Touchatag+Python+Samurize coffee counter

Welcome to this new Instructable !

One thing I often hear while explaining basic Touchatag/Mir:ror concepts to people is that they don't seem to be much more than a glorified link and a gadget. This is totally true as far as such objects are concerned in their most basic form, Why bother put together something so complicated for tiny results ? Their real advantage lies in automation and linking unusual objects for computers to interact with.

One example I read about when I first started looking up uses RFID tags can have but haven't seen around me yet was a counter of how many times a specific RFID tag is used. This is not a native feature with Touchatags clients, in that it's not one of the applications on the website/dashboard yet yet. Until then, and with some help from a friend with a knack for Python, lots of time and lots of patience on my wife's part, I was able to wrap up that application for your Instructableing pleasure !

Today we're going to see how to use Touchatags to activate a Python script that counts how much coffee you drink a day, and use Samurize to display it on your screen. Ready, get set...Go !

Special thanks, in chronological order of involvement, go to :
Guillaume "GuiWizz" Pierron, for helping me sort out a cleaner version of the Python code ;
Christina G. Smith, for designing a nice cup of coffee ;
Nikki Pugh, for breaking this Instructable in every possible way and helping make it better.

Step 1 Requirements

For the purpose of this Instructable, you'll need :
- a Touchatag reader ;
- 2 tags ;
- a coffee mug ;
- a text editor for Python and batch files writing, such as Programmer's Notepad) ;
- a copy of Samurize ;
- the 2.6.1 version of Python ;
- you're good to go !

Comments

[luke.guida]

It's exactly what I was looking for! It's a great tutorial! Any other ideas with Touchatag? Have you other projects like this? Thanks

[Deslivres]

Hi luke.guida, I'm glad you like the tutorial. I don't have any more touchatag-related projects yet at the moment, but I might go back to it sometimes this summer :) In the meantime, make sure to share with us whatever you come up with !