Yearly, lots of of small conferences occur across the globe. They could not get the media consideration of massive occasions like CES or Open Sauce, however their attendees are simply as enthusiastic. Tyler Crumpton wished to make badges to foster that enthusiasm for PhreakNIC 26, a small infosec con held in Tennessee, however had a restricted funds. Fortunately constraints breed creativity, which led to him utilizing digital shelf labels to make these battery-free badges.
Digital shelf labels (ESLs) are low-power retail shows that you just’ll discover in some shops. They’re useful as a result of retailer managers can shortly replace data, equivalent to merchandise costs throughout a sale, while not having to print new labels. And as commodity gadgets, they’re pretty low cost.
Crumpton was capable of finding an eBay itemizing for 100 used ZBD 55c-RB ESLs for simply $66.49 (together with a reduction for buying two tons). That works out to only 67 cents every, which is remarkably cost-effective for these screens. They’ve bistable LCDs that, like e-ink screens, retain their content material even with out energy. These explicit items had lifeless batteries, however that retention made the batteries pointless.
To make the badges look good, Crumpton put the shows inside 3D-printed enclosures made to appear like pagers. They’re fairly darn charming.
The ultimate step was making a system that may let attendees replace the screens of their badges. A QR code would take attendees to particular web site the place they may design their badge show with a bunch of various frames and customized textual content. They may then place their badge on a programming station, which had pogo pins to the touch the show’s contacts and replace it with new firmware containing the chosen graphics.
The consequence was a ridiculously low cost (lower than $1 every) badge design that was nonetheless very interesting. Unsurprisingly, the badges had been an enormous hit at PhreakNIC 26.