VU1 - Dynamic Analogue Dials
Questions & Answers
Have a Question?
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How do I get started using VU1 and is there some kind of community for sharing ideas?
Everything VU1 can be found at vudials.com and there is a newly opened forum at forum.vudials.com
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What is the difference between Starter Kit and Expansion Kit?
To understand the difference, it's essential to know that there are two models of VU1, a HUB and a DIAL. Both look identical and have a moving coil, e-ink and LEDs, but the VU1 HUB also contains a USB port that allows you to connect VU1 to your PC. Connecting VU1 DIALs to your PC without a VU1 HUB is impossible. So, the difference between the Kits is that the Starter Kit contains a single VU1 HUB and three VU1 DIALs. The Expansion Kit is for customers who already have a VU1 HUB and want to add more VU1 DIALs.
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If I want just one, which should I choose: "Single HUB" or Single Dial" ?
The HUB is the one with the USB port, so if you only want a single device, you should order the HUB
NOTE: Please do not order a VU1 "DIAL" unless you already have a VU1 "HUB". If you are unsure about the difference, please check the product page or contact support.
Moving coil dials are nothing new, they have been around since the invention of galvanometer devices in the 1800s and are more commonly associated with audio equipment in the era of analogue audio where it was used to represent volume (hence VU, Volume Unit). What makes this kind of display appealing is its mechanical motion, a connection to the physical world, unlike something like an OLED screen that resides in the virtual.
What makes the VU1 different from other dials is the inclusion of an e-ink display that transforms what would be a dedicated and singular application device into something far more versatile. For those unfamiliar, e-ink displays are commonly used in e-readers and give a 'paper-like' experience as they have high contrast and don't emit any light. Using this as the dial face allows it to be repurposed on the fly, changing the units and graduations to represent entirely different metrics.
In addition to the moving coil and e-ink, we have included RGB lighting but unlike its typical superfluous inclusion on almost everything PC-related, these have a practical function. As e-ink displays are passive (don't emit any light), they can't be viewed in total darkness, so the RGB is used to provide illumination to the dial face and provide an extra colour-based dial value indicator.
Powering the VU1 is a robust open-source platform that has been designed from the ground up to be easy to implement so that support can be natively added to virtually any application. Rather than try to develop a parallel or competing application for every possible use case (which would also be impossible), we provide the Server App that acts as the gateway. With the use of industry-standard REST API, 3rd party developers and the community we help grow will create new and innovative uses for the dials.
A separate website dedicated to the VU1, 3rd party integration, community plugins and a discussion/support forum will be available at vudials.com
The VU1 is housed in a 55mm cube, machined from extruded aluminium and finished with our signature sandblasted & anodised surface giving it a premium look and solid feel. There are two types of device, a HUB and a DIAL and whilst they share the same design and construction, the HUB features an additional USB port for connectivity to the device that will be supplying power and data, e.g. your PC or Raspberry Pi.
Full product details are available on the main website - VU1 - Dynamic Analogue Dials