Imagecraft Smart.io BTLE wireless UI for embedded systems...

[westfw]

Imagecraft (maker of AVR and ARM C compilers) is adding a hardware and software solution to allow you to put a GUI for your embedded device on your smartphone.   https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/481671730/app-enable-products-without-writing-wireless-or-ap#

Disclaimer: I'm an Imagecraft customer, and know some of their employees in other contexts as well...

[pix3l]

Nice idea!

Is it just me or do the apps look like they're from the 90s?

[richardman]

Nice idea!

Is it just me or do the apps look like they're from the 90s?

 

Remember that our app displays the GUI elements that the embedded system uses. So for example, ultimately the fonts and colors used are up to the embedded designers, and those and other choices would affect the look and feel.

For the KickStarter, we decided to go slightly tongue in cheek (e.g. "Cleaninac") and also punch up the colors and contrast to be more noticeable on the web page. So that also may contribute to that illusion as well.

[richardman]

@Richard: is that a bluenrg-1 based device? Sounds interesting.

Thanks for checking it out.

Yes currently we use the BlueNRG for performance and robustness reasons. The choice of BLE isn't THAT important per se, as long as it meets performance requirements and have simple to use BLE stack  .

[ez24]

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/481671730/app-enable-products-without-writing-wireless-or-ap

Looks like a well thought out professional presentation 

[richardman]

We are just over 50% with 18 days to go. Please check out the campaign and support us if you can!

[neslekkim]

Which mcu/chipset is used here?

[richardman]

The MCU is STM32F3xx, the BLE is ST BlueNRG.

Further revision *may* use other MCU or BLE chip, but these two have the robustness and cost structure we want for the first products...

[richardman]

Hi, as we are at the last 7 days with $860 to go, please consider supporting the project! Smart.IO gives you the power of remote control for any embedded designs. A few updates:

• shipping to most European countries will only be $10
• we will release a demo project of a smart wall plug with sample firmware code, PCB files and will even stock some of the plastic housing so anyone can their own
• Android version of the Programmable UI App will be available within 2 months after we ship

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/481671730/app-enable-products-without-writing-wireless-or-ap

Thanks!

[richardman]

And we are funded!!

[ez24]

And we are funded!!

Congratulations 

Keep us updated on the milestones.

[m98]

Great project, but the UI of the app looks terrible, which ruins the whole product experience.
You don't have to get fancy, just design according to the OS guidelines.
https://developer.apple.com/ios/human-interface-guidelines/overview/design-principles/
https://material.io/guidelines/

[richardman]

Great project, but the UI of the app looks terrible, which ruins the whole product experience.
You don't have to get fancy, just design according to the OS guidelines.
https://developer.apple.com/ios/human-interface-guidelines/overview/design-principles/
https://material.io/guidelines/

Hi m98, thank you for your feedback. Two things: the sample UI was indeed somewhat "tongue in cheek" (hence "Toast-a-matic and Cleaniac") Second: the end result UI is not an App for the phone per se, but the UI for YOUR embedded design, so you control the placement of the GUI objects and colors of your own UI. This is what is meant by "Programmable UI App"

[neslekkim]

$45 shipping to Norway?, is it only for EU that shipping will be $10?

[richardman]

$45 shipping to Norway?, is it only for EU that shipping will be $10?

We can probably ship to Norway for $10 as well. Europe shipping will be handled by our Germany partner and you guys have it inexpensive there with postal mail!!!

p.s. m98: thanks for the link to the design guide