rickb@bucket.UUCP (Rick Bensene) (01/14/88)
I've noted a bit of discussion here and there regarding the X-10 system for remote control of lights and appliances, discussion of various infrared remote control boxes, as well as occasional mention of other home automation subjects. I have a keen interest in such topics, and am wondering if there are many others out there with an interest in this topic? The volume discussed thus far doesn't really seem to justify a newsgroup, however, maybe if such a place existed people would get into discussions and get the thing off the ground. I do not know the proper procedure to propose a new newsgroup, so maybe people could just begin discussing it in comp.misc or sci.electronics (<<<PLEASE>>> If you followup to this article - post your message to one or the other of the newsgroups, not BOTH!), and if it really got rolling, we could campaign to get a new newsgroup created. Another possibility would be a mailing list, which I'd be GLAD to head up, if someone would take the time to explain to me how to set up a such a list. It seems to me that it is simply a matter of time before home automation becomes fairly commonplace - the price of the technology to implement an intelligent home has come down drastically, and it is expected to continue this trend. So far, the home automation industry is in its fledgeling state - with a few larger leaders, and a lot of smaller companies all in the fray. The big problem is that everyon has their own idea of how the system(s) should work, and thus different systems are incompatible. Also, no one seems to have effectively INTEGRATED many of the systems together, combining security, environmental, communications, lighting, appliance control, signal distribution, and communications into a complete system. There's work underway by some association of home builders to come up with a 'home bus', serving as a bus over which audio, video, and data can flow throughout a home - using wiring not much more complex than wiring in today's houses. This seems to me to be a pretty exciting idea, however progress has been slow because of the many differing opinions on how it should be done. However, even though there are yet no 'standards', many hardware/software tinkerers have implemented their own systems at home. From simple X-10 only systems, to more sophisticated systems using dedicated computers, lots of wire strung in the walls, and really fancy software. I've got a lot of ideas regarding home automation, and have implemented that which I can afford (and my wife will tolerate) in my own home, and have learned a lot, and had a lot of fun in the process. I'd like to hear from others out there as to their experiences, viewpoints, and general ideas with regards to home automation. Regards, Rick Bensene -- Rick Bensene Tektronix, Inc. PO Box 500 39-124 Beaverton, OR 97077 ..tektronix!tekig4!rickb (work) Voice: (503) 627-3559 (10A-5P Pacific) ..tektronix!teksce!bucket!rickb (home) BBS: (503) 254-0458 300/1200
max@trinity.uucp (Max Hauser) (01/15/88)
Please forgive me for cross-posting, which I have done deliberately, as I think this is germane to both groups. In article <676@bucket.UUCP> rickb@bucket.UUCP (Rick Bensene) writes: >I've noted a bit of discussion here and there regarding the >X-10 system for remote control of lights and appliances, ... as >well as occasional mention of other home automation subjects. >I have a keen interest in such topics, and am wondering if >there are many others out there with an interest in this topic? >The volume discussed thus far doesn't really seem to justify a newsgroup, >however, maybe if such a place existed ... I agree that this is an interesting and expanding topic. However I not only resist but must actively protest the sensibility, increasingly widespread on the net, that finds it perfectly reasonable to propose a new group simply because a new and interesting topic arises. Neither is this an established sufficient justification for a new group, nor is it necessary to sustain a lively discussion on the topic. In particular, sci.electronics is a lightly-trafficked group and could certainly sustain the discussion for the indefinite future, during which incidentally we would find out whether or not the topic actually, as well as potentially, thrives. Moreover I imagine that many peripherally interested readers could be exposed to the topic automatically, while it remains in broader-interest groups. I am convinced that Rick has the best possible intentions here and I hope he understands that I appreciate them and mean him no ill will. Unfortunately the incidence of proposing new groups, many incidentally by relatively new readers, is reaching a frenzy, and most of it is inappropriate. Even were sci.electronics crowded and people there protesting the postings about remote control (which is hardly the case!), this would still not be sufficient justification per se for starting a new group. >... I do not know >the proper procedure to propose a new newsgroup, so maybe >people could just begin discussing it in comp.misc or >sci.electronics ... Proper procedure includes discussing whether a new group is really necessary, before "we" enthusiasts of the new topic simply take for granted that it would be a good idea. Amid Rick's enthusiasm for a newsgroup or mailing list, by virtue of the topic's merit and timeliness, I still can find none of the other necessary justification: why the existing groups are NOT adequate. Now on to the purely technical discussion: >... There's work underway by some association of home builders to >come up with a 'home bus', serving as a bus over which audio, video, and >data can flow throughout a home - using wiring not much more complex >than wiring in today's houses. This seems to me to be a pretty exciting >idea, however progress has been slow because of the many differing opinions >on how it should be done. However, even though there are yet no 'standards', >many hardware/software tinkerers have implemented their own ... I wonder about the NV Philips "DDB" (Domestic Data Bus), a standard that has existed for years; and even the Integrated Services Digital Network (which seems to fill half the professional telecom magazines these days). I am not familiar with these big-time domestic communications standards but it seems to me they could be relevant. Anyone knowledgeable care to comment? Max Hauser / max@eros.berkeley.edu / ...{!decvax}!ucbvax!eros!max UC Berkeley EECS Department
mdf@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu (Mark D. Freeman) (01/17/88)
In <676@bucket.UUCP> rickb@bucket.UUCP (Rick Bensene) writes: >I've noted a bit of discussion here and there regarding the >X-10 system for remote control of lights and appliances, >discussion of various infrared remote control boxes, as >well as occasional mention of other home automation subjects. >I have a keen interest in such topics, and am wondering if >there are many others out there with an interest in this topic? This sounds great. If you set up a mailing list, please put me on it. I vote YES for a newsgroup. -- Mark D. Freeman (614) 262-1418 mdf@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu 2440 Medary Avenue ...!cbosgd!osu-cis!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!mdf Columbus, OH 43202-3014 Guest account at The Ohio State University
phil@osiris.UUCP (Philip Kos) (01/20/88)
I vote that no group be created for home automation. I feel that there
is enough available bandwidth in both the sci.electronics and comp.misc
groups (the most likely places for such postings) to handle the traffic.
Also, don't forget comp.risks! As home automation becomes more popular,
expect to see lots of articles describing (possible) mistakes and draw-
backs.
Phil Kos
...!decvax!decuac!\ Information Systems
...!uunet!mimsy!aplcen!osiris!phil The Johns Hopkins Hospital
...!allegra!/ Baltimore, MD