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A “Bɘe-Wall” is a connected Home Information Panel (HIP) displaying applications that are easily created by you, by us, by anyone.
The first available Bɘe-Wall is the Melipona, a 15" connected touch screen that you can mount onto a wall.
One of the goals of this IndieGogo campaign is to fund the development of Trigona, the next generation dedicated device.
While companies like Microsoft and Samsung often claim that they will offer Home Information Panels (HIP) to their customers soon, Bɘe-Walls make it happen right now !
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They talk about us :
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We are already developing dozens of Bɘe-Notes that will be available from the Fundatrix Gallery to upload on your Bɘe-Wall
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You can also create new Bɘe-Notes fitting your own needs with a few lines of JavaScript, thanks to the Bɘe-Wall SDK (already available). If the Bɘe-Note that you create is of general interest, you are free to publish it onto the Fundatrix Gallery or on your own site.
If you want your new note to be available solely to your relatives,
you can push it onto their own Bɘe-Walls by simply drag'n'dropping it.
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Steven says: "You say that you have a few dozens applications while Apple offers more than 1 million of them ! Do you seriously want to compete ?" |
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The Bee says: "No, we're not competing with anyone, because despite the fact that a Home Information Panel (HIP) is quite convenient, no one else is offering this unique experience yet. Regarding the applications, a Bɘe-Wall is not designed to run complex software, but useful notes that can be easily created with a few lines of JavaScript. " |
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Not only do Bɘe-Walls appeal to geeks ; their father and even their grandmothers love them!
The Bɘe-OS makes Home Information Panels (HIP) easier to use than any tablet.
Features like free video calls between Bɘe-Walls and short messages posting from any mobile phone make social network a reality for everyone.
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Helen says: "Do you mean that I'm not able to use an iPad to get information? Are you joking?" |
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The Bee says: "Of course we use and love the iPad too! We just demonstrate that a glance at your Wall is much quicker and fun that having to find your tablet and start the proper application each time you need to get the traffic conditions or a TV schedule! The information displayed on a Bɘe-Wall finds you before you even need to find it." |
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Bɘe-Walls and their Bɘe-Notes are the ideal way to interact with the many smart objects that populate our homes. As a Bɘe-Wall user, you take advantage of all these objects from a single screen.
That’s the reason why Fundatrix manages one of the largest databases of connected objects.
Bɘe-Notes already exist for many smart objects and we are tightly connected with the most successful projects supported by IndieGogo and KickStarter.
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The infrastructure messaging system used by the Bɘe-OS is based on the MQTT IoT protocol created by IBM. MQTT users can directly use the Bɘe-Walls to create advanced front ends to MQTT enabled equipments. ![(c) IBM Corporation.]()
(c) IBM Corporation.
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- “Bɘe-OS” is the operating environment of any “Bɘe-Wall”. It is a Simple, Open & Social platform. The first full version is already powering the Melipona and the Windows SDK's simulator.
- “Bɘe-Note” is the name given to an application running on a “Bɘe-Wall”. “Bɘe-Notes” can easily be created by anyone, even with very limited technical knowledge, thanks to the already available SDK. Once a note is created, you can freely push it onto your Buddy's Bɘe Walls, with a simple drag'n'drop action.
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“Buddy Bar” is my circle of friend Bɘe-Walls. Because I trust them and that we want to keep in touch, they are connected to my wall. Their avatars are always visible in the “Buddy bar”.
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Alan says: "I get it ! This is yet another attempt to impose a new OS. Why didn't you just create a simple Androïd application ? Don't you know that it is today’s standard?" |
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The Bee says: "At FunDaTrix, we focus on the usability of the Walls by our father, our wife and our daughter... ...not only our geek brothers. (ie. SIMPLE)
The Bɘe-OS is designed to ease the use of a large vertical surface to display information useful to the entire family. It is also designed to exchange this information without having to deal with an application store that is complex and expensive. (ie. SOCIAL)
Bɘe-OS allows you to create and use the services that you want the way you want. (ie. OPEN)"
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The software platform:
At Fundatrix, we are currently putting the finishing touches on the development of the Bɘe-OS. It runs on top of virtually any basis operating system to provide a unique user experience:
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- It is Simple : because it is optimized to simplify the development of new powerful applications.
- It is Open : because anyone can create and deploy their own applications on any type of Bɘe-Wall.
- It is Social : because you can directly share Bɘe-Notes and contents with all your Wall's buddies. No Appstore hassles.
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Bɘe-OS: the environment used to develop, deploy and run the applications.
The Bɘe-OS is independent from the hardware & its basic operating system. It already runs on:
- Melipona panel PC
- MS-Windows SDK and Simulator
- Linux
- Android (not to be released)
- iOS (not to be released)
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![]() Version 0.9: 100% done.
![]() Version 1.0: delivery begins in November.
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Infrastructure services: used to manage wall accounts, notifications, information sharing,...
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![]() 70% done.
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Bɘe-Notes Gallery: used to publish and share the Bɘe-Notes created by you.
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![]() 40% done.
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Bɘe-Wall SDK |
90% done. Available for Windows. |
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The hardware platform:
The Bɘe-OS is designed to empower different types of Home Information Panel (HIP) hardwares.
By plugging the Bɘe-Wall-Live USB Key into any supported hardware, you can turn it into a full featured Bɘe-Wall.
Two Bɘe-Wall devices are currently on track: MELIPONA and TRIGONA.
MELIPONA: the Early Bird Device
Melipona is a genus of stingless bee.
In 2010, Orange designed a Linux based panel PC called "le tablo”. Thanks to its many cool features, it can easily be turned into a Bɘe-Wall, offering the great opportunity to bring a Bɘe-Wall to life now !
- Flat design, Wall mountable
- Linux Ubuntu operating system
- 15.4 “ 1440 x 900 pixels. LCD TFT screen
- Resistive touch screen
- Wifi
- Embedded Web-cam with omnidirectional microphone & two integrated loudspeakers
- Presence IR sensor.
- Two USB ports
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750 Melipona devices are ready to be shipped as soon as Bɘe-OS is officially released.
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Jack says: "Do you mean to say Melipona is not the ideal Bɘe-Wall ?" |
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The Bee says: "Melipona is a perfect device to run existing Bɘe-Notes and to create new ones. Its current limitations are:
- Its screen is 15”4 wide: it’s quite large for a panel PC, but the ideal Bɘe-Wall’s screen will be the entire wall !
- Its touchscreen is resistive: current tablets accustom us to smoother touch experiences that will be also proposed by the next Bɘe-Walls.
- The screen visibility is not better than the one currently offered by tablets. The next Bɘe-Wall's screens will be visible from farther too."
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TRIGONA: the Device for all of us.
Trigona is another genus of stingless bee.
We are currently creating a new Bɘe-Wall code-named TRIGONA. Many of its features have already been decided. Some of them may be added or outclassed if we manage to get a better offer for the targetted price.
Feature
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Current choice
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Investigated outclass
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Processor / Chipset
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Freescale iMX6
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Screen
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17“ LCD
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Larger e-Ink screen
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Touch technology
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Capacitive
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LeapMotion
Nemopsys Ootsidebox
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3D Support
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OpenGL
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Connectivity
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WiFi, BLE (BlueTooth Low Energy)
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ZigBee
NFC
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The motherboard is based on the powerful new generation i.MX6 processor created by FreeScale Semiconductor. Its integration is made in France by éolane, a highly skilled design house and manufacturer creating innovative electronics for major industry players since 1975.
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Jaklin says: "I think that my company is currently developing a better technology than one of the ones listed above..." |
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The Bee says: "Glad to hear it ! The project is still open to any improvement scaling up to the ideal Bɘe-Wall. Please get in touch quickly before we freeze our choices !" |
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Fundatrix was created in 2012 to share our passion for connected objects, the Internet of Things (IoT), the Man-Machine Interfaces (MMI) and how it all comes together. With our users and partners, we create small pieces of software as well as major pieces of hardware.
![The Bee]()
![Franck Lefevre]()
![Nicolas Silberzahn]()
![Laura Gerard]()
![Samuel Cazin]()
Earlier in 1998, we founded Digital Airways which offers expertise, professional services and software tools to companies like Orange, Samsung and Schneider Electric to manage their product's MMIs. Digital Airways also provides most of the software components embedded in Fundatrix' products.
To promote the Bɘe-Wall, we partner with VITAMEAN, a young Marketing agency reinforcing small startups up to big companies thanks to their passion for open innovation, crowdfunding or other marketing alternatives. Samuel says: "We are excited and proud to help FUNDATRIX with this great project!".
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Purchasing and setup
- Can I buy it for my office ?
Sure! The Bɘe-Notes that are already available are mainly designed for the Home, but the Bɘe-Walls are Open and you can easily create professional Bɘe-Notes and share them with your colleagues.
- Can I choose the color of my Bɘe-Wall ?
For the moment, there is only one color for the Bɘe-Wall Melipona, but we plan to launch soon colored shells for the Bɘe-Wall.
Buying and shipping
- When do you plan to ship the first Bɘe-Walls ?
The Bɘe-Wall Melipona are already available and functional. We are currently finishing its operating system, the Bɘe-OS. We plan to ship the first boxes in November 2013.
For Trigona, you’ll have to wait until Q2 2014.
Privacy
- Is Bɘe-Wall secure?
The Bɘe-Wall is not an intrusive device. It fully respects your privacy. Nobody can see the notes you are using nor intercept your communications.
In the other hand, Fundatrix will never send you any promotional unaniticipated Bɘe-Note
Will it work with other objects ?
- Will Bɘe-Wall work with my computer or Mac ?
You don’t need any computer to use your Bɘe-Wall. Such Home Information Panels (HIP) are completely autonomous. You will only need a PC running Windows to develop new Bɘe-Notes using the SDK.
- Can I run the Bɘe-OS on a phone or other screens ( like a tablet ) ?
The Bɘe-OS is able to run on many platforms ( Linux, Windows, Androïd, iOS, MacOS,...) but as it has been designed to let you use interactive services, it only makes sense on large touch-screens.. Usual tablets and handsets’ screens are just to small to offer a good user experience. If you know new devices that can be used as a Bɘe-Wall, just let us know !
- Can I use my Bɘe-Wall to control any smart object ?
Taking advantage of connected objects is a part of the Bɘe-Walls’ DNA (Arduino, Ninja Blocs, Withings's objects,...). However, some publishers and manufacturers of connected objects use APIless systems that do not allow any integration with other products than their own. We do not guarantee that the Bɘe-Walls work with any object, but we make our best to achieve a complete interoperability between all these devices !
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Our goal is to make Bɘe-Walls Simple, Open and Social. To do so, we need a strong community and we all know that IndieGogo is a good place to create such a community of active supporters of exciting projects.