Seven people are credited as the inventors.

I'm aware most of these ideas that sound brilliant to me have been worked on before, which is perfectly fine. Someone else came across the problem before me, and they solved it in the same way as I did much later. Thanks to validating with patents, I know I can come up independently with an idea that could be patented. Maybe some day a few years down the line I'll hold a patent of my own. It's not a crime to dream ;)

Until someone corrects me, I'll be smug knowing that what took seven people, was worked out by yours truly, in less than an hour - and it has a better interface and better workflow. Till the next idea strikes… cya! *aaah… ego massage… naaais* hehehe

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DIY Glass Board

Mon, 09 May 2011 11:05:28 -0700

Today around 15:30 hrs, I felt the urge to get a giant whiteboard. I tweeted that out. Immediately @ashwinsid , @kaalika and @jayaramk1983 were on the case, encouraging me and helping me with the prices and places where I could get one. Now Ahmednagar is a smaller town, and an A0 sized whiteboard needs to be made on order. I was about to say, leave it, will think of this next time, when I realized I have the glass-top from a table lying around, eating dust.

Scouted the glass out, looked for the right kind of wood – luckily I had the perfect sizes that could make holder/clamps for the glass. Had some issues locating my tools since we've reshuffled a lot of things around. Finally, in the evening, made the clamps (photos posted earlier) and mounted the glass.

Here it is :)

How tall is it? I need to raise my hand to reach the top edge – dimensions 120x80cm.

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When I say I believe in using right tool for the job, believe me. Here's a sample ;)

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 21:11:00 -0700

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BTW, that knife stand – handcrafted by yours truly :-)

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Update on the DIY bookshelf: now available as Sketchup 3d model.

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 01:37:30 -0700

Took a break from work, thought I'd put together the bookshelf I made yesterday in Google's Sketchup. Here it is.

You can download the attached project files if you want to play with it :-)

simple-bookshelf.skp Download this file

simple-bookshelf-scene.skp Download this file

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DIY Woodwork: Super easy bookshelf

Sun, 03 Apr 2011 06:58:00 -0700

It started with an idea in head and then a doodle on paper. My target was simple, put together design for a small bookshelf that can hold around five softcover small books stacked upon each other. The biggest constraint was to use minimum number of joints and nails/screws.

Presenting the three-piece shelf that can be constructed with just two screws, and mounted with another two. Needs no glue or nails.

Oops! Looks like I drilled the holes too tight — this will need replacement :-/

Here's how it should look on the wall.

With a sample book!

As you can see, i can exert pressure on the base and the whole shelf holds up pretty well. Will apply polish and mount it sometime later.

From idea to constructed shelf: 30 minutes, including a coffee break.

Wood: teak lumber /2.5cm x 1 cm

Base: 7 in
Arms: 5 in each

Tools used: Hacksaw, rotary grinder, power drill, bench vice, screwdriver, scale and pencil.

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DIY: Window stopper

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 22:41:38 -0700

So my cat figured out that one of the windows doesn't lock properly - and had been pushing it open every few hours (cats have one window open for them always, but Smokie likes to get in from this other window). Had to quickly fix it… I have some teak lying around, cut two pieces, sawed off most of the corner of the larger piece, used the rotary grinder to polish up the surface and make edges soft and mounted the pieces with screws, ensured the hole on the larger piece was bigger for movement.

Took less than 15 minutes to saw and grind down the wood, another 5 min to drill and mount them on the window. Decent jugaad eh? ;-)

See the full gallery on Posterous

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China made HID relay and General Motor's relay from Tavera... #jugaad

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 03:26:35 -0800

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If your China made HID's relay konks off, get one made for Chevrolet Tavera. Another pic coming. #motorcycle #jugaad

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 03:23:25 -0800

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Apparently the chain in stock doesn't fit ThunderbirdTS, so jugaad is needed. And no new chain for now.

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 02:38:04 -0800

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DIY float switch

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 20:55:59 -0700

I bought a Freeduino board months back wanting to create an automated overhead tank filling system. However, I could not find a cheap and easy switch in my city, hence eventually the project went into the back of my shelf, until today morning. Woke up early and went to wash my face, realized the tank was empty. Now I didn't want to start the pump at 4am and wake others up — I remembered the project is waiting to be assembled.

Went through the components I had lying around and came up with an idea…

I could put this together in some time, so I started…

Used small hacksaw to reduce noise, cut myself two long planks and two one inch by one inch square bits. Had a push button switch, drilled two holes in one plank and fixed the switch with some hot glue…

Next, cut the actuating lever into shape…

Drilled holes for hinge

First hot-glued the bits, then secured them with two small nails each. Used a copper wire as guide to align everything properly while working on it.

And… it was ready.

Now all I had to do was solder wires and put the contraption upside down handing over the overhead tank…

The nylon string ensures that the float rises up in the correct direction ;-)

Put a multimeter to line testing mode, wired up and checked by starting the pump… it worked!

Next up, the freeduino/arduino bit ;-)

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Made a knife stand for kitchen in 30 min

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 07:25:02 -0700

Two planks of teak, small separators in between, some hot glue and three small nails ;-)

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fixed: no more worries of mobile phone battery running out in the middle of a long ride :-)

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 20:16:47 -0800

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Motorcycle Tail Lamp LED Jugaad by @argaikwad / Amit

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 07:21:57 -0700

It's dim with only 2 LEDs for each coil, but it works :-D Amit said
he'll will add more LEDs later.

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Jugaad/makeshift studio photography... at ~3am!

Mon, 06 Apr 2009 14:39:00 -0700

I bought a pair of strobes yesterday, a part of my transition into
full time photography. Today I got the chance to use it immediately on
an assignment for group photo session. And just out of nowhere, I had
the urge to photograph something, anything… and I did this.

Pulled out the dusty phone – arranged the strobes, gave background
with my jeans, which I was still wearing, and fired away. Satisfied, I
took these last twe shots and typed this thing that I'm still typing
and sent the mail to posterous (which I'm actually supposed to do in a
moment, if I wrap up the tense-jumble and… nevermind, enjoy!

)
*the parenthesis _had_ to be completed, no programmer can leave it
like that. Yeah, I'm that too – and sit tight for total photo-geekery
in the coming months! ;-)

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