This gorgeous steampunk headset status-indicator uses gears, magnets and illuminated panels to warn cow-orkers that you’re on the phone and don’t bug me.
I work in an office cubicle and regularly use a headset (the second best office tool ever invented). Every so often, my coworkers would sneak up behind me and start jabbering away not realizing I’m on the phone. I needed a way to alert them that I’m preoccupied…So because of those reasons, I made this Steampunk Headset Hook. While not in use my headset just sits on the hook. When I receive or make a call I remove the headset from the hook and the LED backlights a sign that says, On Phone Sorry. This alerts anyone walking into my cubicle that I’m on the phone. I know it is kind of dumb, but at least it gives a purpose for a joule thief circuit.
A side benefit of this project is that I work in California where battery recycling is enforced. Our office has small cardboard containers throughout that are used to collect used batteries. These containers are rarely collected and are almost always 1/2 full. So essentially I have an unlimited supply of “dead”
batteries at my disposal. This Joule Thief will never go hungry.
(via Make)