● IT consultant & hobbyist maker
Alex Shakespeare
My day job is mostly IT consultation. In my free time I build unique IoT gadgets and home automation projects. This site documents those builds.
// projects
Things I've built
OctoClock and old-school energy meter
Wall-based information panels to manage electricity costs — saving about £50 a month by using energy more mindfully at cheaper times.
Alternative flight simulator
A flight simulator from a passenger's perspective, using a Raspberry Pi Zero, real aircraft cockpit control panel, and an ESP32-driven passenger panel.
Window to the World
A live webcam behind a real window frame — move a magnetic plane on a world map to change locations, with a thermal sensor for false perspective.
Automated cocktail maker
My biggest build yet — a cocktail machine built around a small fridge, using air pressure and an HX711 load sensor for accurate measures.
Owl Barometer
A fun project — pictures where the eyes follow you, combined with a practical weather barometer so you never get caught without an umbrella.
Self actuated programmable switch
Tired of pulling out a phone to control WiFi switches, this project creates a physical self-switching wall switch with touch sensors.
Automatic pneumatic door
Electronics, magnetics, optoelectronics and pneumatics combine for a Star Trek-style automatic opening door.
Internet connected barometer
A Phidget Servo Module and a scheduled Perl script drive an analog barometer that automatically shows tomorrow's weather forecast.