Last Updated: 16 September 2009
This website is my random writings of information, notes and alike on the subject of ‘Home Automation’ generally using Ubuntu Linux, 1-wire and anything else I fancy using.
The idea that ‘Home Automation’ conjures up to most people, is to be very much a Geek. Geek I’m not. Although I have a very deep knowledge of many areas concerned with HA, I don’t do things just for the sake of it. Nor will I preach the gospel according to ‘gadget boy’. If people ask, I will talk to them in a level of understanding appropriate to the conversation and quite importantly I want them not to feel belittled, bewildered or pressured.
HA for me is a method by which I can improve my life, save money and more importantly reduce my CO2 foot print on the world. The projects I choose to implement myself are for these purposes. If I gain other benefits, then even better.
Take for example the telephone system I am putting together. It is there to help my new venture (see below), use the network facilities I already have (cabling, Internet, etc.). There is a cost (electricity) in running the server and the VOIP phones, but I am hoping to offset this cost against the savings. These being: free voice mail, advanced call routing and diversion, IVR and conference/meeting room facilities and a very advanced intercom system around the very large new property I will own shortly. The ‘live’ system will be installed into a low energy, small form PC to minimise power usage with dynamic CPU speed and low energy HD. Rather than the second hand old PC I’m currently running it all upon.
I am currently employed as an IT Trouble Shooter, resolving IT issues where others have failed for a large company based in the UK, France, Australia (and others). I have a very good analytical mind and a broad exposure to IT systems and associated technologies. I also have experience of all kinds of things: mechanical, electrical, optical, chemical, electronic (digital and analogue), etc.
I live in the UK. Currently in Surrey, but I will be moving to Westray, Orkney in Scotland, probably around Easter 2010. Where I have purchased a Manse (Vicarage), the Kirk (Church), associated Hall, various outbuildings and land. This is quite a project and the HA is to not only make the properties efficient, but also easy to use.
Where possible I will include photos or diagrams to help describe what it going on. The old saying of ‘a picture paints a thousand words’ is so true. So once I start doing things beyond the ‘trial and error’ and evaluation stages that I’m currently in, then pictures will become more useful.
The pages here will contain my Comments, “HowTo’s”, Reviews and other technical notes. I will try to keep it in some sort of organisation, but this may fail at times – sorry.
If you wish to contribute, then feel free to contact me for an account and provide me with details about yourself. You can also rate each post, and please feel free to do so. This will help me improve on articles already written, and encourage me to produce similar articles in the future. If you have a problem with an article, by all means give it a low rating, but also please leave a comment as to why so that I can fix it for everyone else.
I have started a donation system, to help fund the operation of this and supporting sites. Please give what you can, every little helps. I will also be carrying appropriate adverts to also generate support revenue, so please use these to help the cause. If I get enough donations, then I will make donations to other Open Source projects I use. I am operating this site as a pure non-profit service, in an un-biased view of my direct experiences.
The HA projects and information given here will be biased and converted for use within the UK. So please be aware of local differences needed to use this information in a safe and legally way elsewhere in the world. See the ‘Legal Bits‘.
You can contact me via: binarysage@gmail.com
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