C U Soon Club

C U Soon Club is an alternative communication method developed to be used in the age of isolation due to digital living. The system works similar to that of a fax machine. Messages are stored within a server and after hitting a particular limit, it starts printing these messages through a singular thermal printer where the users have no choice but be physically present to read what the contents of the message are, thereby creating a space for the people to be present.

It is a real-time time-capsule installation that enables users to send physical messages through an Arduino-controlled thermal printer. Messages are stored on a backend server and scheduled for future delivery to recipients. The system uses VS Code for firmware development, communicates with an 80mm thermal printer via UART protocol at 9600 baud for instant receipt output, and maintains WiFi connectivity for synchronizing scheduled message delivery across multiple devices. This hardware-software hybrid transforms ephemeral digital communication into tangible, intentionally-timed analog artefacts that bridge the gap between instant messaging and reflective time-capsule experiences.