I’ve built an IoT device to let my family know when I’m in a meeting
30 comments
·May 11, 2025shermantanktop
I built a similar thing using Bluetooth to a ESP32.
The hard part is reliably detecting camera status. I’m currently using a utility called Oversight, but it is event-based and the dodginess of the Bluetooth connection means the device gets out of sync.
The python script takes a different approach, so I’m going to check that out.
franciscop
Love it, I was expecting for some reason you routed a cable to the Webcam LED, or at least a light sensor (though that would make the lid unable to work if it's a laptop). But this is even more elegant, I guess I've been trying to do more hardware hacking recently and I read ESP32 so my expectations were off.
raggi
I've considered doing something like this a few times, this is seriously ripe for an ON AIR sign :D
sanex
If I ever find myself in your town I'm going to get free wifi.
But seriously I've wanted to build something like this for so long just never had the time. Going to definitely do it now. Love the idea of using the camera status to change the light.
tonyarkles
Lots of haters today. Love it, great opportunity to build something that solves a problem for you for cheap and gives you an opportunity to play with some tech.
Liftyee
Neat little project. For these things, I usually find that simpler is better - use the minimum feature set to finish it and start use.
I recently found a server status bezel and was thinking of making a remote status indicator out of it... maybe I should reduce the features of that project too.
lurk2
A “Do Not Disturb” door hanger costs $7 on Amazon.
function_seven
And requires me to remember to get up and hang it before a scheduled meeting. Or not hang it when someone calls me and a meeting erupts. And I need to remember to take it down after each call. (If I don’t, then it’s just up all the time and might be taken as seriously as a Prop 65 Warning.)
Automations are really nice for certain things!
tekla
And I'm sure you've set up all the systems that make sure the complicated system is actually working and not dead weight or doing something unintended.
Versus, I dunno a door lock
sailfast
It's not about the price. It's because it's COOL - and because somebody did a fun thing with hardware and software, which is great!
matsimitsu
Which is more expensive than an esp32 and a led panel, and less convenient.
tekla
A "Do not disturb" sign costs roughly zero with a pen and a piece of paper.
Also, I have no idea how out of touch you have to be to claim that a simple sign that costs a few bucks is less convenient than something that requires power, another peripheral that requires power, and network access.
nine_k
A great alternative to https://busy.bar/ if all you want is the core functionality, not bells and whistles, for the 10% of the price.
OhMeadhbh
thx for the reference, though i think the bells and whistles may have been the point.
neom
I use an Embrava Blynclight Mini, ~$60 on amazon, works fine.
See also: https://github.com/JnyJny/busylight
Aziell
There was a time I worked from the corner of our living room.My partner would often walk in during meetings, sometimes asking loudly where the charger was. One day, I left a sticky note on the table:“In a meeting – please check back in 30 minutes.”Surprisingly, it worked. What really changed things wasn’t the note itself, but the quiet agreement it created.
delduca
Source code https://github.com/skhaz/onair
gus_massa
It was hard to notice. It's the small rectangle under the screen.
> This endpoint receives a JSON payload with a status of “on” or “off”, and turns the LED panel red or blue accordingly
ThrowawayTestr
mDNS is really convenient. Unfortunately the only way to install it on Windows is through old iTunes installers.
I just rigged up something similar: a DBUS listener for PulseAudio mic activity that publishes MQTT events to Home Assistant via discovery. No device config needed. I use hallway RGB lights to signal status ("purple = I'm in a meeting"). Quick and easy setup, I already had the RGB lights for mood lighting. Runs as a user systemd unit.