We have previously explored alternative uses for smartphones and mobile phones, but the idea of reusing their components with the goal of creating something different throws us headfirst into the territory of DIY, and one of the best allies we can find there is Arduino hardware. That said, the portal/channel Tinkernut decided to build nothing less than a smartwatch from a mobile phone, and its 'sacrifice' was the unforgettable Nokia 1100.
From junk drawer to smartwatch
It's very likely that you have one or two old mobile phones gathering dust in a drawer, not knowing exactly what to do with them. Radio clock, alarm, audio player... some of its secondary functions can complement a modern smartphone without a problem, but there's another option: get your hands dirty, completely disassemble the phone, take its parts and make something new. Popular models (or at least those that were popular in the past) have the added advantage of more extensive documentation. Exact specifications, replacements and equivalences, pinouts, everything is useful when the plan is to transform the hardware.
The Tinkernut project
The portal Tinkernut, which also has a YouTube channel, published a new project divided into three parts that converts the memorable and robust Nokia 1100 into a smartwatch. While it's much more complicated than it sounds, there's a 'wildcard' in the whole process, and it's the Arduino Uno. The first step was to use this hardware as the controller of the LCD panel, and then functions were established at the level of Bluetooth connectivity with a smartphone, displaying the date and time, correctly turning on the screen backlight, and activating the vibration motor. The Arduino Uno can only be used as a prototype due to its size, and for the final version, Tinkernut switched to its more compact equivalent, the Pro Mini. The software part becomes very advanced, since the images to be reproduced on the LCD must be transformed into code with the help of an application.
In total, the videos represent about 20 minutes of information, but the project suggests following the visual material and visiting the official page to get all the necessary resources. The final size of the smartwatch is considerable, especially after installing its battery, however, if we talk about functionality, it does everything you expect from a basic smartwatch. Personally, the simple fact of recycling the LCD screen of a Nokia 1100 seems great to me. I'm sure I have one stored away, and the Pro Mini clones on eBay cost a few coins. What are we waiting for?
