We have learned how to use the ESP8266 with the Adafruit IO MQTT broker to send and receive messages. Additionally, we have learned about IFTTT (IF This Then That) which provides us an easy way to connect Adafruit IO to other devices such as twitter, your cell phone, and literally hundreds of more services. It’s actually quite unbelievable how easy it is to connect different services together with this deceptively simple web site.
I personally think the most useful feature of IFTTT is the ability to connect it to your phone with text messages and phone calls. Our phones are our main internet connection during all times of the day. Connecting our phones to the devices we built is a very logical next step.
This technology gives me the ability to build the No Snoop. Essentially the device is meant to alert the owner whenever someone opens their desk drawer or other enclosed area via text message. All the device consists of is a photocell resistor, 10K resistor, and the ESP8266.
If the photocell registers enough light, as in someone opening up your closet or desk drawer or something else, the ESP8266 will send an elevated value to the Adafruit IO server. I have also created an IFTTT applet to watch this feed and text me that someone was snooping on my stuff if elevated light levels are detected. Here is the simple device:
And here is a video of me snooping on myself. There is a slight delay between the light being registered and the text message but this is just because of the communication chain not being terribly direct. As long as the drawer gets opened for a second or two the elevated levels will be detected and text message will be received.
While the delay between the text and drawer opening may not be best for film, in a real life use case this is still precise enough for someone to know exactly when someone is snooping through your stuff!