Let's make Wearables with a 4 Euro WiFi Wireless Module at MeshCon'14

The ESP8266 is a WiFi module that is so small and cheap, that it becomes interesting for FashionTec as we can add it into clothing creating Wearables. It pretty much does not exist outside China. Fortunately at MeshCon'14 (http://meshcon.net) Benjamin Henrion will bring samples and give a workshop with this interesting piece of hardware. Location: TU Berlin, Marchstr. 23, When: Sat. Oct. 11, 10am

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So why is it cool? It is accessible via normal WiFI (WLAN networks) through the standard 802.11 and addressable over SPI and UART, making this an exceptionally easy choice for anyone wanting to build an Internet of Things thing. You can simply connect any microcontroller to this module and start pushing data up to the Internet.

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As far as the English-speaking world is concerned, there is absolutely nothing to be found anywhere on the Internet on this module.

Seeed Studio recently sold a few of these modules for $7 and has some documentation, including a full datasheet and an AT command set. All the documentation is in Chinese. And, anyone wanting to grab one of these modules can do so on Ali Express.

It will be exciting to see what ideas people have and what they will do after the workshop. How about community meshing with Freifunk (http://blog.freifunk.net) over your clothes and garments?

Links:

Seedstudio Order: http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/WiFi-Serial-Transceiver-Module-w-ESP8266-p-1994.html

Hackaday: http://hackaday.com/2014/08/26/new-chip-alert-the-esp8266-wifi-module-its-5/

Seedstudion Documentation: http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/WiFi-Serial-Transceiver-Module-w-ESP8266-p-1994.html

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Freifunk: http://freifunk.net