I'm really into ciphers and I want to create a small handheld device (around pager size) that can encrypt and decode messages. A friend of mine helped me out with some JavaScript code that runs a simple encoding and decoding process, but I'm a complete newbie when it comes to building electronics. I'm looking for guidance on how to turn this idea into reality - what components do I need and what steps should I take? Any advice would be super helpful!
2 Answers
To get started, your device will need a few essential parts: an input method (like a keyboard), an output screen, a processor to run the code, and a power source. For the input, you could use a regular keyboard or even a compact dial with a button. The output could be a simple LCD screen or something similar to display your results. As for the processor, an ESP or PIC microcontroller would work well. And don't forget about how you'll power it - batteries, solar panels, or even a hand-cranked dynamo could do the trick!
But really, why not just use your phone instead? It's already equipped for this kind of work!
I get that, but building my own device would be way more exciting than just using my phone. Plus, I'd learn so much in the process!