We’re unsure, however the variety of recognizable alphanumeric characters {that a} seven-segment show can handle appears to have extra to do with human sample recognition than engineering. It takes some creativeness, and maybe a little bit squinting, to discern some characters, although. Arguably higher is the fourteen-segment show, which has been pressed into service on this just-for-funsies IOT message board.

As [Steve] tells the story, that is a type of “boredom-buster” initiatives that begin with a glance by the junk bin to see what presents itself. In his case, some fourteen-segment common-cathode LEDs introduced themselves, and the end result was a easy however enjoyable construct. [Steve] used some intelligent strategies to get the show stuffed onto two protoboards, together with mounting the current-limiting resistors cordwood-style between the boards. A Raspberry Pi drives the show by a really neatly routed ribbon cable, and the entire thing lives in a tidy wood field.

The IOT a part of the construct permits the show to indicate messages entered on [Steve]’s internet web page, with a webcam dwell stream to shut the loop. Surprisingly, the show appears caught on the “HI HACKADAY!” we entered as a check after [Steve] tipped us off, so we’re unsure if we busted it or what. Apologies if we did, [Steve]. And by the way in which, in case your cats are named [Nibble] and [Pixel], properly performed!

It doesn’t matter what you do with them, multi-segment shows are fairly cool. However in case you suppose they’re one thing new, you’ve obtained one other suppose coming.