Summary of GE Launches an Interface Board to Let You Hack Their Appliances
General Electric is launching the "Green Bean," an open-source interface board enabling makers to program and control smart appliances like ovens and refrigerators. Distributed via the FirstBuild program with Local Motors, this module connects devices such as Raspberry Pi to GE appliances' internal systems. Using a Node.js SDK on GitHub, users can reprogram features for temperature control, remote monitoring, and status updates, fostering rapid innovation in home appliance customization.
Parts used in the Green Bean Project:
- Green Bean interface board
- Raspberry Pi or other computing device
- GE smart appliances (ovens and refrigerators)
- Node.js SDK
- GitHub repository
General Electric is releasing an interface board that will let you program and control their smart appliances, and they’re giving away a batch of ovens and refrigerators to makerspaces to help launch the project.
The program comes through the FirstBuild program, a new endeavor by GE and Local Motors to interface with independent designers to find, make, and license new product ideas much more rapidly than normal for the manufacturing giant. The interface board, called the Green Bean, is their first product, released to help makers generate new appliance-based projects.
The open-source “maker module” allows you to connect a Raspberry Pi or other computing device directly into the brain of certain GE appliances to reprogram them to control temperature, tweet status updates, offer remote control, or more. Its SDK, using Node.js, is on github, and a variety of projects are already being posted on their site, ranging from refrigerator light controllers to a smartphone alert for your dryer that allows you to keep the cycle spinning if you’re not able to remove the clothes before they wrinkle.
For more detail: GE Launches an Interface Board to Let You Hack Their Appliances
- What is the Green Bean?
It is an open-source maker module released by General Electric to let users program and control their smart appliances. - How does the interface board connect to appliances?
The module allows you to connect a Raspberry Pi or other computing device directly into the brain of certain GE appliances. - Can I control the temperature using this project?
Yes, the open-source maker module allows you to reprogram appliances to control temperature among other functions. - Does the project support remote control capabilities?
Yes, users can reprogram appliances to offer remote control functionality through the module. - What programming language is used for the SDK?
The SDK uses Node.js and is available on GitHub. - Where can I find example projects?
A variety of projects are posted on the official site, ranging from refrigerator light controllers to dryer smartphone alerts. - Which companies are involved in the FirstBuild program?
The program is an endeavor by General Electric and Local Motors to interface with independent designers. - Are physical appliances provided for makerspaces?
Yes, General Electric is giving away a batch of ovens and refrigerators to makerspaces to help launch the project.
