From Call Board to Clock
With a definite plan now in place to turn the call board into a functional clock, the fun could begin.
The initial prototype for the call board clock was simple. It used an Arduino MEGA 2560 Microcontroller and white LEDs bulbs to display the time in a 24-hour format. Although the prototype itself was simple, designing and building a functional prototype was no small feat! Developed over several semesters, the work of Maggie Chen ‘25, Sarah Hawes ‘25, and Janeth Manyalla ‘24 is ultimately what lead to saving the beloved call board. Their prototype served as a proof of concept that the call board could be transformed, but it was limited in functionality, so it was back to the drawing board.
A Group Effort
Developing a second prototype would be even more time intensive than the first. As juniors and seniors with increasing workloads, Chen, Hawes, and Manyalla would need help to create a second prototype and update the call board by the time construction was to be completed. Enter Master of Engineering graduate students Akansha Shrestha, Anushka Mathew, Harsh Panara, and Yikai Guan. These four students were brought up to speed on the project and together with the undergraduates, began work on a second prototype.
Prototype 2
After viewing the initial prototype, requests from the library included adding colored bulbs, a different time format, and additional light settings. The second call board prototype introduced a Raspberry Pi computer and RGB NeoPixel LEDs. The Raspberry Pi had more memory than the Arduino microcontroller, which allowed for advanced programming applications that could run simultaneously. The Raspberry Pi also features built-in networking to allow for remote maintenance and for the creation of a companion website that would enable library staff to control the applications of the call board. The NeoPixel LEDs are capable of displaying multiple colors. These upgrades allowed the students to create multiple dynamic settings with more exciting light effects like flashing, fading, and color transitions.
