— June 2nd, 2022
The convenience of smartphones combined with our infinitely scrolling social media feeds has led to some less-than-ideal results, including the fact that a person can sit down and be entertained for hours without even realizing it. This inactivity and lack of exercise can lead to a whole host of health problems, which is why Eric Guidry built the PELOTok device after coming across one of Simone Giertz’s tweets.
The PELOTok relies on a Hall effect sensor and a magnet positioned on the back wheel of a stationary bike to read its current speed by multiplying the number of rotations in a few seconds by the tire’s circumference. This value is then displayed on a small OLED screen and is used to determine if the rider is pedaling fast enough to scroll through their feed. Along with these components, an Arduino Micro also checks for any button presses from the user that signal a command to either scroll up/down or like the video. However, any speed below 16kph will result in a loud buzz letting the rider know they need to increase their pace.
If the pedaling is fast enough, pressing a button will cause a corresponding keystroke to be sent to the attached iPad thanks to the Arduino’s USB keyboard functionality. For more details on the PELOTok, watch Guidry’s video below!
Website: LINK
