Twitter isn’t just a sounding board for the latest news headlines or funniest memes. It can also be used as a command system for the home devices you use every day — from your coffee pot to your washing machine. We found five smart devices that connect you with your social media feeds, so you never miss a beat (or a hot cuppa joe).
Tweet-a-Pot
Yes, you can set your coffee pot to start brewing at 7 a.m. sharp every weekday, but what about when you’re on the go? If you’re going to need a caffeine-boost the second you walk through your front door, shoot a tweet to Tweet-a-Pot, and a fresh cup will be waiting. The system connects with Twitter and uses an arduino board, so all you need is a little bit of code to make it happen.
Snarky Snooze Alarm Clock
A lot of smartphone users have tossed the traditional alarm clock in favor of their phone’s clock, which is usually outfitted with its own, customizable alarm feature. If you’re an early weekday riser, chances are you hit the snooze button once or twice, but OKITE for the iPhone tries to break that habit by using negative reinforcement: It sends a random, embarrassing tweet every time you hit the snooze button. (Note that the Japan-based app is also available in English.) Maybe after a couple of re-tweets you’ll go back to your traditional LED clock.
Samsung’s Tweeting Refrigerator
More than half of readers that Mashable polled thought Samsung’s tweeting refrigerator was a bit of an overkillwhen it debuted at CES in 2011. However, we think it’s a pretty useful feature. The Internet-connected refrigerator is outfitted with an 8-inch touchscreen that displays everything from your Twitter feed to your favorite Pandora station. Perhaps we’ll start seeing more foodie tweets with wider adoption of this device — that is, if Samsung lowers its $3,699 price tag.
The Washing Machine Hack
In 2009, Ryan Rose hacked his washing machine to shoot him a tweet once it finished its wash cycle. Rose outfitted his old Maytag with a network port, BS2 Stamp, 9 volt power inverter and a limit switch to detect wash mode. We’re guessing that Rose’s tricked-out washer is still going strong — three years later, you can still follow his washer’s mundane tweets @PiMPY3WASH. While it may not be the fanciest setup, it’s a cool way to bring your outdated appliance into the digital age without spending a fortune.
The Toaster Hack
The washing machine isn’t the only appliance that famously got the hack treatment. You can make your very own Twittering toaster with just the $88 ioBridge module, which is used to connect your device to the web. You don’t necessarily have to be an engineering whiz, just a little adventurous. Check out Hand Scharler’sInstructables photo guide for a step-by-step tutorial on getting your toaster set up on the social network. You can follow Scharler’s rather banal tweets @mytoaster, which has been up and running since 2008.
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