This is a Idea in Incubation for a IoT Smart Board. Samsung has a similar one built into its Refrigerator in CES 2016. My idea was as incubated in 2015.

1. SMABO – An IoT
Smart Board
Abstract for a E-Ink Based Smart Board Integrated with Bluetooth Smart
(Bluetooth LE (Low Energy))

2. Origin of the Idea - SAMBO
 The Idea came to me from the chaos at my home in the morning during working days and trying to remember
many things, for you/others to take care of
 I am sure many of us face this today and normally use a magnetic white board attached to the Refrigerator
and a magnetic marker on the Fridge
 Chances are the maid/family member will rub against the board and half of it will be garbage
 The marker will not be locatable and it is mayhem in the morning hurry
 Yes we do send messages each other but then the need for the scribbler on the Fridge is still very valuable
 In today’s world of IoT and Smart Phones with IoT enabled do we really need a old Whiteboard and Marker
 Why not have a Electronic Board where all family members can post messages from their smart phones/tablets –
While in Shower or in the dressing Room and you suddenly remember something
 That was just a beginning, then thinking about it the opportunities are many

3. Value Add - SMABO
 Products exist already in market of similar nature, with E-ink to display text and picture. All these use
Wi-Fi based solution like the Amazon’s Kindle. This demands a Wi-Fi SoC (System on Chip) to be
integrated to the device to enable Wi-Fi reception.
 Having a Wi-Fi SoC increases the Power Consumption, Foot Print, Need for a router to connect to the
device
 This proposal is to integrate Low Energy IoT Bluetooth Smart with E-Ink Device to enable Low power
consumption and small Foot Print.
 This will enable the device to be cheaper as the Bluetooth Smart is a IoT standard now being
standardized across all mobile platforms.
 Easiness of use – from kids to adults know how to send a message
 Apple’s IoT Platform is based on Bluetooth Smart and so is Samsung IoT Platforms
 App’s don’t exist now to interact with SMABO type devices – Being bound to Wi-Fi limits this
 Being a IoT and integrated to Mobile device makes it convenient and easy for any one to use

4. Market for SMABO
 Homes
SMABO can be used as Message Boards where Family members can interact by leaving messages.
99% family members today have smart phones. So all they need to do is to have the smart
phones/tablet connected to the SMABO IoT Device and type text in and post it. Identical to a plain
white board with marker.
 Schools/Commercial Establishments/Corporates
 Dynamic Notice Boards, Smart Alert Displays on Desks, Emergency Alert Displays, Status Indicator
Displays on Doors
 Class Notice Boards, Bus Signage – Teachers and Bus Drivers can interface with SMABO
 The Possibilities are innumerable
 Being Bluetooth Smart IoT the communication is secure to the persons who’s devices are
authorized to interface
 Restaurants/Super Markets
 Menu Display, Today’s Special Notice Boards, Price Details

5. Market for SMABO
 Personalization
 SMABO can be used as Message display on Smart tags on Bags and other Personal Articles
to display Personalized message send from Smart Phones/Tablets
 Advantage of SMABO is the Bluetooth Smart IoT which needs very Low energy and a small
Lithium battery will run for months
 Office
 Scrum Boards where Engineers can post messages from their mobile devices
 Design Rooms where people an sit at their seats and send messages for all to read and brain
storm
 On Scale up it could include pictures also

6. Product Specifications
 Device should be as cheap as the existing one or close
 Thickness has to be close to a whiteboard, no bigger than a Amazon kindle thickness
 Needs to support new Smart Devices - Apple’s iPhone 6 came with platform for IoT and so
is Google’s Marshmallow
 Should not be Wi-Fi enabled and requires a complex set of accessories to interface
 Can not be LCD/LED as these are prone to ghosting and dead pixels
 Should have static texts, images and can still last for years with low or zero maintenance
 No requirement to connect to a power source and Battery should last at least for a month
with heavy usage
 Posting should be as easy as opening the App, typing the message and press send
 App will append the name of the person posting

7. Concept – SMABO MVP (Minimum Viable Product)
 Develop a Smart Board (Customizable Sizes – Key fob to large display board) based on E-
Ink and Low Energy IoT Bluetooth Smart Connectivity
 Develop IoT App for Android which will help interact with SMABO
 Integrated Battery on SMABO itself
 Following is a picture of a Prototype I found on a open source community after this idea
came to me. This prototype uses Wi-Fi SoC and not Bluetooth Smart SoC
*Image is from a Open Source Community

8. Material and Software Sourcing
 E-Ink Displays come custom built from http://www.eink.com/display_products.html
 Messaging App needs to be Built from scratch
 Mounting for Display needs to be built to custom specifications
 Messaging protocol Bluetooth Smart - Unidirectional needs to be researched and
integrated into the Messaging App