ESP32 ePaper Task Reminder Display

A smart, ultra‑low‑power task reminder station built with an ESP32‑S3 and a 1.54" ePaper display. The device syncs tasks from a cloud API and presents them in a clean, distraction‑free interface, making it ideal for desks, kitchens, or shared spaces.

Overview

This project turns an ESP32‑S3 ePaper board into a standalone task display. Tasks are managed remotely through a lightweight web interface and automatically fetched by the device over Wi‑Fi. Thanks to ePaper technology, the display remains visible in direct sunlight while consuming power only during screen refreshes.

Key Features

• ePaper Display
  High contrast, glare‑free screen with excellent readability indoors and outdoors, and near‑zero power usage when idle.

• Cloud‑Synced Tasks
  Tasks are fetched from a REST API (MockAPI recommended), allowing easy remote updates without reflashing the device.

• Web Management Portal
  Minimal HTML/JavaScript client to add or delete tasks from any modern browser.

• Battery Monitoring
  Visual 5‑segment battery gauge for quick, intuitive power status checks.

• Low‑Power Friendly
  Designed to be compatible with deep sleep and infrequent refresh cycles.

Hardware Requirements

• ESP32‑S3‑ePaper‑1.54 V2 (Waveshare)
• USB‑C cable

Software Requirements

• Arduino IDE or ESP‑IDF
• ESP32 board support package
• Internet connection (for API sync)

Architecture

• ESP32‑S3 handles Wi‑Fi connectivity, API communication, rendering, and power management.
• MockAPI (REST) stores task data in the cloud.
• Web Client interacts with the same API to manage tasks.
• ePaper Display renders tasks and battery status.

Get Started

git clone https://github.com/areynard13/esp32-task-reminder-display.git
cd esp32-task-reminder-display

Configuration

MockAPI Setup

MockAPI is recommended for simplicity and quick setup.

1. Create a new project (name of your choice).
2. Create a resource named todos.
3. Add only the Id field.
4. Copy the generated base URL.

This URL will be used by both the ESP32 firmware and the web client.

Web Client Configuration

• Open the web client folder.
• Paste the MockAPI base URL into the JavaScript configuration file.
• Open the HTML file in any browser to manage tasks.

ESP32 Configuration

• Open the main Arduino sketch file.
• Set your Wi‑Fi SSID and PASSWORD.
• Paste the same MockAPI base URL used by the web client.
• Adjust refresh intervals or power settings if needed.

Installation

Arduino IDE

1. Install the ESP32 board package.
2. Configure the IDE for the ESP32‑S3 ePaper board (see Waveshare documentation).
3. Open the project.
4. Verify configuration settings.
5. Compile and upload the firmware to the device.

For detailed board setup instructions, refer to the official Waveshare guide.

Power Notes

• ePaper only consumes power during screen refreshes.
• Wi‑Fi activity is the main power cost.

Use Cases

• Personal daily task list
• Desk or office reminder station
• Shared household to‑do display

License

This project is licensed under the Apache License 2.0.
See the LICENSE file for full details.