An Internet-of-Thing (IoT) component can be configured to collect real-time environmental data by integrating NodeMCU ESP8266 development board with a temperature and humidity sensor DHT11. The student used an Arduino IDE program to set up a small scale weather monitoring station which indicate the real-time and historical environmental data over the IoT platform ThingsBoard.
With the advancement of technologies, we are now a lot easier to access the internet with different electronic widgets compared to the past decades. IoT technology is developed to make use of the vast usage of internet so as to create an environment for centralized control. Let’s look into the case of our home. When we feel that a room is dim, we have to switch on a light. Similarly, we are required to turn on a TV with a remote. “How about making a controller panel that can turn on all electronic appliances in our home?” One of the solutions of this question is making our home smarter with IoT.
3D Modelling and Virtual Reality Tour of the Library’s i-Space A virtual reality tour was developed by a student that allows the user to navigate and explore the virtual Library’s i-Space (4/F North Wing) freely using a mouse and keyboard as playing a first-person shooter game. The student used 3DS MAX 3D modeling software to create a virtual space of i-Space and its 3D objects bit by bit including furniture, plants, laser printers, 3D printers and PCs video wall. Then, all these 3D objects are imported into Unity software to complete the VR game development. With his tremendous effort, user can get the first-person experience of the i-Space just like visiting in person and learn about what facilities provided in the Digital Makerspace. The web version of the virtual tour is available here: https://webapp.lib.polyu.edu.hk/ispaceVR/
