Now and again you may become quite hooked on a mobile game app or other device which can be used to waste time very quickly. Alexis Matelin had the same problem and solved it quite neatly with their Arduino-powered digital anti-procrastination box.
The box can be any size, which is locked using an Arduino-controlled solenoid. The amount of time the box stays locked is set by the user, who can first insert the offending time-burglar to have it out of reach for a period of time. It's a neat and clever solution, which is demonstrated in the following video:
This could also be used as a tool of discipline for younger children and also for fun. Either way, visit Alexis' website for details on making your own version. And for more, we're on facebook, twitter and Google+, so follow us for news and product updates as well.
Looking for a small Arduino-compatible board to embed in various projects? Then consider the Freetronics LeoStick - It's the Arduino Leonardo-compatible board that's cheaper and smaller than the original:
Apart from being one of the smallest Arduino-compatibles on the market with USB, it also has an onboard RGB LED and piezo which can be used a knock sensor and various tune and sound effects. Plus you can add extra circuitry with the matching protostick! For more information and to order, click here.
