• Problem Statement

My roommate Matt does his laundry in small loads rather than big, lump sum loads. Therefore, he is always using the washing machine and dryer. In order for me to get to the machines, I have to enter through his room to pass through, which is awkward and inconvenient when he is not there. Come to find out Matt has left his laundry in the washing machine when I inevitably need to use it. I do not want to be responsible for his sopping wet laundry nor do I want to touch his intimate clothing, despite being clean it is the principle of the matter. He just leaves his clothes in and forgets about them being in there and leaves to go about his day.

• Goal

I wanted to give Matt a notification system for the washer and dryer so he may plan his time accordingly. If he leaves his clothes in the washing machine for too long, they begin to smell and acquire an odor. It is also inconvenient for his roommates even though he means no harm. By providing him with a notification means of determining when his laundry is finished, he can go about his day and still be aware of when he needs to switch from the washer to the dryer. I decided to give him an ambient notification device using photoresistors that go over the washing machine light in order to detect its completion of the cycle. When the photoresistor detects the light on the washer is off, it will submit a notification that it is finished.

• Process

Firstly, I used some code for a similar type of system from Martin Smaha from hackster. His code was much more intricate than I was seeking. Therefore, I was able to reduce a significant amount of his code and posted variable functions so that it would register the light levels of the photoresistors.