In my last project post, I detailed how I set out to help my local coffee shop to adapt to the new way of digital, contactless menus during the pandemic. A custom Flask web server with a webpage displaying the coffee shop’s menu, set on a port to allow access external of the coffee shop’s network with a link embedded in a QR code is the bulk of the solution for them, but there was a little more that they needed.
Like many coffee shops, a single batch of pastries are made and delivered to the shop for the day. This means that as the day progresses, certain menu items are not available as they sell out. So while customers can access the menu digitally, their choice may be sold out. To remedy this, the addition of a webcam to capture a current image of the pastry case and display it alongside the menu needed to be added to the project.
Stop breadboarding and soldering – start making immediately! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, TinyGO, or even use the Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.
Have an amazing project to share? The Electronics Show and Tell is every Wednesday at 7pm ET! To join, head over to YouTube and check out the show’s live chat – we’ll post the link there.
