Sci-Tech-Discovery-Center-Interactive-Sinage

Conceptual Overview

This project is an interactive signage system designed to run on a Raspberry Pi.

It allows users to scan an organ (Embedded with an NFC ID), via an NFC reader, and select a language using physical buttons. Based on the scanned ID and selected language, the system plays a specific educational video on screen.

Note : This project has mock videos and is to be replaced with actual educational videos in the future.

Roles:

-> User: Scans ID, selects language, watches video.

-> Administrator: Manually manages the video content and ID mappings via the JSON file (interactive-signage-backend/polls/testdata.json) and File system (artifacts directory containing video files)

User Flow:

Child scans an artifact --> Screen switches from the splash screen to language selection screen --> Child either presses a button for language selection within 15 seconds or waits --> Screen switches to video display screen and video plays (video is in language of button selection or defaults to English) --> Video ends --> Screen reverts to Splash Screen

Functional Requirements

Splash Screen: Contains "Scan here" message alongside a visual use diagram.

NFC Reader: Reads NFC the ID via PN532 HAT, recognizes the ID, and switches to the language screen

Language Selection Screen:

Allows users to choose a language (English, Spanish, Telugu) via 3 physical buttons in a timeout period.

Timeout Logic: Automatically defaults to English if no language is selected within 15 seconds.

Video Playback: Retrieves and plays the correct video file based on the selected ID and language.

System Reset: Returns to splash screen after video completion, to serve the next user.

Real-time: Server-Sent Events (SSE) used to update the frontend state immediately upon the user's interaction.

Third-Party Integrations

N/A - This is a fully self-contained system.

Hardware Integration:

Enable SPI Interface on Raspberry Pi:

Open the terminal and run the configuration tool:

bash sudo raspi-config

Navigate to Interfacing Options -> SPI -> Yes to enable the interface.

For more information visit: https://www.waveshare.com/wiki/PN532_NFC_HAT

Document on wiring is uploaded on EduSourced "Raspberry Pi Wiring Instructions"

PN532 NFC HAT - Reads NFC cards via GPIO/SPI on Raspberry Pi

Physical Buttons - 3 buttons connected to GPIO pins for language selection

Tech Stack

Frontend: React( + React Router) + Vite

Backend: Django (Python) + SSE

Hardware: Raspberry Pi + PN532 NFC HAT + GPIO Buttons

Storage: JSON + Local Video Files

First time setup:

(Download and Unpack the file. Your file structure should be like this)

Sci-Tech-Discovery-Center-Interactive-Sinage

├── frontend

├── Hardware_Layer

├── interactive-signage-backend

In file explorer when you unpack this, Copy its full path for reference

1. Hardware Layer Setup

Located in Hardware_Layer/.

cd path/to/your/directory/Sci-Tech-Discovery-Center-Interactive-Sinage-main

__When you run the command 'tree -L 1', you should see the files listed as the diagram above

1. Navigate to the specific directory:

cd Hardware_Layer

2. Create and activate the virtual environment:

python -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate

NOTE: python -m venv venv is used only once

3. Install dependencies:

pip install requests adafruit-circuitpython-pn532 rpi-lgpio

4. Run the hardware control script:

python ButtonPress_Updated.py & python UIDRead_Updated.py

2. Backend Setup

Located in interactive-signage-backend/.

1. Navigate to the directory on a new terminal :

cd interactive-signage-backend

2. Create (First time only) and activate the virtual environment:

python -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate

3. Install dependencies:

pip install -r requirements.txt

4. Generate a secret key. Copy the terminal output and add this to your .env file:

python -c 'from django.core.management.utils import get_random_secret_key; print(get_random_secret_key())'

Use nano .env to open and edit the .env file. Change the key variable and add in your generated key.

SECRET_KEY='<your-generated-secret-key-goes-here>'

Save and exit nano

5. Start the Django server:

python manage.py runserver

The server will start at the assigned IP given.

3. Frontend Setup

Located in frontend/.

No additional steps are required as running the backend server will start the frontend

4. Running the App

• Ensure the Hardware Layer scripts are running in a separate terminal to allow button press and id scanning.

• Access the application at http://localhost:8000/.

5. Termination

As the scripts are running, you cannot run other commands.

Terminate the script at the respective terminals using the 'Ctrl+C' combination. You should be able to see this in the terminal and run other commands like normal.

C^

Note: set DEBUG = false when this project is deployed for production