eAsTeR EgGs
jjames
Posts: 2,908
Okay, this is completely off the wall but I was thinking . . . has anyone ever put any "easter eggs" in their projects? Perhaps when doing a panel for a family member, a friend or even in your boss' house? If so, what kind of "easter eggs" have you done?
I've heard a story at one of my trainings where someone had sent a panel file to someone else's touch panel with a button on there that said, "Do NOT Press This Button". Well, needless to say the guy pressed it and ... you guessed it, a provacative picture appeared on the panel to the guy's suprise. I'm not sure of the validity of this AMX Urban Legend, but it's funny nonetheless.
Certainly (well hopefully) no one here has done that to a client (or boss), but what about maybe putting the "T-T-T-TODAY JUNIOR" soundclip from Billy Madison when the user hasn't made a selection after a set period of time? Or having a picture appear on a random day at a random time. Little funny things that you know are there, but doesn't harm or hamper the way the system works.
BTW - I would NEVER do anything of this sorts to a real client nor do I recommend doing such a thing. I would just like to hear some funny ideas / stories.
I've heard a story at one of my trainings where someone had sent a panel file to someone else's touch panel with a button on there that said, "Do NOT Press This Button". Well, needless to say the guy pressed it and ... you guessed it, a provacative picture appeared on the panel to the guy's suprise. I'm not sure of the validity of this AMX Urban Legend, but it's funny nonetheless.
Certainly (well hopefully) no one here has done that to a client (or boss), but what about maybe putting the "T-T-T-TODAY JUNIOR" soundclip from Billy Madison when the user hasn't made a selection after a set period of time? Or having a picture appear on a random day at a random time. Little funny things that you know are there, but doesn't harm or hamper the way the system works.
BTW - I would NEVER do anything of this sorts to a real client nor do I recommend doing such a thing. I would just like to hear some funny ideas / stories.
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I have a system with a generic alert system built into it. When certain conditions are met, a popup appears on the panel, a sound file played (really annoying beep), and a text message is displayed. Knowing I had a guy working in the room with the panel (I was actually on the phone with him, discussing a hookup issue), I remoted into the system and forced the popup open, sound and all, with the message: "'Bobby is a weener!" (Bobby being the tech's name, of course).
Thirty seconds later, on the phone, " Holy s***! Was that you?!"
Of course - residential. Always. Kids get their own page for the primary video source. I always disclose everything by the end of the job. When you can't call fUN () periodically, might as well go back to coding accounting apps in a cube.
Bill
--D
You've put those on panels before? LOL
In the source, the output texts are coded hex and the channels are on a hidden device, so it would not be so easy to find that function if someone ever gets the module source....
As for eggs, It'd be kind of cool to have a image for every season or holiday pop up for a moment on that day.
- Chip
Put it this way - if you're ever connected to an Axcent3 with the terminal window open and having a bad day, try swearing at it. Be colorful.
- Chip
It was great to watch peoples reaction to that cause the blinking was just enough to catch attention, then go away. People would just look around with a "did you see that" type of expression.
Also did a touch panel with a don't touch this button button for a trade show. If you pressed it, text appeared saying "I said - don't touch that button" if you pressed it again some other text popped up along the lines of "look buddy..." or something.
I guess I need more to do...
Works only on AXcess master..
damn, i will have to pursue a more creative egg package. after reading some creative suggestions here, my little egg is boring.
i have a blank button within a Help/Support page for all customers. if someone should happen to touch this unmarked button, they will be taken to a page containing photos of the project during it's early stages.
i tend to snap a few pics on the mobile phone during an installation, so those pics end up in the panels.
i really like the cracked screen idea. you've got me wondering what i may pre-program for April Fools day (but only before midday of course)
http://www.eeggs.com/items/18746.html
Boy, I really miss working there, best job I ever had!
Of course, all this is done on the condition, IF(RANDOM_NUMBER(21)=6), so it won't happen all the time.
Just thought I'd drop in and let you know what I did. I know it's a bit on the soft side, but hey - it was fun.
A "secret handshake" to get to the Admin page amounts to an easter egg, if rather boring. I call mine the Double Tap.
The main page of most panels usually has a button somewhere with a logo (or the name of the room or the status display or something like that) which has no action on pushing it.
Have it open a popup. Make the popup transparent, the same size as the button beneath, and positioned on top of it, make it non-modal and with a one second timeout.
Put a button on the popup which is also transparent and covers the whole popup, and make it open your Admin page.
To open the Admin page, double-tap the logo.
Go into the __project page in Setup pages (I looked in an 8400) and check out the Filename. Apparently a coder having a go at someone who doesn't like it when the name is too long to fit in the box.
Who is said Joseph Patrick Kessler ?
Made me chuckle.
I was also troubleshooting a Landmark system once and a DMS displayed (I kid you not) "Master Phucked" briefly upon a reboot.
Jeff
(It is a term of endearment, of course!)
:-)
Please don't remove it! It's things like these that keep poor geeks like me amused when all else around me is in turmoil.
A little bit of random humor to spice up our lives is needful. I'm sure the majority would agree with me.
"This Text is too long for Joseph Patrick Kessler to read " is the name of the button that displays the file name on the __project page of the 8400 system page template. It's obviously not in the text field itself or you would surely have heard of it sooner
i programmed a large sprots bar right outside of an NFL stadium. the company logo was white silhouettes of sports players. I being a die hard Vikings fan made it so when you touch the QB silhouette it turns into a Vikings uniform. I also coded into a panel a tick tac toe game just see if i could pull it off. It worked and would even tell you if "O" or "X" won. this was about 4 months into my programming carrer so it took a boatload of variables but it worked
I have to admit...I was having a bad time with a particular piece of code and was terminalled into an Axcent card frame. At one point I lost it, typed in a not so nice, two word statement and hit enter, and was very surprised when the master card replied to me. Needless to say, it was a much needed laugh, and of course I spent the next hour or so typing in everything I could think of to see what else it had to say to me.
Good stuff.