Aside from a people of colour screen and an choice to boost the processor ’s stop number , the Game Boy Color included an infrared port that was mostly used for portion out information , like high scores or unlockable character reference . One tinkererfound a good usefor it , turning a gifted GBC into aremote controlfor his air conditioner .
Curious what else the IR transmitter could be used for , JinGen Lim ( their chosen username ) discovered a long - forgotten GBCMission out of the question gamethat include PDA functionality , including a software program - based learning remote that could keep in line TVs and other equipment wirelessly , long before wifi or Bluetooth was readily approachable to consumer . rather of digging up a transcript of the plot , however , they resolve to start from cacography .
But creating custom software for the Game Boy Color was n’t as wanton or approachable as create apps for Android or iOS fluid devices is today . The only way to get the GBC to consort impost computer code is by place it on a pickup . Special carts that can be debase up with multiple ROMs are available for the GBC , but are expensive , and prescribed GBC biz magazine can only be program once at the factory . Bootleg cartridges are n’t likewise circumscribed , however , and with a $ 30 computer programing card , they can be easily written over with custom code .
Photo: JinGen Lim (Twitter)
Excited to be able to operate my air - conditioner with a GameBoy Color , using my own fixed storage !
( How I built it : https://t.co / K1Rzhx0qbn)pic.twitter.com / wQGq3iMHQC
— JinGen Lim ( @jg_lim)April 27 , 2020
Infrared remote work by simply flash a serial of light pulses ( invisible to human eyes ) at another equipment to institutionalize teaching or information , and to find out the patterns used by his air conditioner remote to talk to the appliance , they opened it up , soldered a wire to the IR emitter , and entrance the electric signals through his computer . This allowed him to decipher the signal for various functions , like office , and temperature adjustments .
This groundwork signify that they did n’t have to develop a GBC app that could appropriate and learn instructions , it essentially just had to become the console ’s IR emitter on and off . There were a few additional challenges along the way , which they solved by take over some maverick antic from Nintendo itself , but eventually , he was left with what might be the most boring Game Boy Color magazine ever formulate . Hopefully , he ’ll keep on to develop the app , and maybe even gamify the process of aline the temperature in a room . conceive of having to clear a line in Tetris for every degree cooler you want it to be .
Game BoyHacks
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