I've no experience with arduino at all, but I've got a clue, that this could be a possible way to go when I asked in my circle of friends for a technical solution for building a digital tombstone. When my daughter passed away I thought about a possibility to send her greetings from everywhere and at any time because most of her friends are living far from the cemetery and are not able to put flowers on her grave. My idea is to combine a natural tombstone with a digital picture frame consists basically of a LCD display, a SIM card and a power unit to enable it for receiving and displaying MMS messages. Because usually there is no electricity supply at the cemetery I thought of a solar cell based power supply in combination with a lithium ion battery. Over and above the technical solution must be water and cold resistant.
Is there anyone in this community who can tell me if arduino can be a suitable toolset and maybe interested in helping me to define and construct a suitable solution (I'm not an engineer)? But I'm also appreciate any idea to bring me one step forward.
Thanks in advance. I think my daughter would be pleased about it - she died at the age of 21.
I'm very sorry for your loss - I have a 21 year old daughter, and I can't imagine being without her.
I've got to say though, that anything you could make today is not going to last for more than a very few years in an open environment, exposed to the elements, however much money you have to throw at it.
I wouldn't want my memories to be entrusted to something that is going to look tatty and decrepit in a very short time.
Have you considered something like a Web-based memorial?
That's potentially going to be longer-lasting, and more accessible to more people.
I really don't want to discourage you, but I do know that the weather and water are very patient, and will, given enough time, ruin most things, however carefully constructed.
Thanks for your sympathies and your sceptical comments. But I think your fear is unfounded because there is already a commercial solution available looking nice and robust. Please have a look at: http://www.glaser-holzkunst.de/ - unfortunately only in German but with some pictures. The handicap of this model is the unflexibility - no SIM module and no solar cell based power supply.
But I talked to the originator and he told me if I can find a better technical solution he can do a professional integration into a tombstone.
But I think your fear is unfounded because there is already a commercial solution available looking nice and robust
I think the keyword there is "commercial".
I wish you well.
Thanks for your candid feedback.