Items Tagged With hardware

The HomeSeer Pro-100 has now been released. This is Home Automation in a box, a PC based hardware/software system dedicated to smart home control...

"HomeSeer Technologies announces the release of its new PRO-100 home automation controller. The controller is part of the new HomeSeer PRO series, a new line of home control products designed specifically for the professional integrator and installer. The PRO-100 is the most powerful and flexible controller of its type featuring complete integration of lighting, security, HVAC and home theatre systems...

o2m8 have just announced the latest incarnation of their WebBrick" smart home device...

"Call it a Leviathon, Nemesis or Elephant project, but any way we measure it, the WebBrick 6 is our biggest development project to date.

The key movement from the venerable WebBrick 5 Series was to build the 6 as an installers automation Appliance. This meant a change away from the Molex style connectors to the Phoenix style rising clamp connectors. (If you're an OEM customer, please don't worry because the WebBrick board uses dual 40 IDC Headers). We reckon we can hear the installer breathing sighs of relief from here!

We also wanted to increase the number of IO connections and roll up some of the firmware improvements we've made in the 5 series, specifically...

Here's an interesting new Home Automation system that promises to bring smart home controls that were previously only enjoyed by the rich and famous, into the reach of the rest of us.

"Home automation should be as accessible, affordable and as easy to use as other sub-systems in the home, like central heat and air," says Joe Doran, Cortexa's CTO. "An intelligent automation system offers more than convenience, security and peace of mind. In the long run, as it adapts to the habits of the household, it can also significantly reduce energy costs through smarter management of high consumption systems."

Until now, home automation systems have been notoriously complex, using a combination of proprietary and customized software and hardware components. Cortexa simplified its system by making the user interface so easy to use that the homeowner can program the system themselves and make adjustments as the need arises. The software integrates to the most common sub-system platforms and is enhanced every week with customers receiving free upgrades...

Submission by Keith Finnett - It's not often you can buy something that's well built, ergonomic and a great gadget for under £50 - but Microsoft have produced a piece of hardware that would be a steal at twice the price.

As a fully paid-up Windows Media Centre household we have become absolutely reliant on the PC that sits upstairs to provide our whole-house entertainment. Microsoft's latest version of Windows Media Centre (version 2005) gives us access to live and recorded TV, music and (camcorder) video, DVDs, our ever growing photo gallery, and most recently digital radio which mysteriously appeared with the installation of Rollup 2 even though my tuner cards (both from BlackGold) did not provide support for this...

Just received the following from Total Telematics...

"We have recently added ezVID, ezMouse and ezKey to our collection of outstanding uController interface products.

ezVID is a serial interface which allows for easy connection between your microcontroller project and any video source which is capable of accepting an NTSC video signal. We are stocking two versions of this great board so check them out under the product category ezModules. Many UK TV/Video's can easily accept an NTSC signal!

ezMouse is by far the easiest way for your microcontroller project to interface with a standard PS2 mouse. The uses for this board are endless but include Automation, Robotics, On Screen Displays and Data Input...