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A multimedia thermometer of great visual impact.

• The temperature is shown on an ordinary TV with crisp, full color graphics. Animation and sound can be easily added.
  
• Pictures are recorded on a DVD or CD and can be varied according to the application.
  
• Amazingly simple and cheap design (fits a $10 budget). Software tools are free.
  
• Modular, structured C code featuring a versatile Programmable Pulse Generator, an I2C-bus driver, and a RECS80 remote control transmitter
  
• Great for class experiments: it covers topics ranging from microcontrollers, programming languages, serial busses, sensors, remote controls, waveform generation, all the way up to the process of creating and preparing multimedia content.
  
• Another mind-provoking article published by Circuit Cellar magazine, and an award-winning design rewarded with the "Distinctive Excellence" prize in from the Motorola's "Flash Innovations" design contest.
  

The basic idea can be adapted to a variety of practical situations. The application as a public thermometer for hotels, malls, showrooms, stations, airports and tourist sites is straightforward. Thermometers per se are unquestionably useful, but the multimedia impact and low cost of the DVD-thermometer prospects new uses, especially when the possibility of adding advertisements is considered.
Potential applications include talking “Please-take-a-number” displays, interactive product selectors (e.g. to select the right glue or paint, or to see how a new drill works), and colorful, dramatic displays for any sort of measurement.

For more information:

Complete article (on-line version) including all the details about the development process and source code structure.

   Source code
(Requires an ftp-enabled web browser, e.g. IE6. Alternately, please login to: ftp://ftp.circuitcellar.com/pub/Circuit_Cellar/2004/168/Ricc_Bitti_168.zip )

   Sample pictures (°C scale only) used for preparing a test disc.
(Requires an ftp-enabled browser, e.g. IE6. Alternately, please login to: ftp://ftp.circuitcellar.com/pub/Circuit_Cellar/2004/168/Bitti_DVD_disk_pictures.zip )

You might want to take a look to these thermometer projects: the PC-therm and the Scriptherm

Useful links:

68HC908QT4 Microcontroller - Motorola Semiconductors Inc. http://e-www.motorola.com

DS1621 – DS1631 Digital temperature sensor - Maxim semiconductors www.maxim-ic.com

Metrowerks Codewarrior Development Studio for HC08 microcontrollers Special Edition www.metrowerks.com