The Email Notifier The Email Notifier is a simple ubiquitous computing device that notifies users that new email messages have been received. Nerf email messages are fired out of an HCI Post mailbox when a new email message has been received. The device creates a physical object replicating an email and much like real mail, it is sent to the user. Phidgets Phidgets are physical widgets designed in the University of Calgary's GroupLab. The Email Notifier combines the use of phidgets with an everyday toy nerf gun. A servo motor is used to control the gun's aim in the horizontal direction and a servo motor to pull the gun's trigger. Both of these motors are connected to a USB controller which is controlled by the software using very simple API developed by GroupLab.

Customization The Email Notifer can be positioned with a scroll bar to provide a new delivery destination. A number appears showing the degrees of rotation from 0 to 180 degrees. As new messages arrive the number of new emails appears on the window, an email is physically delivered, and a sound file is played. The number of times email can be checked is easily configurable. If an error occurs while the email is being checked, the user is notified with an error sound.