A maker has created a tiny e paper fortune telling gadget called the EFortune Cookie, and it works a little like a digital magic 8 ball. When you shake it, the device wakes up and shows one of up to 3,000 fortunes on a small 1.54 inch e paper display.
The project was made by gokux and shared through Hackaday. It uses a Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32 S3 Plus board, which gives the device its main computing power. The ESP32 platform includes Wi Fi and Bluetooth support, but this build is designed to work offline, so you do not need an internet connection to get a fortune.
The tiny device can show fortunes, flip coins, and roll dice without needing the internet
The EFortune Cookie also includes an MPU 6050 accelerometer, which is what lets the device detect shaking. That gives it the familiar physical feel of asking a question, shaking the gadget, and waiting for an answer to appear.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Device name | EFortune Cookie |
| Display | 1.54 inch e paper screen |
| Main board | Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32 S3 Plus |
| Motion sensor | MPU 6050 accelerometer |
| Fortune count | Up to 3,000 |
| Extra tools | Dice roller and coin flip |
| Housing | 3D printed PLA case |
| Internet requirement | Works offline |
The gadget also includes two extra mini apps: a dice roller and a coin flipper. These are controlled through small buttons on the side of the device. That makes it more than a one purpose novelty, although the fortune telling mode is clearly the main attraction.
The design is part of the charm. The 3D printed PLA housing is compact and shaped like a fortune cookie, making the whole device feel more like a playful object than a normal electronics project. Its small size also makes it suitable as a bag charm or pocket gadget.
The use of an e paper display is also smart. E paper screens are easy to read, use very little power when showing static text, and fit well with small low power projects. A fortune does not need animation, color, or fast refresh rates, so the display choice matches the idea perfectly.
This project also shows why tiny e paper builds keep attracting makers. They are not meant to replace phones, handheld PCs, or full smart devices. Their appeal comes from doing one simple thing in a physical, charming way. In this case, the EFortune Cookie turns a small board, a motion sensor, and a tiny screen into something that feels like a toy, a desk gadget, and a mini fortune teller at the same time.
It is not a mass market product, and it is not trying to be one. But as a maker project, the EFortune Cookie has a clear personality. It is small, offline, playful, and easy to understand. That is exactly why it stands out.
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