Say It! — Bathroom Buddy
A programmable motion-activated Reminder Buddy that plays custom messages when someone enters its detection zone.
About the invention
Say It!™ is a small, friendly character you place anywhere in the house. When somebody walks into its detection zone, it plays a custom reminder message. HOW IT WORKS A PIR motion sensor hidden in the character's eye area detects movement, a microcontroller (ESP32) tells an audio module to play a recorded message through a built-in speaker, all powered by a rechargeable USB-C battery. A smart cooldown keeps it from repeating itself, and an adjustable delay lets it speak at just the right moment. PROTOTYPE V1 (NO APP NEEDED) Motion sensor → programmable audio board → speaker. Electronics target cost: about $14–$26 (ESP32-C3, PIR sensor, DFPlayer Mini, 3W speaker, microSD card, rechargeable 18650 battery, USB-C charging board). Build the electronics on the bench first, then put them inside the character shell. VERSION 2 — PHONE CONTROLLED Bluetooth/Wi-Fi app control to change Message → Voice → Volume → Delay → Cooldown → Active Hours. Type or record any message. Eventually, type "Tell my son to flush and turn the light off, but make it funny" and choose voices like Funny / Parent / Coach / Robot / Monster / Friendly / Serious. ONE PRODUCT, MANY BUDDIES The same hardware becomes Bathroom Buddy, Welcome Buddy ("Hey y'all! Welcome to my house!"), Security Buddy for off-limit areas, Chore Buddy, Classroom Buddy, Store Buddy, Bedroom Buddy, and more. Interchangeable character shells: penguin, puppy, dinosaur, robot, cat — 3 to 5 inches tall with big friendly eyes. KEY FEATURES • Motion activated (PIR sensor hidden in the eye area) • Adjustable delay — speaks a moment after it sees you, not instantly • Cooldown so it never nags on repeat • Enter and exit modes (remind on the way in, check on the way out) • Multiple random message variations so it stays fun • Rechargeable battery with USB-C charging and a real on/off switch • Interchangeable character shells (penguin, puppy, dinosaur, robot, cat) • V2 adds Bluetooth/Wi-Fi phone control — no app needed to start
“Taj sometimes forgets to wash his hands or turn off the bathroom light, so he imagined a simple solution: a friendly reminder at exactly the right moment. When motion is detected in the bathroom, Say It! Bathroom Buddy reminds you to wash your hands and turn off the light—a simple solution to a simple problem.”
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