A simplified, low-sensitivity view built for a shared screen

Dedicated family-display hardware exists, but many homes already have an old tablet doing nothing. FamilyBoard’s Display tab renders the same underlying records in a simplified, large-type layout meant for exactly that — a kitchen counter, a hallway mount, a screen more than one person walks past.

Exactly three things appear on it

Display mode shows the household name, today’s formatted date, and three cards. Household tasks are the first six open tasks sorted by due date, with dated work before undated work; each shows title, assigned owner or “Anyone,” and due status. Today’s events are the first six in start-time order, including an overnight or multi-day event whose recorded end has not passed the current local date. “Coming up” shows the first six maintenance items that actually have a next-due date, nearest first. No warranties, subscriptions, documents or emergency contacts appear because those record types are not rendered here.

“Refreshes every minute” is a real, specific number

The badge at the top reads “Shared view · refreshes every minute.” The app reloads its current browser profile’s local database on a 60-second timer and when the tab becomes visible again. Another tab or window in the same browser storage environment can therefore be reflected on the next reload. A separate phone and wall tablet do not share IndexedDB, even if they use the same browser brand or operating-system account. There is no FamilyBoard cloud sync behind the timer.

Why it’s honest to call this “low-sensitivity,” not “safe for anyone”

The footer states the boundary directly: contact records, detailed notes and other private record types are not shown, but task and event titles remain visible. A title such as “pick up prescription refill” may reveal more than you want a guest to read. Owner names, due status and event start times are visible too. Display mode reduces exposed fields; it does not classify wording or turn a shared tablet into a locked-down kiosk.

Turning a spare tablet into a display

Because FamilyBoard is a PWA whose manifest requests a standalone window, a compatible browser can add it to a device’s home screen and launch it without normal address bars or tabs. That is separate from the in-app Display tab: app navigation remains available, so this is a readable shared view rather than a tamper-proof kiosk. Populate the tablet’s own database by entering records there or restoring a deliberate backup, then open Display. No app-store account or dedicated display purchase is required.

A worked example

A household restores a reviewed backup onto an old 8-inch tablet, then opens Display in the kitchen. It shows “The Garcia Household,” today’s date, three open tasks in due-date order, one 4 PM pickup event and an HVAC filter check due in five days. The household updates records on that tablet during its weekly reset; changes made only on a parent’s phone will not appear there automatically. Anyone walking past gets the same read, so titles are kept brief and non-sensitive.