Building OLO Glyph V2 – The Offline Desk Companion Gets Smarter

Update OLO Glyph V2:

An Offline Desk Companion Designed Around a Custom ESP32-C3 PCB

The goal remained the same: create an offline-first desk companion that runs entirely on an ESP32-C3 SuperMini with a tiny OLED display.

However, V2 is no longer just an animated character with a clock.

It has evolved into a complete desktop companion platform featuring multiple clock styles, weather monitoring, alarms, timers, stopwatch functions, WiFi connectivity, Web Serial control, LED effects, custom glyph messages, and an advanced local dashboard.

Everything runs directly on the device without requiring cloud services.

What Makes OLO Glyph Different?

Most modern smart displays depend on cloud APIs and mobile apps.

OLO Glyph takes a different approach.

The device is designed to remain fully functional even when disconnected from the internet.

Core functions such as:

·         Clock

·         Stopwatch

·         Timer

·         Alarms

·         Custom Glyph Messages

·         LED Effects

·         Character Animations

continue operating completely offline.

WiFi is optional and can be enabled or disabled directly from the device

New Features in OLO Glyph V2

Animated Character Engine

The signature animated eyes system has been upgraded with smoother rendering and multiple expression states.

Features include:

·         50+ Expressions

·         Multiple moods

·         Dynamic blink animations

·         Sleep mode

·         Interactive reactions

·         Automatic screensaver behavior

13 Unique Clock Faces

OLO Glyph V2 includes thirteen different clock styles.

Some highlights include:

·         Full Screen Analog Clock

·         Sweep Second Clock

·         Retro Casio Watch Style

·         Digital Clock

·         7-Segment Display Clock

·         Minimal Clock

·         Compact Dashboard Clock

Users can switch between clock styles directly from the dashboard.

Background Stopwatch

The stopwatch can continue running even while browsing other screens.

Features:

·         10ms precision

·         Background execution

·         Start/Stop control

·         Reset functionality

Alarm and Hourly Chime System

A completely rewritten non-blocking alarm engine ensures smooth performance.

Features:

·         Alarm scheduling

·         Hourly chimes

·         Digital watch-style alarm tones

·         Responsive UI during alarm playback

·         No freezing during sound generation

Weather Dashboard

OLO Glyph can display:

·         Current temperature

·         Weather condition

·         Humidity

·         Additional weather indicators

Weather data is updated through WiFi when enabled.

Advanced Glyph Display Mode

One of the most powerful additions in V2 is the enhanced Glyph Engine.

Features include:

·         Multi-line text support

·         Automatic word wrapping

·         Dynamic font scaling

·         Center-aligned layouts

·         Direct RAM updates

·         Multiple animation styles

Animation Modes:

·         Static

·         Scroll Left

·         Scroll Right

·         Blink

·         Bounce

·         Typing Effect

This allows OLO Glyph to function as a mini message board, notification display, or information panel.

WS2812B RGB Lighting

An integrated NeoPixel provides ambient lighting effects.

Available modes include:

·         Solid

·         Breathing

·         Color Cycle

·         Blink

·         Heartbeat

·         Fade

·         Flicker

·         Sparkle

·         Color Breathe

·         Alternating Colors

The lighting system continues running independently from the display engine.

Music Visualizer Mode

Special dashboard-triggered animations can play melodies while displaying:

·         Equalizer animations

·         Music card interface

·         Real-time LED synchronization

·         Pitch-responsive effects

Supported demo melodies include:

·         Star Wars Theme

·         Super Mario Theme

·         Rickroll

Local Dashboard

One of the biggest upgrades in V2 is the Local Dashboard.

When WiFi is enabled, OLO Glyph hosts its own control interface directly from the ESP32-C3.

No external server is required.

The dashboard allows users to:

·         Configure clocks

·         Set alarms

·         Customize glyph messages

·         Adjust LED effects

·         Sync settings

·         Update weather configuration

·         Flash firmware

·         Monitor serial communication

The interface is fully responsive and works from phones, tablets, and desktop browsers.

Web Serial Control

For users who prefer USB connectivity, OLO Glyph supports Web Serial communication.

Features:

·         Instant text pushing

·         Live diagnostics

·         Configuration sync

·         Firmware flashing

·         Real-time command monitoring

No additional desktop software is required.

OLO Glyph Web Controller

Touch Navigation System

Navigation is handled using a single touch sensor.

Supported gestures:

Single Tap

·         Navigate between screens

·         Change menu options

Double Tap

·         Enter submenus

·         Toggle features

·         Start and stop timers

·         Enable WiFi

·         Control LEDs

Long Press

·         Save settings

·         Reset timers

·         Confirm actions

This allows the entire device to be operated with just one input.

Hardware Used

Controller : ESP32-C3 SuperMini

Display : 0.96” or 1.3” OLED Display

Input : TTP223 Capacitive Touch Sensor

Audio : Passive Buzzer

Lighting : WS2812B RGB LED

Pin Connections

Component	GPIO
OLED SDA	GPIO 20
OLED SCL	GPIO 21
Touch Sensor	GPIO 1
Buzzer	GPIO 2
WS2812B LED	GPIO 6

Why I Built OLO Glyph

The original idea was simple:

Build a small desktop companion that feels alive.

Over time it evolved into a highly customizable ESP32 platform that combines:

·         Desk Companion

·         Clock

·         Timer

·         Weather Station

·         Message Board

·         RGB Light

·         Animation Display

all within a tiny OLED-powered device.

OLO Glyph V2 represents the next step in that vision.

And this is only the beginning.

Future versions will continue expanding the ecosystem with new dashboards, animations, widgets, and companion tools.

Final Thoughts

OLO Glyph V2 demonstrates how much functionality can be packed into a simple ESP32-C3 and OLED display.

By combining offline-first design, customizable animations, local dashboards, Web Serial control, and real-time utilities, it transforms a tiny screen into an interactive desktop companion.

Whether you’re a maker, student, programmer, or electronics enthusiast, OLO Glyph offers a fun and practical example of what can be achieved with modern microcontrollers and open-source tools.