Data and Action IoT with Xively and Zapier

This solution combines two services:

Collect and Display with Xively

The procedure includes creating a device,  adding channels and setting a key. 
 To create a device, 
  • Click on Add Device. 
  • Name it, select Public or Private and confirm with Add Device.
The device is created and a new page provides the Feed ID, among many other keys.
However, the device is empty: let's add a channel.
  • Click on Add Channel. Name it, set the unit and symbol and optionally tag it and enter a value. 
  • Confirm with Save Channel.
Finally, to add a key, 
  • Click on Add Key. Name it and set the authorisations. 
  • Confirm with Add Key.
Xively provides the libraries and examples for Arduino. 

On the code, paste the Feed ID and the Key set previously.

Define the data stream by adding the channels, with name, name size and type.

Link the XyvelyClient to the hardware client, here WiFi.
To send data, prepare the data stream with the values and call put().

However, the libraries provided for Arduino may fail on other platforms. This is a known bug for Energia, with an easy patch documented in this thread.
Back to Xively, the channel displays the data as numbers or graphs. 

Act with Zapier

Xively provides a triggers closely integrated with Zapier. A great tutorial Trigger Anything with Zapier provides a step-by-step guide.
 
Define a zap with Zapier. 
  • A zap consists on a trigger and an action. Set the trigger to Webhooks > Catch Hook, and the  action to Email by Zapier > Send Outbound Email.
  • Zapier returns a https custom webhook URL to use with Xively. 
  • Enter the credentials and the content of the e-mail.
  • Optionally, add a filter.
Go back to Xively. 
  • Press Add a Trigger.
  • Select the channel and set the condition.
  • Paste the https custom webhook URL from Zapier.
  • Click on Save Trigger.

To test it, press Send Test Trigger.
When the light is low and the condition is met, Xively fires the trigger and sends a message to Zapier. 

Zapier processes the message and sends the e-mail.

Conclusion

Xively provides a great service with a clear interface and an extensive documentation. However, the implementation of the code is not as easy as with other services.

The integration of triggers with Zapier is a nice feature.

Pros

  • Great tutorials
  • Integration with Zapier
  • Privacy

Cons

  • Arduino library not fully compatible with Energia

Wrap-Up

  • Great tutorials
  • Integration with Zapier
  • Code implementation not as easy as with other services

Links