I am looking for some sort of big programmable buttons. Not sure if something simple exists.

Basically, this is to enhance flow through clinic, looking for a relatively simple solution.

I just want some big battery-powered bluetooth buttons that I can give custom commands in tasker to text tell people to assist with tasks or bring me certain things. I’m not sure if something simple like this exists. (Thinking of like three or four different colored “easy” buttons).

I haven’t found anything quite as specific as this, but it’s been something nerdy I’ve been thinking about that would save me time.

  • tofubl@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
    1·
    7 months ago

    I second Zigbee.

    • There’s plenty of devices available.
    • Battery life is amazing.
    • zigbee2mqtt is an easy way to bring those messages into your regular IP network; they have a huge list of supported devices.
    • Once translated to MQTT, you can hook any automation onto it you want: a python script, home assistant, or my recommendation in this case, NodeRED. NodeRED has a module for zigbee2mqtt that is very well integrated to just know all devices registered on your zigbee network and stringing flows together is actually fun once you get the hang of it. Plus, there is no upper bound to flow complexity.
    • Gateway device can be a sonoff zigbee USB coordinator and the whole thing can comfortably run on a rpi3.
    • tofubl@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
      1·
      7 months ago

      Read your reply now, and not sure about the requirements you have: must not leave the local devices or must not use the WiFi?

      If it’s the latter, a 4g USB modem with a cheap iot data plan easily frees you of that.