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Initial ideas are for a Skype-based solution.  Perhaps we can dedicate a laptop as an always-on phone server?  (Laptop b/c relatively portable, usually have built-in wifi.)
Initial idea is for a Skype-based solution.  Perhaps we can dedicate a laptop as an always-on phone server?  (Laptop b/c relatively portable, usually have built-in wifi.)


Elliot is doing interwebs reasearch now (Aug 18th night) but anyone know what details we need to sweat to make this work?  Is wifi sufficient bandwidth?  Are there soundcard requirements for the lappy?  Given a phone and a soundcard, I can work out the electronics.  (Amp for the old phones?)
Elliot is doing interwebs reasearch now (Aug 18th night) but anyone know what details we need to sweat to make this work?  Is wifi sufficient bandwidth?  Are there soundcard requirements for the lappy?   


Dead-easy (boring, but functional) way: Cut up a headset and stick it in the phone.  Pros: USB or sound-card driven pretty easily, and we can just use the headset in the mean-time.  Cons: It's cheating and we'll have to sacrifice a phone.
Fun way: Build an old-phone to line-level converter box and take it from there.  Pros: Sexy, will work with any old phone that can plug in, would be a "real" hack.  Cons:  Experimental, will take time.
Will need to figure out ringer/alert system either way.  I've been meaning to work on old-phone ringer circuits anyway, so this part could be fun.  Otherwise, the quick-and-dirty buzzer should be ok.  This can be realized incrementally.
Butt sets?  Pulse-to-tone dialer-converters?  So much fun to be had.


== Prior Art: Links and References ==
== Prior Art: Links and References ==

Revision as of 23:17, 18 August 2008

Executive Summary

We need a phone in the space so people can see if someone's there and the space is open. (Or to call for cupcakes in case of broken pinkie.)


Timeline: This should be a no-brainer. Can we get it done by end of Aug?

Brainstorming:

Initial idea is for a Skype-based solution. Perhaps we can dedicate a laptop as an always-on phone server? (Laptop b/c relatively portable, usually have built-in wifi.)

Elliot is doing interwebs reasearch now (Aug 18th night) but anyone know what details we need to sweat to make this work? Is wifi sufficient bandwidth? Are there soundcard requirements for the lappy?


Dead-easy (boring, but functional) way: Cut up a headset and stick it in the phone. Pros: USB or sound-card driven pretty easily, and we can just use the headset in the mean-time. Cons: It's cheating and we'll have to sacrifice a phone.

Fun way: Build an old-phone to line-level converter box and take it from there. Pros: Sexy, will work with any old phone that can plug in, would be a "real" hack. Cons: Experimental, will take time.


Will need to figure out ringer/alert system either way. I've been meaning to work on old-phone ringer circuits anyway, so this part could be fun. Otherwise, the quick-and-dirty buzzer should be ok. This can be realized incrementally.

Butt sets? Pulse-to-tone dialer-converters? So much fun to be had.

Prior Art: Links and References