Turn A Broken DVD Player Into A Smart Desk Clock

In an attempt to reuse the guts of his broken DVD player, DIYer Dmitry was able to put together a feature-filled, motion-sensing, remote-controlled desk clock from salvaged DVD parts and an Arduino.

This project certainly falls into the “advanced electronics” category, but it’s impressive what Dmitry was able to do with a few old DVD parts. This clock — which resides in a laser-cut enclosure — can tell you the time, day, date and temperature. You can also control it with the DVD player’s remote, and it even has a motion sensor so it can turn on when someone enters the room.

It may be overkill if all you need is a bedside clock, but it’s a really cool way to make something out of your busted tech. Check out the video above to see more.

VFD Driver Demo [Magictale AVR Projects via Hack a Day]