GitHub Documentation, root README.md, Very Stale. Make Like A Product Documentation, Announcement, ?Cut Sheet?

[ForrestErickson]

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.
A clear and concise description of what the problem is. Ex. I'm always frustrated when [...]

Problem statement

The main README.md at: https://github.com/PubInv/krake/blob/main/README.md is very stale.
It talks about future development and incomplete development and development details and tools usefull but better put into some document other than the landing page.
The Krake is nearing completion as a product and this landing page should be updated to a more final state.
The audience for which this is written is too much for developers and the recruitment of developers.

Describe the solution you'd like
A clear and concise description of what you want to happen.

Update with best practices.

In response to the question, "make the readme.md a good product documentation for a github repo"
An AI suggests many things. See: https://share.google/aimode/CIkCKc2mVjcGloTDf

For inspiration, and insight here is a "curated list of awesome READMEs"
https://github.com/matiassingers/awesome-readme

In the list are reviews which show a common theme of a good README.md

The project has a logo and well-defined sections such as: information about the project, the architectural solution, along with reference links such as articles, videos, and documentation. It explains how to run the project in different environments (development and production). It has documented load tests, it also describes which technologies are used, and it has diagrams for the archetype.

Additional context
Add any other context or screenshots about the feature request here.

[ForrestErickson]

Here is a suggested markdown from an AI.

https://chatgpt.com/s/t_69ae04fabd148191bf3ea27198692e76

Krake™ Wireless Alarm Device

Krake™ is a wireless alarm device designed to alert human operators to important conditions through both visual (flashing lights) and auditory (alarm sounds, music, or speech) cues. Developed by Public Invention, Krake adds functionality to the General Purpose Alarm Device (GPAD) by incorporating a rotary encoder for easy interaction and configuration.

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Key Features

• Multi-signal Alarms: Visual (LEDs) and auditory (speaker with custom sound files).
• Wireless Connectivity: Connects to local Wi-Fi networks for real-time alert management.
• Customizable Alarms: Plays pre-recorded or user-uploaded sounds in multiple languages.
• Rotary Encoder for Easy Setup: Quickly navigate device settings with the rotary encoder knob.
• Flexible Power Options: Supports USB-C, barrel jack, and SPI power via internal jumpers.
• Mute Button: Temporarily silence the audio alarms when needed.

Krake is nearing completion as a final product. It is primarily aimed at providing alerts for critical conditions that require human intervention.

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Table of Contents

1. Use Cases
2. Technical Specifications
3. Quick Start Guide
4. Hardware and Wiring
5. Software and Configuration
6. Licensing
7. Contributing
8. References

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Use Cases

Krake has been developed for several real-world applications, primarily aimed at alerting users to critical conditions:

1. Health Monitoring for the Elderly

Krake can monitor vital signs such as blood pressure and fall detection, providing auditory and visual alerts when a monitored condition is triggered. It is designed to integrate with health systems that adhere to the HL7 medical standard for seamless medical alerts.

2. Medical Equipment Alarms

Krake serves as an alarm system for medical devices like ventilators and critical care machines. It can alert users to mechanical failures (e.g., hose disconnections) and other emergencies, providing critical notifications in a timely manner.

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Technical Specifications

• Connectivity: Wi-Fi (Station mode), MQTT Protocol for communication with controllers.
• Audio: MP3 playback via DFPlayer Mini (customizable audio files).
• Visual Indicators: 5 bright white LEDs to indicate different alarm levels.
• Rotary Encoder: For navigating device settings.
• Mute: Local mute button to silence alarms temporarily.
• Input/Output: RS232 DB9 female port (DCE).
• Power Options: USB-C, 2.1mm barrel jack, and SPI interface (via jumpers).

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Quick Start Guide

1. Setting Up Krake

• Powering Krake: Use either the USB-C cable or the 2.1mm barrel jack to power up the device. You can also configure Krake to receive power through the SPI interface by adjusting internal jumpers.
• Wi-Fi Configuration: Upon first boot, Krake creates its own Wi-Fi access point. Connect to the Krake access point and enter your local Wi-Fi credentials through the setup interface.
• Test Alarm: Once connected to Wi-Fi, you can send test alarms via the Controller (MQTT broker). Krake will respond with visual and auditory signals according to the configured alarm levels.

2. Interacting with Krake

• Rotary Encoder: Use the rotary encoder to adjust settings or mute/unmute alarms.
• Mute Button: Press to toggle silencing of alarms without affecting device functionality.

3. Customization

• Audio Files: Krake's audio files are stored on an SD card. You can easily swap or add your own audio files (e.g., voice alerts, music) to tailor the device to your needs.
• LED Behavior: Configure the LED blinking patterns to suit the severity of the alarm levels.

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Hardware and Wiring

Krake is powered by an ESP32 DevKit V1, interfaced with multiple components including the DFPlayer Mini MP3 player, LED indicators, and rotary encoder. The wiring diagram and detailed hardware connections are available for those interested in building their own Krake unit.

Key Components:

• ESP32 DevKit V1: Main controller.
• DFPlayer Mini: For MP3 audio playback.
• Speaker (8 Ohm): Connected to the DFPlayer for audio output.
• 5 LEDs: Represent different alarm levels (emergency levels 1–5).
• Rotary Encoder: Allows users to control the Krake settings.

For more detailed wiring instructions and a complete list of components, refer to the MockingKrake Prototype.

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Software and Configuration

Krake uses the MQTT protocol for communication with external devices (the "Controller"). It subscribes to topics for receiving alarm levels and publishes status updates on separate channels.

Features:

• MQTT Messaging: Subscribe to topics using Krake’s unique MAC address suffixed with -ALM. Publish acknowledgment messages to -ACK topics.
• HTTP Server: Krake can be configured as an HTTP server to receive GET and PUT requests, providing a web interface for real-time status updates.
• API: Krake extends the GPAD API, allowing developers to interact with the device programmatically.

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Licensing

• Firmware: Licensed under the Affero GPL 3.0 License.
• Hardware: Licensed under the CERN Open Hardware Licence Version 2 - Strongly Reciprocal.

For more details on the licenses and usage rights, please refer to the LICENSE file.

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Contributing

Krake is an open-source project, and we welcome contributions! If you’d like to help improve Krake, here are a few ways to get involved:

1. Report Bugs: If you encounter issues with Krake, please report them on our GitHub Issues page.
2. Submit Code: Fork the repository, make improvements, and submit a pull request.
3. Help with Documentation: Contributions to documentation are highly appreciated!

Please refer to our CONTRIBUTING.md for more information on how to contribute.

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References

• GPAD API Documentation
• MQTT Protocol
• Firmware Development Resources:
  • Multi-tasking with Arduino
  • ESP32 Wi-Fi Manager Tutorial

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Acknowledgments

• Developed by Nagham Kheir with mentorship from Lee Erickson.
• Public Invention for its commitment to open-source innovation.

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About Krake™

Krake™ is a trademark of Public Invention and is an open-source project aimed at providing a simple, customizable alarm device for use in critical situations. It is designed to be easy to set up, reliable in operation, and flexible in its application across various industries.