Hey everyone! I'm just getting started with hobby electronics and I'm looking for some guidance on my first project. I have ADHD, so I need a simple and tactile solution for time management. I'm thinking of creating a small box with four buttons that each set a timer for 5, 15, 30 minutes, and 1 hour. When a button is pressed, it should ring to start the timer. There will be a display that visually shows the remaining time, changing color as it counts down. When time is up, the display turns red and a bell rings until I press the button again. I found some tactile buttons that I think will work well, and I can 3D print a housing for this project. My main questions are: 1) Should I use an Arduino, Raspberry Pi, or something else? 2) What parts do I need? I have a few ideas, but I'm not sure what to get or where to find them. Here's what I'm considering: a display, the buttons (I have some, but I'm open to suggestions), a rechargeable battery with a USB-C connection, and a bell/chime component. Any advice to kickstart this project would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
Check out this project I found that seems similar to what you're looking for: [wokwi project link]. I totally relate to needing things to be super clear—especially with ADHD! Take a look at the setup and see how it matches your vision. You could tweak it by adding or removing parts based on what works for you. A bit of research might help you decide on the right display for your timers!
To begin, I'd recommend making a scale drawing of your project. You might want to consider using smaller arcade buttons, which are also illuminated and very responsive. Think about your display too; whether you prefer an LCD, a bar of LEDs, or even a dial. For the chime, a simple beeper might work, or you could go with an MP3 player to play loud sounds. Once you settle on the user interface, selecting a controller chip will be easier.