TJ in a black suit and sunglasses
Technology
Maker / Creator
Always curious

Hi,
I'm TJ.

Calgary, Canada

I build things, explore places, solve tech problems and collect stories along the way.

/ 00 — About

Curious by
default.

This is my corner of the internet. A mix of technology, creative experiments, travel, photography, cars and everyday projects that I actually enjoy working on.

My
playground.

Five worlds / 2026
01 / CATEGORY

Hands-on electronics, compact tech builds and connected-home systems created to solve everyday problems and explore what is possible beneath the surface.

Project collections

The builds

Open a project for a full-screen view, then use the arrows or keyboard to move through its photos.

Desktop pet showing a Calgary weather card reading Mostly Clear 20 degrees
Calgary weather cardLive Calgary weather on the 192×192 display — condition, temperature, highs and lows, feels-like and wind.
Desktop pet showing an animated anime-style face on its display
Animated faceOne of the animated faces on the desk buddy’s display.
Desktop pet showing a smiling fluffy cloud face
Fluffy faceThe fluffy cloud face — one of the weather-reactive faces that changes with Calgary skies.
01 / Desktop Pet

Desktop Pet

A Stack-chan-style desk buddy running custom firmware — animated faces, a live Calgary weather card and a flight radar, all on a 192×192 display.

Open slideshow ↗
M5Stack Cardputer ADV held in one hand with its labelled rear hardware diagram visible
Cardputer ADVThe Cardputer is handy for quick experiments. Keyboard, screen and ESP32 are all built in.
02 / Electronics

Cardputer ADV

The Cardputer is handy for quick experiments. Keyboard, screen and ESP32 are all built in.

Open slideshow ↗
Opened Samsung smartwatch showing its circuit board, sensors and wiring during modification work
Samsung watch modificationSamsung stopped updating Tizen on this watch — I didn’t buy a new one. I cracked it open and flashed Google’s Wear OS onto it instead. Hold my beer.
03 / Electronics

Samsung watch modification

Samsung stopped updating Tizen on this watch — I didn’t buy a new one. I cracked it open and flashed Google’s Wear OS onto it instead. Hold my beer.

Open slideshow ↗
Home Assistant dashboard showing connected lighting, climate, garage, camera, air purifier and printer devices
Home Assistant dashboardThis dashboard runs my home. Lights, climate, cameras and plenty more are all in one place.
04 / Connected Home

Home Automation

A Home Assistant dashboard that keeps everyday systems in one place—from lights and temperature to security, air purification and device status—making the home easier to monitor and control at a glance.

Open slideshow ↗
02 / CATEGORY

Digital ideas turned into real objects through careful setup, material choices and layer-by-layer refinement.

For more 3D prints check my profile here ↗

3D Printing

From filament to finish

Open either photo for a full-screen view, then use the arrows or keyboard to move through the setup.

Close-up of a Bambu Lab 3D printer toolhead working over white printed parts on the build plate
Bambu Lab at workWatching every layer come together never gets old. My Bambu Lab just gets on with it.Open slideshow ↗
Multi-spool filament system loaded with white, pink, red and black filament
Multi-colour filament feedA few colours stay loaded and ready to go. Makes multi-colour prints much easier.Open slideshow ↗
Page 1
03 / CATEGORY

Photography

Nature and quiet details, collected one deliberate frame at a time.

Photography collections

Behind the frame

Open the collection as a full-screen photo book, then swipe, drag or use the arrows to turn its pages.

Water droplets reflecting a nearby house against a softly blurred background
Reflections in rainThe house showed up inside these tiny raindrops. Had to get in close for this one.Open slideshow ↗
Canoes and an orange kayak resting beside a calm mountain lake
Boats by the lakeThese boats were just sitting by the lake. Everything felt calm and peaceful.Open slideshow ↗
Wooden dock on a calm lake with sun rays breaking through clouds over forested mountains
Light over the dockSunlight broke through over this quiet dock. Had to stop and catch the view.Open slideshow ↗
Turquoise alpine lake between steep rocky mountains beneath broken clouds
Between the peaksMountain views like this never get old. That turquoise water looked unreal.Open slideshow ↗
Rugged mountain reflected in a clear turquoise alpine lake
Mountain reflectionStill water turned the mountain into a perfect reflection. One of my favourite shots.Open slideshow ↗
Rocky lakeshore beside clear water with a large mountain across the lake
At the water's edgeTaken right from the rocky shore. The clear water made the mountain feel massive.Open slideshow ↗
04 / CATEGORY

Landmarks, roadside moments and the details that turn a trip into a story worth keeping.

Eiffel Tower centered beyond the patterned Trocadéro plaza under a clear blue sky
ParisSacré-Cœur, the Eiffel Tower, La Madeleine and Pont Alexandre III.Open slideshow ↗
Blue state-shaped Welcome to Montana sign beside a roadway
MontanaRoadside moments, Glacier Park views and the horse-and-rider sculpture.Open slideshow ↗
Taj Mahal in Agra seen from the front gardens through light haze
IndiaThe Taj Mahal in Agra and Leh Palace in Ladakh.Open slideshow ↗
Toronto skyline and CN Tower seen across the waterfront under a clear blue sky
TorontoThe downtown skyline and CN Tower seen across Toronto’s waterfront.Open slideshow ↗
05 / CATEGORY

Camera gear, useful gadgets and gaming setups, collected through the details that make every setup feel personal.

Tech & gadgets collections

Camera, gadgets & gaming

Open a collection for a larger view, then move through every photo in that set.

Black Canon EOS 90D DSLR camera with an 18–55mm zoom lens on a white background
Canon EOS 90DMy Canon EOS 90D handles both photos and video. It’s my go-to when I want more control.Open slideshow ↗
Black Insta360 X5 360-degree action camera on a white background
Insta360 X5The Insta360 X5 captures everything around me. Great for action shots and moments I don’t want to miss.Open slideshow ↗
DJI Mini 3 camera drone with its remote controller on a white background
DJI Mini 3The DJI Mini 3 comes out whenever I want a different view. Small, light and fun to fly.Open slideshow ↗
GoPro Hero 4 resting inside an open green 3D-printed protective case with the lid beside it
GoPro Hero 4My GoPro Hero 4 still gets plenty of use. I made the green case to keep it protected.Open slideshow ↗
Close-up view of a circuit board with processors and electronic components
GadgetsI’ve always wanted to see what’s inside my gadgets. Those tiny parts are the best bit.Open slideshow ↗
TJ driving with a racing wheel while an off-road rally game plays on a large television
Racing Sim SetupThis sim setup is built for rally racing. The wheel and pedals make every stage feel much more real.Open slideshow ↗
PlayStation 5 console lying flat with a white DualSense wireless controller in front
PlayStation 5Most of my gaming happens on PS5. It’s my go-to when I just want to switch off and play.Open slideshow ↗
White ROG Ally handheld gaming PC resting on a dark surface
ROG AllyA full Windows gaming PC in handheld form. My pick for PC games away from the desk.Open slideshow ↗
/ 02 — Social

Find me
on.

Facebook — tjchacko ↗Instagram — @tjchacko ↗