Ok, I am just getting started with this technology. X10 is basically home automation
technology which uses your existing household wiring as a computer network (its probably
much more than that, but at this point, that's all I know). You can then add
"devices" to the network and these devices can be controlled by your computer, a
remote, or via your phone. Some examples of devices are lights, motors to open and close
curtains, a weather station, and much, much more. I plan to start experimenting with this
new opportunity and use this Web page to document the progress, cost, and technical
issues.
Some ideas are:
1) Use X10 devices to control exterior and interior lighting. Control the lights via a
remote, by phone, and have the light turn off and on a specified times.
2) Use X10 devices to control the curtains in the living room. Control the curtains via
a remote, by phone, and have the light turn off and on a specified times.
3) Install an X10 weather station in the attic.
4) Create a Web server and host a Web site which displays the various statistics of my
home (such as time, indoor temperature, outdoor temperature, etc.). When I access the Web
site, I can control the various devices (turn on/off lights, increase/decrease the
temperature, open/close curtains, etc.) from anywhere (such as from work).
5) Use the door bell as an X10 device that when pushed, raises an event which is
trapped by my Web server. The Web server can then either send me a page, send me an
e-mail, or send me a message (if I am logged onto the Web site). I can then access the Web
site and use a Web cam to see who is at the front door as well as talk to them.
6) Install X10 devices that raises an event when the front door, garage door, etc. is
opened. The Web server can then either send me a page, send me an e-mail, send me a
message (if I am logged onto the Web site), or contact the police indicating there is an
intruder.
7) Install various X10 devices including a voice recognition module in the living room. Imagine it. I invite a special lady to my place for a romantic evening. I say, "Romance!" The X10 voice recognition device then closes the curtains, dims the lights, turns the CD player on and plays a romantic "lovey-dovey" CD, turns the TV on for the video single, turns the VCR on and plays a tape of a crackling fireplace, turns the ceiling fan (with rose petals strategically placed atop each blade) on low, and finally releases a romantic fragrance from the X10 air freshener.
Now I'm not sure if all this is possible.
Plus the cost my be unreasonable. BUT I CAN DREAM!
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