Stock Tracker Device
StockBox takes the world of stocks and makes it accessible without apps or smartphones, providing a visual, interactive experience for youngsters.
The small device shows stock movements in real-time, giving an insight into the movements of the markets, and aiming to spark curiosity to understand the movements.
Team
Solo Project
Hobby
Gift for brother
Duration
1 Week
Originally designed for my brother, this project marked a transformative journey in his perception of stock investing. The custom-made device, presenting real-time stock portfolio changes, took the abstract world of stocks and turned it into a palpable, engaging experience.
Before StockBox, the stock market was an enigma - a complex, distant world seemingly reserved for adults. But as my brother began interacting with StockBox, I saw this perception shift. The device translated the cryptic figures and charts of the stock market into accessible visuals. It served as a bridge, connecting his busy life filled with school and playtime to the daunting world of investing. His curiosity was piqued, and he was empowered to explore and understand the financial dynamics at play.
Beyond the joy of creating something for my sibling, StockBox demonstrated the potential for tangible, interactive tools to teach financial literacy to youngsters. It revealed how we can simplify complex concepts and deliver them in a manner that is not just educational but also relatable and engaging for the younger audience. From an idea sparked by my brother's curiosity, StockBox has evolved into a powerful tool, shedding light on how we can approach financial education for the younger generation.
OUTCOME
Realtime Portfolio Tracker
What did I do?
Who is this for?
How long did it take?
Why did I do it?
Everything, with a lot of help from ChatGPT on the development front.
Personal project and a gift for my little brother.
One week of focused work.
Young kids who want to track their stock portfolio.
PROCESS
1. Setting Up Hardware and Software
I used the hardware I had at hand: the Particle Photon, which was responsible for fetching necessary data, and the ST7735 TFT screen for displaying the data. After setting up and testing them via the Particle Web IDE, I moved forward with the software implementation.
2. Overcoming Limitations
The Particle Photon was clearly not made for character animations. Its limited memory made full-image animation difficult. So, I chose to animate only the character's mouth. This simple change made the project work without overloading the Photon. The overall animation quality stayed good, and I learned a lot about working within hardware limits. The characters were made in Figma converted to bitmap and stored as array's on the Particle Photon.
3. Webhooks and APIs
In the software part, I used three APIs to get market status, stock price, and NOK/USD exchange rate. My brother collects Pokemon cards and buys them in NOK. Seeing his stock value in the same currency made financial concepts easier for him to understand, even if it's not directly linked to the price of his cards.
4. 3D Printing Case
In the project's next phase, I needed a case for the hardware. I turned to 3D printing and used Blender for modeling, CURA for slicing, and an Ultimaker printer to bring the design to life.
5. From Breadboard to Case
With all the digital and physical pieces ready, it was time to assemble the final StockBox. This phase marked the transition from prototyping to the actual product. I removed the prototyping pins and meticulously arranged all the components inside the 3D-printed case.
6. Finishing Touches
Due to my remote location, I had limited materials available for the finishing touches on the case. Nevertheless, I used what I had: caulk and rough sandpaper. Applying caulk helped fill the gaps and ridges, while sanding smoothed out the surface, removing the visible lines left by 3D printing.
PROCESS
1. Setting Up Hardware and Software
I used the hardware I had at hand: the Particle Photon, which was responsible for fetching necessary data, and the ST7735 TFT screen for displaying the data. After setting up and testing them via the Particle Web IDE, I moved forward with the software implementation.
3. Webhooks and API's
In the software part, I used three APIs to get market status, stock price, and NOK/USD exchange rate. My brother collects Pokemon cards and buys them in NOK. Seeing his stock value in the same currency made financial concepts easier for him to understand, even if it's not directly linked to the price of his cards.
2. Computing Limitations
Using the particle Particle Photon (released in 2015) for character animations, proved to be a fun challenge. Its limited memory made full-image animation difficult. So, I chose to animate only the character's mouth. This simple change made the project work without overloading the Photon. The overall animation quality stayed good, and I learned a lot about working within hardware limits.
4. 3D Printing the Case
In the project's next phase, I needed a case for the hardware. I turned to 3D printing and used Blender for modeling, CURA for slicing, and an Ultimaker printer to bring the design to life.
5. From Breaboard to Case
With all the digital and physical pieces ready, it was time to assemble the final StockBox. This phase marked the transition from prototyping to the actual product. I removed the prototyping pins and meticulously arranged all the components inside the 3D-printed case.
