/jack-in-a-box

“Jack in a Box” is attempt to design a prototyping framework for connected devices. As the name says it uses audio jacks as medium for communication. It is based on the master thesis by Victor Vina “Box. Open System for Connected People”.

MIT LicenseMIT

Jack in a Box

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“Jack in a Box” is attempt to design a prototyping framework for connected devices. As the name says it uses audio jacks as medium for communication. It is based on the master thesis by Victor Vina “Box. Open System for Connected People”.

Type of objects

  • emitter (sensor emits an signal)
  • receiver (only receives an signal)
  • receiver/emitter
  • self-sufficient emitters (initiator/emitter e.g. pulse)
  • switches (relay signal to several outputs)
  • logic gates (can be implemented using a micro controller see)
  • gateway/interfaces (to remote resources can be emitter/receiver as well)
  • transformers (e.g. delay, counter, storage)

Design Todos

  • hardware
    • the actual box
    • the connection to the jack
    • pcb?
  • visual language for diagrams
    • definition for types of objects
    • connections
  • documentation
    • setup guides
    • video
    • website?

Technical Constrains

  • binary I/O model (HIGH/LOW)
  • No central hub
  • I/O via 6.35 mm Jack
  • common ground
  • 3.3V
  • contains power source (lipoly)

Possible Hardware

First Proof of Concept (POC)

For a first proof of concept see the Jack in a Box Arduino Library.

Contributors

Footnotes

  1. To add not to much overhead (cloud connection, Node.js, etc) we wont be using the Photon boards.