Remote-controlled whiteboard hack is as practical as it is pretty

Sure, there's plenty of hackery going on with interactive whiteboards these days, but that doesn't mean plain old marker-based boards have been left out of the fun completely, as evidenced by this latest contraption devised by Sprite_tm. As you can see in the video after the break, he's managed to rig up a slightly precarious system that'll write out any message you send it over the web, and with surprising legibility no less. To do that, Sprite salvaged some parts from an old scanner and printer, along with an ever useful microcontroller, an x/y stepper system, and some rather clever touches like an electromagnet to keep the marker on the board. He even bravely opened up the board to the public, although that unsurprisingly doesn't appear to have lasted very long. If you want to give one a shot yourself, however, you can find most of the details you'll need and the necessary source code by hitting up the read link below.

[Via Slash Gear]

[gdurrett @ Apr 30th 2008 12:26PM]

I will not automate my detention duties.
I will not automate my detention duties.
I will not automate my detention duties...

[Farris @ Apr 30th 2008 12:40PM]

Epic Pass.

+1 for you!

[jonathan @ Apr 30th 2008 12:30PM]

I would think that it would be a lot more functional if instead of counter-balanced cables, it used some sort of horizontal/vertical rail configuration.

You could run the rail version much faster, no?

[atrain @ Apr 30th 2008 1:32PM]

Its done this way because it is really simple + cheap + fun to implement.

I was actually amazed at the accuracy of that setup. A normal x/y axis system would need a solid rail along the entire side, etc, and would be much more effort to set up. Thats the coolest part about it.

[Tim @ Apr 30th 2008 12:42PM]

But it isn't pretty, is it?







oooooooooooohhhhh . . . i see what you did there

[Shawn @ Apr 30th 2008 12:44PM]

It's a giant Etch-a-Sketch

[Joe @ Apr 30th 2008 12:52PM]

I can't wait for the remote-controlled Tie-on-the-doorknob machine. Together, these two items will completely automate dorm life!

[Greg Cavallaro @ Apr 30th 2008 3:10PM]

This is similar to an exhibit I saw in New York at the Museum of Modern Art.

[Ian @ Apr 30th 2008 3:17PM]

I need one for my next cup-n-string-conference.

[bryantchoung @ Apr 30th 2008 3:17PM]

This is almost a complete dupe of hektor the spay paint inkjet. I saw this at the pompidou back in 2003.

http://www.hektor.ch/

[johnzilla @ Apr 30th 2008 3:57PM]

Screw the graffiti, I like the beat that thing puts down.

[Seth A @ Apr 30th 2008 5:13PM]

Make this pocket sized and sell it to millions of Trouble Making Elementary School kids. Man, if I had one of these when I was in school. Lol. Does it replace the cap after so the Marker doesn't dry up?

[Armoured @ Apr 30th 2008 8:46PM]

It types too fast

[t3_slider @ May 1st 2008 12:27AM]

Reminds me of something that would be done with LEGO MindStorms back in the day when kids (and adults...) still played with LEGO.