Out of Pod Experience

Read this and pretend that I didn't tell you it's not about this game.

Interesting project though but even the header from the alert from Hackaday.com read "EVE radio breakout board for the Raspberry Pi"

So I thought "EvE radio and the Raspberry Pi? Wut?"

..actually, I was thinking yesterday, and I'm still fairly certain I have seen this little electronic device before. Some cheap electronic gadget that was relatively useless, but I can't remember the exact purpose.

That is to say, I think this particular investment is actually a scam, and the device shown was bought mid-90's and is something relatively unpopular that never took off for a variety of reasons; not the least of which, is it being cheap.

Also, you can tap your iPhone into a control 4 system and have a go at home automation anytime you want. It's been done.

http://www.control4.com/

It's a bit pricey to set up, but I've worked on homes that had these systems integrated and had some part in setting them up. There is nothing simple about it, and it is certainly well beyond the capabilities of a simple wireless device.

Ah.. well that explains it. Never thought to google Raspberry Pi.

So, maybe a legit idea on the part of the one doing it, but still sort of impractical. Audio book device to home automation isn't exactly a small step.

Sounds like he/she is taking a lot of separate ideas and trying to merge them all into one idea without much clue about the technology involved.

Basically, a Control4 system requires that you actually cross connect your electrical, security, and home environmental systems together at one central location. Just wiring all this together and installing the various required electronic devices can cost anywhere from $25K-80K during the construction phase of a new home.

Security systems can be used to monitor various systems, and provide monitoring for leaks, temperature drops, and a number of other things, and can be used to have plumbers and heating technicians called in the event of a failure. Obviously, they need to be under contract and be provided with keys and security codes.

The Control4 system itself can adjust environmental settings, play music, turn on lights, TVs, and a host of other things. As far as I know, it can even be voice controlled. It also has the ability to tap into your phones GPS and turn on the heat or air conditioning or various other things as programmed, when you get within a certain proximity of home.

You could theoretically change some of that system to wireless. It is just data after all, and I'm sure you could have devices communicate commands to each other with the right programming provided they were linked. Essentially, this idea would take the form of a smartphone like device combined with other wireless communications devices. It's not impossible by any means.

I doubt however that it will be easily prototyped for the amount that kickstarter program is aiming for. How much would it cost to design and patent a Smart Phone? Additional wireless devices?

Maybe I'm wrong.