The TV B Gone by Mitch Altman was created with Arduino and has the sole purpose of turning off TVs in public spaces without having access to a remote control. It is specifically useful in cases such as when you are with your bud at the pub and a gazillion TVs are distracting you from your conversation about his divorce or his favorite pair of socks.

My preferred version of this project is a TV B Gone Jacket, adapted by Becky Stern. Her version of the project is sneaky and humorous, allowing you to cause pub chaos without risking getting kicked out with a half a pint left.

I enjoy this project because it does effectively what basic physical computation does best: spread joy and humor. It doesn’t take itself seriously, while still offering a useful resolution to a real, all american problem.