Why settle for an ordinary house? Engineer it to serve your every whim. And, hey: If you look like a geek to your friends and family, just consider it a bonus.
Ever miss a phone call because your TV was on too loud? Learn a little about ring detectors and actuators, and you can automatically mute the audio whenever the phone rings. (Among the authors' approaches X-10 power line technology; they use it often and explain it systematically in Chapter 1: parts, architecture, implementation issues, troubleshooting, and more.)
Or build your own security monitoring system: The Presses cover every imaginable sensor, from motion and broken-glass sensors to vehicle sensors that recognize when someone's pulling into your driveway. They also cover the software side: for example, getting your system to email you whenever something's amiss. Wherever code's required, it's downloadable. (For even more complementary ideas, see their previous book, PC Toys.)
Out of this book's ten fascinating projects, here's one that's quintessential geek: the Anything Inventory system, which uses barcodes to track what's in your fridge and kitchen cabinets. (The Presses' neatest trick: resurrecting those notorious CueCat barcode scanners now available on eBay for a pocketful of change.)
How about embedding a PC in your kitchen? (Great for looking up recipes on the Web, but watch the power management.) Or building a home TV server? Adding automated temperature control to your barbecue? It's all in here. Often useful, and always geeky. Bill Camarda, from the June 2005 Read Only
From the PublisherCalling all alpha-geeks! Geek House provides tinkerers with 10 PC-based hardware hacking projects for all areas of their home. The projects are advanced - but we hardware hackers love a challenge, don't we? Roll up your sleeves and dive into these 10 awesome projects:
Home Television Server?schedule and play recordings from any TV in the house
Anything Inventory?bar code recognition and item inventory. Use it for the kitchen, your DVDs, CDs, or anything else
Kitchen PC?build into a cabinet to organize and automate the kitchen
X10 Under the Hood?advanced home automation
Automated Sprinkler Control?keep lawn moisture steady and save water
Automated BBQ Temperature Control?Mmmmm, perfect BBQ ribs.
Car PC?Complete with MP3s, DVDs, navigation, and Internet connection
Remote Control Finder - how many do you have? Never loose one again
Convert RS232 to Wireless - for making devices wi-fi enabled
TV Mute on Phone Ring - never miss another call (unless you want to!)
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