NOTICE: Large moosehead wall lights have finally been invented.
360 Modern is a real estate firm in the Pacific Northwest U.S. that specializes in modern homes. Beautiful stuff.
Handy way to skip all the intro crap on DVDs that is usually forced on you when you throw a disc in your player. Apparently the chapters on DVDs that you can't skip (FBI warnings, copyright stuff, etc.) are flagged, on the disc, as UOP, or User Operation Prohibited. This site lists some of the techniques you can try to skip the ennui.
This colour coordinated bookshelf looks cool, but you might have a hard time finding a particular title.
For chewie edge lovers or corner brownie fans - it's the Edge Brownie Pan. All edges, all the time. Via BoingBoing
Puzzle carpet.
This to That is a handy site that will tell you what adhesive to use when attempting to glue various objects together.
Super creative bathroom tiles.
Skinny house in Brazil.
Apparently there are many LED lightbulbs available already. Via TreeHugger
WiiRoomba. YouTube of a guy controlling his Roomba with a Wii remote.
Hardcore Lost fans have a party and repackage the snacks and beer as Dharma Initiative rations. Make your own with the PDFs that they've so generously shared.
Here's a nice set of home improvement videos with the energetic and snappy Eric Stromer.
Faucet Fountain turns your regular faucet into a drinking fountain.
Kids and the Home Office. Here's a list of tips for the parent that works from home.
Save the Internet.
Great Pac-Man bathroom tile work.
Crazy toaster from the future TODAY!
Here is a nice napkin folding howto site with clean pictures and straightforward instructions. I think the shirt's my favourite.
DIY T-Shirt Rack via Instructables.
360 Modern is a real estate firm in the Pacific Northwest U.S. that specializes in modern homes. Beautiful stuff.
Handy way to skip all the intro crap on DVDs that is usually forced on you when you throw a disc in your player. Apparently the chapters on DVDs that you can't skip (FBI warnings, copyright stuff, etc.) are flagged, on the disc, as UOP, or User Operation Prohibited. This site lists some of the techniques you can try to skip the ennui.
This colour coordinated bookshelf looks cool, but you might have a hard time finding a particular title.
For chewie edge lovers or corner brownie fans - it's the Edge Brownie Pan. All edges, all the time. Via BoingBoing
Puzzle carpet.
This to That is a handy site that will tell you what adhesive to use when attempting to glue various objects together.
Super creative bathroom tiles.
Skinny house in Brazil.
Apparently there are many LED lightbulbs available already. Via TreeHugger
WiiRoomba. YouTube of a guy controlling his Roomba with a Wii remote.
Hardcore Lost fans have a party and repackage the snacks and beer as Dharma Initiative rations. Make your own with the PDFs that they've so generously shared.
Here's a nice set of home improvement videos with the energetic and snappy Eric Stromer.
Faucet Fountain turns your regular faucet into a drinking fountain.
Kids and the Home Office. Here's a list of tips for the parent that works from home.
Save the Internet.
Great Pac-Man bathroom tile work.
Crazy toaster from the future TODAY!
Here is a nice napkin folding howto site with clean pictures and straightforward instructions. I think the shirt's my favourite.
DIY T-Shirt Rack via Instructables.
Pop Up Kitchen Spice Rack
Someone over at Instructables has posted a nice little automated elevating kitchen spice rack project that, depending on your viewpoint, is either spice rack overkill or complete kitchen sweetness.
For the project, a Firgelli Automation FA-400-12-18" stroke linear actuator was used. Now if that doesn't sound like something that belongs in a kitchen, what does?
From the site:
Of course the top would typically be the granite square that was cut out originally, and the spice rack could be a coffee machine, microwave, TV, wine rack or anything else you wish to hide in your kitchen.
Link: Automated Pop-Up Spice Rack
Cydus Home RFID Deadbolts
A relatively new company called 'Cydus' has addressed the dearth of residential RFID access controllers in the marketplace by releasing a pair of modern electronic deadbolts. The locks operate as you may expect RFID proximity access controllers to, however, this unit, the MyKey 2300, unfortunately requires that a button be pressed before the unit is ready to read the keychain RFID tag. The higher end unit, the 4000, only requires the card to be in close proximity to the reader for activation. Besides it's raison d'etre; the convenience of keyless entry through small RFID cards, the deadbolts have some interesting features, including this backup battery system in case the unit's batteries die:Simply touch a 9v battery to the built-in battery terminal and your MyKey 2300 is up and running. The MyKey even stores all of your existing security keys, so even if it's without power, when you turn it back on your access cards and pin combination are fully intact!
Lost or forgotten RFID cards aren't the end of the world either, as the unit comes equipped with a nicely hidden keypad for which to enter your password.
See also: RFID Enabling your front door. This is a homemade RFID entrance controller with a PC backend. The author shares a parts list, source code and cost breakdown (see author's comments ).
Previously: DIR RFID Access to your Front Door
Another Internet Friendly Thermostat
Many people now realize the energy/cost saving benefits of programmable thermostats vs. their old fashioned static counterparts. The fact that we can program one temperature for while we're at home and another for the time we spend at work is great, but there's just something about being able to monitor and take control of things remotely that so many of us are drawn to - and this is probably why we're seeing more remotely controllable thermostats hitting the market. This thermostat, from Proliphix offers 366 day programming as well as email alarm alerts. From the site:The IP Thermostat is compatible with most HVAC systems, so whether you have a gas or oil furnace or boiler, hydronic heating or central air conditioning, you'll be able to integrate this single-stage heat and cool thermostat into your existing heating system. Thermostats can be configured to send alerts in the event of required maintenance or low temperature alarms. Use this system to turn on the heat or air conditioning in your vacation home or receive an email notification if the thermostat has detected a danger of freezing pipes. You'll appreciate the IP Thermostat's flexible temperature scheduling options. With 366-day programming, you'll be able to determine four temperature periods per day, with vacation and special day schedules available as well.
Previous remotely controllable thermostat entries.
Via UberGizmo
Home Heartbeat Awareness System
Home Heartbeat is a notification system that continuously monitors your home's electrical appliances, faucets and other household devices while conveniently sending status data to the "Home Key" keychain, via the ZigBee wireless communication protocol. The system's base station offers internet connectivity that allows for remote monitoring, and the device can also be configured to issue status updates through email or text messages to the homeowner's cell phone. The system is built in a modular fashion, meaning the device can couple with many different types of (Home Heartbeat) sensors, as they become available. From the site:
The backbone of the Home Heartbeat system is a network of detection sensors: water sensors, open/closed sensors, power sensors, reminder and attention sensors. The sensors can alert the homeowner to a wide range of problems, including pipe leaks and flooding, opened doors and windows, and appliances that are left on. An additional feature is a water shut-off valve that can be controlled and activated by any of the sensors. Reminder and attention sensors can be set to alert homeowners about easy-to-forget tasks, such as changing batteries in smoke detectors or cleaning out the gutters.
According to Fast Company, the basic starter unit offers only one sensor as well as the base unit and keychain and will retail for $149 US.
Home Automation via Cellphone by Plutohome
Perhaps taking cues from gadgets such as the telephone controlled thermostat and the telephone controlled oven, Plutohome produces a home automation appliance that is, conveniently, controllable via your bluetooth cellphone. The unit is, however, a lot more than simply a home automation PC. In their own words, Pluto is:
the only all-in-one solution for your home that seamlessly combines media & entertainment, home automation, security, telecom and computing. You can control your whole house with a mobile phone, a touch-screen tablet or a web-interface. A Pluto system is like an appliance - not a computer. It is self-configuring, maintaining and updating. No technical skills are required to use or install Pluto.
There are some interesting features on the Pluto, such as television programs following you (or your bluetooth enabled cellphone, more specifically) as you walk from room to room, the ability to instantly turn any television into a videoconferencing unit, using your bluetooth cellphone as a remote control, and the system sending live video to your cellphone upon intrusion detection, as well as turning all the speakers on in the house to give you the chance to scare the potential burglar off, or perhaps make a dangerous new friend.
The software is free and open source and installs on any PC. The company recommends that if you plan a large system with many concurrent processes (streaming video on one TV with a video conference on another, for example), you'll want more in the hardware department, naturally. As far as peripherals go, the company is supposed to list it's recommendations here, but unfortunately, doesn't seem to list anything yet.
HomeSeer RFID Home Automation Starter Kit
From automated patio door access solutions for pets, to DIY, front door keyless entry howtos, RFID seems to be everywhere, and its popularity is certainly on the upswing. It should come as no surprise, then, that a home automation-friendly, retail RFID product is now available. The product, which is a joint project between RFID developer iAutomate.com and HomeSeer.com, will run with additional software from HomeSeer, and connect to your PC's serial port. Some possible uses, from the site:- Control the lights, HVAC, garage door or security system when your car approaches or leaves your home. The Ultimate Driveway Sensor !
- Detect if vehicle is in the garage.
- Detect a person entering or leaving a room or area.
- Arm or Disarm Security by individual tag.
- Automatically open a "pet" door when your pet approaches the door.
- Control, Lights, Music, and Temperature based upon the presence or absence of a tag...
Still, as much as the hardware might allow you to do, $599 seems a bit steep given that it ships with only one RFID reader.
Via Automatedhome.co.uk.
Super Cool Automated Computer Controlled Bar
Combine thirst, geekyness, programming, a monitor, pumps and booze and what do you get? An automated bar, of course. Make your own and impress the friends that are impressed by geeky things with the coolness that is keypad driven drink mixing. The author, a college student, surprisingly enough, claims to have spent about $400 on this summer project before losing track. One screen shot shows that the bar is PIN protected, which is probably a good idea, given that he's moving it into his dorm.
Also see Bar Monkey for pictures of other setups as well as a forum with instructions and help on building your own. If you only need drink ideas, check out the drink search engine, YourNextDrink.com.
Internet Controllable Thermostat
Proliphix produces an internet connected programmable thermostat that uses your LAN as its power supply with the aid of an (additional) ethernet power adapter. The thermostat's configuration/monitoring webpage is accessible from within your home network as well as from the internet. The company also offers wall mountable and paintable sensors to increase whole-house temperature accuracy. From the site: Proliphix offers indoor temperature sensors, which can be mounted away from the thermostat so that temperature inside a home or small business can be averaged across multiple rooms to avoid hot or cold spots and wasted energy. With an optional Proliphix outdoor temperature sensor connected to a networked thermostat, the heating/cooling system can be controlled more precisely to efficiently and more comfortably overcome the indoor to outdoor temperature difference. The web browser configuration tool is simple to use and allows users to easily configure heating or cooling programs to maximize comfort and minimize energy use.
Smarthome sells the Proliphix NT20e, which is the same unit but with 2 additional remote temperature sensors, for use in monitoring different zones within your home or even the outdoor temperature.
Categories: heating thermostat internet energy efficiency hvac automation cool
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Grohe Grohtherm Wireless Programmable Remote Controlled Shower
Some shower faucets seem so sensitive that even the slightest adjustment will put you at risk for a scalding, or a hypothermic coma, like the major motion picture starring Hollywood's Michael Douglas. Eliminate the risk with this sweet wireless, remote controlled, programmable, digital shower from Grohe.
The Grohtherm allows to you wake up in the morning, push a button on the remote and have the shower ready and waiting - at your predetermined temperature and flow rates, no less.
Via Gizmodo.
Finally a Stove with Voice Navigation
If you crave the personal satisfaction that can only be achieved through human-inanimate object interaction, then Sanyo's got you covered. Sanyo has developed an intelligent oven with voice navigation capabilities. Although it's difficult to discern from the translated page if the oven is internet aware (as this oven is), the oven does come complete with voice feedback/cooking instructions as well as melodies that play at certain times during the cooking process (i.e. when water has boiled, or cooking is complete). The songs can be downloaded to your mobile phone and IR'ed over to the oven.
via PopGadget
Doormate Automatic Patio Door with Pet Proximity Sensor
Doormate.com makes an automatic patio door opener aimed at the elderly and people with special needs. The unit is pushbutton controlled (keychain) or activated through the optional, mountable numeric keypad for secure entrance. Once open, the Doormate slides the door closed after a short delay. Aside from the obvious practical benefit for people with special physical needs, the most interesting accessory is the 'Pet Prox' proximity device that clips on to your dog's collar. The device is triggered as the dog comes within a few feet of the Doormate- from either inside or out. This should be a welcome addition to the home for anyone that has a dog with a small bladder or frequent, obsessive hankerings for grass.Doormate system and Pet Prox add-on available from Smarthome.com.
Possibly the World's Most Connected House
This is quite possibly the most wired, monitored, internet enabled home ever. Obviously privacy isn't too much of a concern with 9 webcams (some with nice pan and tilt action) and endless stats available openly and publicly over the net, including real time data on water usage, electricity usage, gas usage, doorbell rings, incoming phone calls with caller ID (and playable messages), alarm status, fridge door status, toilet flush count, washer/dryer monitor, temperature, rainfall, wind speed/direction and on and on. The amount of available data from so many different sources is staggering and must have taken a serious amount of time and a herculean effort to complete.
via Metafilter
Wired Article on the Coolest Rooms on Earth
Wired has a nice article up on the coolest, most gadget-filled, automated rooms on the planet, including a home that Michael Douglas had a hand in designing in the 1980s. Apparently people with money dig LCDs rising from bed foot boards quite a bit - and it's hard to blame them, really. Intelligent Weather Aware Lawn Irrigation System
AWS Irrigation Management offers a high tech lawn irrigation system. Each day, the system monitors the amount of rain at your home and sends the data to a central computer. The computer cross references the data to the local weather report and then proceeds to create and analyse a virtual soil sample. This sample is used to determine the amount of watering your lawn requires. The system does another check in the morning to see if any adjustments are necessary and waters accordingly. From the site:
Our network uses solar powered radio repeaters and is completely wireless. We can contact sites by phone, internet or license-free UHF radio across a 40 km radius...
CNET Digital Home DIY Projects
If you're looking for some ideas on geeky home improvement projects, CNET's site devoted to home technology howtos is worth a look. Projects include turning an old monitor into a television, making a home music server from an old PC, and setting up a powerline access network. The site isn't very heavy on the home automation front, although they have posted a decent overview article on the subject. The majority of the projects are related to networking and digital home entertainment.
Make Your Own Hands Free Bathroom
We have the technology:Enter the room to motion activated lights. Work your magic. Catch a squirt of soap from your touchless soap dispenser. Wash your hands under your hands free faucet. Finish up by drying your hands sans towel.
Leave.
Internet and Telephone Controlled Oven with Refrigeration
According to the TMIO (Tonight's Menu Internet Ovens) website, the Connect Io Intelligent Oven allows you to begin cooking your food remotely, via either a telephone or internet connection. The idea is that you prepare your food ahead of time and place it in the oven, which keeps the food refrigerated until the cooking process is initiated remotely. Throughout the process, the display on your web browser exactly matches the display on the oven itself, in real time. Program, command, and control your Connect Io oven remotely through your cell phone from anywhere in the world. No matter where you are, send commands over the Internet from your computer through a standard web browser.
Anywhere in the world? Sure, this might be handy to use from work or even to monitor your food from the pc in the other room, but who are they marketing to with 'from anywhere in the world'?
Telephone Controlled Thermostat
It sucks coming home to a cold house. Unfortunately, if you've programmed a timed temperature drop in your home in order to save energy, you may have experienced this upon coming home early or off schedule. Avoid such a predicament with a telephone controllable thermostat that allows you to call home and chat with your heating system, giving you time to work things out.
Talkingthermostats.com offers this device, of which you can hear a sample of here.
Categories: telephone thermostat energy efficiency gadgets hvac toys automation cool michaeldouglas
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Scooba the Floor Mopping Robot
As the singularity approaches, one would expect that the amount of mopping being performed by humans would decrease as cute, dirt loving robots near ubiquity. The transition seems to have begun with the Scooba, from iRobot (of Roomba fame). iRobot is accepting pre-orders for the Scooba, which they say will ship in 8-10 weeks. From the site:
Scooba is an intelligent and effective Floor Washing Robot. Scooba uses a four stage cleaning system to prep, wash, scrub, and dry floors all by itself. Scooba features iRobot's AWARE Robot Intelligence Systems. AWARE uses dozens of sensors to monitor the robot?s environment, and adjusts its behavior up to 67 times per second, ensuring that Scooba cleans effectively, intelligently and safely. Scooba will clean a standard size kitchen on a single tank full of cleaning solution.
Anything that does anything 67 times per second must be good.
Electronic House Products of the Year Gallery
Electronic House has a nice slideshow of their product of the year picks. Selections include a nice variety of HDTVs, audio components, projectors and home automation toys. The Electronic House guys sure seem to know how to live.
Categories: toys electronics automation gallery slideshow television entertainment
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