AsyncLabs Forums

[benquark]

More info about the little wasp, http://asynclabs.com/component/content/ ... gs-in-2010

[John_Ryan]

Awesome! When will these be available?

Check out this story - I wonder if someone's been putting your shields to use for twitter applications. This type of application is easy-peasy and not expensive with Arduino + Wifi shield, and it will be even easier on real estate using the all-in-one YellowJacket.

Tweet Yourself thin with web scales

If you've resolved to trim inches off your waist this year, a new set of scales which "tweets" your weight to the world may provide the incentive you need to keep your resolution.

The WiFi Body Scales have been designed by a French company and send a tweet to the microblogging website Twitter every time a user weighs themselves, which means their entire social network will know how well - or how badly - their battle with the bulge is going.

The scales, which are available in New Zealand from online retailers such as Amazon and cost about $215, automatically record the weight and body mass index of the user and can upload those details to a webpage or iPhone application. Up to eight people can use a single set of scales, tracking their weight loss through graphs and data which they can access on their iPhone or on their website.

The makers of the scales believe "tweeting" the results will help keep users motivated to lose weight.

Some are sceptical, though, that the device will prove popular: "I'd bet $50 that the inventor of this WiFi Scale is a guy . . . I'm arguing that no woman on this earth can say her weight honestly," wrote one internet blogger, who predicts that the makers will soon go bust.

But Weight Watchers believes slimmers should be open about how much they weigh and share their efforts with others.

"Establishing a support network when you are starting on a weight-loss effort and keeping it strong to maintain the loss is important for long- term success. And evidence suggests that the more social support a person receives, the better the weight-loss results," said spokeswoman Clair Cameron.

"A support network can provide help and encouragement along the journey, as well as be there to celebrate the achievements."

Cameron has these five tips for people wanting to lose weight over the summer, whether they're using a blabbermouth set of scales or not.

* Be realistic - January and summer is a great time to start eating healthily and being more active, but it is important to set realistic and achievable goals.

* Quit looking for quick fixes. Don't be seduced into giving the latest fad diet a try.

* Remove barriers to exercise - exercise is key to weight loss and many people try to lose weight without committing to getting active.

* Take responsibility - when you realise that weight loss is your responsibility, you put yourself in a position of control.

* Don't deny yourself - taking control of your health doesn't mean you have to miss out on the odd treat.

[benquark]

We're trying to have them ready by mid/end of Feb.

I did see a post about the body scales on engadget a while ago. It is a very interesting product. Not sure if its based on an Arduino though. It should be pretty easy to come up with actual applications/products with the YellowJacket because of its compact size.

[John_Ryan]

There are several obvious applications for this board and "tweeting-scales" would be at the very bottom of my list.

I think it's a silly idea based on someones flawed understanding of human nature and twitter as a real-time medium. Perhaps in the "excitement" of combining controller+Wifi+twitter, or reading about it over at Arduino - or here, someone drank too much red wine and picked the least commercially appealing concept.

Now if you add controller+GPS+WiFi+twitter, throw it in a pager-like clip-on plastic box, clip it to your belt, then it could tweet any time you went near the refrigerator, or tweet when you entered or exited the house, tweet when you've entered the toilet, or any other room. Now that's telling the world "exactly" what your doing without typing a thing. That's what I would regard as "a value-for-money application" because of the vast amounts of data one could share with followers. Having all that technology stuffed into a "set of scales" is a waste of money, and all that time and effort to set-up for the sake of one tweet?? I think anyone that does buy it won't be entertained by it for very long, it won't take people long to figure out its faster and more "discrete" to do a manual tweet.

By the way. The Arduino mini is "strategically" priced so it doesn't undercut other boards in Arduino family. Will your retail price be determined by cost plus a 'fair' margin, or will it be a market price based on the Arduino mini plus Wifi module? I'm interested to know where you see the price landing?

[mpinner]

sry for the xpost, but I wanted to express my appreciation:

;D
i received my yellowjacket yesterday from cutedigi. it was quick to arrive and well packaged. The WiShield code and examples came right up, and I was able to get the "webserver" up and running in no time.

i love this thing. thanks for the hard work and the open licensing.

spacehippy matt pinner