Hack the real world using MESH in just minutes.
Designed by a team of engineers at Sony’s Seed Acceleration Program, MESH (Make, Experience, SHare) is a DIY platform that allows Makers to create their own smart projects.
The platform is comprised of hardware building blocks of sorts that connect to each other via Bluetooth Smart and Low Energy, and contain software that can be programmed via a simple Graphical User Interface (GUI) to define a function. The Button Tag is used to make shortcuts or controllers, the LED Tag to create colorful notifications or lighting sequences, while the Acceleration Tag to detect motion patterns. The GPIO, or General Purpose Input Output Tag, is for advanced users and features digital and analog input/output that can sync other sensors or actuators such as light sensors, motors and written circuits with a conductive pen.
MESH makes it easy, fun and convenient for anyone without engineering or coding skills to build their own inventions. In fact, the MESH Tags can be attached to just about anything, ranging from trash cans, closet doors and mailboxes. This enables Makers to design some innovative projects, like trash can that says “thank you” when someone disposes waste, a closet light that turns on when opened or a mailbox that sends an alert when the postman arrives.
With the visual design app Canvas’ drag-and-drop interface and wireless functional Tags, MESH doesn’t require any coding when developing a connected objects. When pairing Tags, users simply move the corresponding icons for the Tags on the iPad app and draw a line between the two they wish to connect. There is also a SDK for those seeking more advanced customization, which provides developers with the option of writing their own software Tags to work with the MESH hardware.
In the future, the team plans to add other Tags including a thermo-hygrometer, IR receiver/transmitter, light and UV sensor, CO2 sensor, motion sensor, DC motor, and vibrator. It should also be noted that the team did mention that it made several prototypes using rapid prototyping tools, most notably Atmel based Arduino boards and 3D printers.
The DIY concept behind MESH certainly represents a new theme emerging throughout the Maker Movement, as seen with earlier projects like BITalino and the WunderBar (whose team we had the chance to meet during World Maker Faire 2014 and CES 2015). Interested in learning more? MESH has launched an Indiegogo campaign, where it is currently seeking $50,000.
Atmel | Bits & Pieces 