[gazza]

Nokia has launched a new open platform designed to enable users to remotely control devices in their home from their mobile phone.

Nokia Home Control Center is a solution based on an open Linux based platform enabling the home owner to build a technology-neutral smart home that can be controlled with a mobile phone, using a unified user interface.

Nokia is running a partner program for companies that are developing home solutions with the aim to integrate state-of-the-art solutions from each area to the framework so that the systems can be controlled via a mobile device. The aim is to provide systems with remote access via the same user interface regardless if you use a mobile phone, web browser or an internet tablet, also enabling the different home systems to talk to each other.

The really pleasing aspect of this development is that Nokia is producing a system to link together all the different current technologies with one unified platform. More info here.

gazza

[mickdevlin]

Such systems have been around for a long time. They have never taken off.

[gazza]

Such systems have been around for a long time. They have never taken off.

If Nokia gets it right their approach might just allow all the small players with their different formats to collaborate - not change their format but have it work with Nokia's "talk to all" system.

BTW there are plenty of examples in the rural world of such mobile phone control - although the demise of CDMA in Oz stymied many. Some examples:- remote opening and closing of gates to allow stock movement, remote control of pumps for irrigation or stock watering, remote control of sluice gates in irrigation channels.

gazza

[pmoeser]

I remember seeing an article on tv or on the net about how that was another application for IP6

With the increase in number of available addresses, every light switch could be connected somehow to a network to be controlled remotely. Sounds a bit like the Remote app...

[bitingmidge]

Most high end houses have a version, although they are rarely utilised beyond basic lighting "scenes".

I've been able to phone home and have the oven turned on for years. If I ask really nicely it'll even produce a baked dinner before I get home.

Pity I didn't patent it!

Cheers,

P

[gazza]

Most high end houses have a version, although they are rarely utilised beyond basic lighting "scenes".

I've been able to phone home and have the oven turned on for years. If I ask really nicely it'll even produce a baked dinner before I get home.

Pity I didn't patent it!

Cheers,

P

My closest neighbour (900 m!) has a "high-end" house with all the "electrics" controlled by computer via his own website. He monitors and controls this home from his other home 120 km away. He has numerous webcams set up internally and externally to assist his monitoring. The main gate and the (400m long) driveway lights are included in this "control" via computer but also by mobile phone so that as he approaches his property on a Friday night he can ask his wife to phone "gate opening" and "lights on."

gazza

[Anthony Caruana]

Well, the whole home automation thing will get a big kick along - at least in Victoria to start with. One of the home automation communications protocols, Zigbee, will be part of every new electricity meter.

Given that every domestic electricity meter in Victoria will be replaced with a smart meter over the next four years or so, we'll start seeing more an more household appliances with Zigbee hitting the stores.

[bitingmidge]

Well, the whole home automation thing will get a big kick along - at least in Victoria to start with. One of the home automation communications protocols, Zigbee, will be part of every new electricity meter.

Given that every domestic electricity meter in Victoria will be replaced with a smart meter over the next four years or so, we'll start seeing more an more household appliances with Zigbee hitting the stores.

Call me a neanderthal, but I find it all a bit hard to see a real use. Almost every component is a solution looking for a problem I think

I'm now talking from a mixed point of view. I have full automation capability in my house, which I installed to try to get my head around it all before specifying in a large residential project I was managing at the time.

I can see for instance AirConditioning units being controlled off peak by the meters, but the rest of the smart technology stuff leaves me cold.

All of our light switches are programmable to operate any number or combination of lights, and we can set up timers if we wish. There's nothing in that that can't be done by normal analogue devices.

Being able to phone your gate or garage door (a la gazza's neighbour) might be OK if you've lost your remote.

You can use the timer in your oven to turn it on.

One of my clients/associates does have a similar set up to the one gazza mentioned. He can take a call on his mobile from a tradesman, check him on his security camera via the web, unlock the front door or open the garage and turn off the security in any zone the guy needs to work in, all the while watching him via camera.

He also phones the house an hour or two before he gets there to start the air conditioning.

All of that is rather contrary to my philosophy about how we should be living!

Worst of all, the software needs Win to play with it, so I don't have any desire to do so.

I'd really like it to be useful, because I'd jump in with both feet, but there are so many solutions which won't be obsolete in a few years it's really just a toy for those who need toys I think.

Cheers,

P

[Anthony Caruana]

I can see for instance AirConditioning units being controlled off peak by the meters, but the rest of the smart technology stuff leaves me cold.

Air conditioning, cold - clever pun!

BTW - as well as air conditioners, there are pool pumps, slab heaters, electric hot water and numerous other devices that could be controlled in this way.

Putting the electricity part aside, Zigbee can be used with all sorts of systems and devices. I suspect that it'll be a little bit like the movie Field of Dreams - if you build it they will come. Once people have Zigbee controllers on their computers and mobiles there will be clever people who create all sorts of clever, unexpected ways to use and exploit the technology.

[gazza]

Being able to phone your gate or garage door (a la gazza's neighbour) might be OK if you've lost your remote.

One of my clients/associates does have a similar set up to the one gazza mentioned. He can take a call on his mobile from a tradesman, check him on his security camera via the web, unlock the front door or open the garage and turn off the security in any zone the guy needs to work in, all the while watching him via camera.

He also phones the house an hour or two before he gets there to start the air conditioning.

Worst of all, the software needs Win to play with it, so I don't have any desire to do so.

My neighbour's setup is ditto to all the above except he does it via the web (yep and its Windows!) - the only mobile phone aspect is the driveway lights and front gate.

I'd really like it to be useful, because I'd jump in with both feet, but there are so many solutions which won't be obsolete in a few years it's really just a toy for those who need toys I think.

Cheers,

P

Your final point "toys for the boys" is dead right in the instance I am quoting - he has everything that "opens and shuts and does hand stands" all for the fun of it - ok there is the security angle in a lot of i,t but............!!

gazza

[gazza]

Putting the electricity part aside, Zigbee can be used with all sorts of systems and devices. I suspect that it'll be a little bit like the movie Field of Dreams - if you build it they will come. Once people have Zigbee controllers on their computers and mobiles there will be clever people who create all sorts of clever, unexpected ways to use and exploit the technology.

Not to speak of the "big brother" aspect - the meters will all be "read" remotely (no more meter readers walking the beat, or in my case driving around when houses are up to a km apart) - AND who will be given access to this information to keep an eye on how much electricity we use and when we use it ( am I a "conspiracy theorist??")

gazza

[Anthony Caruana]

Not to speak of the "big brother" aspect - the meters will all be "read" remotely (no more meter readers walking the beat, or in my case driving around when houses are up to a km apart) - AND who will be given access to this information to keep an eye on how much electricity we use and when we use it ( am I a "conspiracy theorist??")

gazza

No-one new will have access to your data - there will just be more data. The meter reading companies will replace their people with computer and communications systems.

In today's world, your meter is read every quarter or thereabouts. Those reads are subtracted from each other to work out the gross amount of energy used between meter reads. However, an algorithm is then used to break that three month consumption into 30 minute intervals. In the new world, there will be real data for those half hours rather than computer generated. Unless you have more than one electricity meter, your peak and off-peak usage is calculated rather than read.

There will be a full-on communication and education campaign starting next year to inform everyone of what's going on.

BTW - the remote reading of meters is not new - it happens for many places today. Interval meters (meters that collect readings every 30 minutes) are also quite widespread.