I often find myself missing notifications when focused on a task, and even though I have two monitors on my workstation, those are still not enough sometimes. Sure, I can be more attentive, but it is what it is.
Anyhow, recently, I got to know about WebScreen, a small display that sits neatly on top of a monitor and shows notifications and reminders. It caught my attention, so let's see what it's all about.
📝 WebScreen: Key Specifications
Part of HW Media Lab's portfolio, WebScreen is the work of Pedro Martin and Eleo Basili, who have created a hackable, open source secondary display for gamers, creators, and makers. It’s designed to sit atop your monitor and show notifications, stats, and reminders without interrupting your workflow.
The device features a 1.9–2.1 inch AMOLED with a 240 × 536 resolution, delivering clear, vibrant visuals that are easy to glance at while focusing on other tasks.
WebScreen is powered by an ESP32-S3 microcontroller and supports USB-C (for power and data), Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connectivity. This allows it to integrate easily into your setup, communicate with other devices, and stay fully functional whether you’re on Linux, Windows, or macOS.
Users can run JavaScript apps directly from a microSD card, making it simple to create custom dashboards, reminders, pomodoro timers, or alerts.
Its physical design includes a 1/4-inch mount for monitor attachment and a top screw for adding a webcam. There are also plans for a "WebScreen Marketplace," where users will be able to share and download custom apps, enclosure skins, and hardware mods.
🛒 Acquiring the WebScreen
WebScreen is currently available for backing via Crowd Supply for $99. The crowdfunding campaign will run until November 5, 2025, giving early supporters the opportunity to get the device before general release.
The hardware and software are fully open source. All resources, including PCB designs, firmware, and apps, are available on GitHub.
Suggested Read 📖
Sourav Rudra
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