Premise Systems Dan Quigley used his home as a testing ground for his company’s SYS automation software. And the results are in… By Stephen Castle.

Premise Systems Dan Quigley Premise Systems Dan Quigley used his home as a testing used his home as a testing ground for his company’s SYS ground for his company’s SYS automation software. And the automation software. And the results are in…results are in…

By Stephen CastleBy Stephen Castle

Laboratory Test HomeLaboratory Test Home

• Pat and Dan Quigley don’t Pat and Dan Quigley don’t mind living in a laboratory. mind living in a laboratory. Their home is a test site for Their home is a test site for automation software made automation software made by Dan’s company. The by Dan’s company. The software, SYS, a home software, SYS, a home automation software automation software platform, is designed to platform, is designed to create plug-and-play create plug-and-play compatibility with almost compatibility with almost and electronic device.and electronic device.

SMART HOMES….SMART HOMES….

• Dan, the president of the Dan, the president of the company Premise Systems, company Premise Systems, was responsible for making was responsible for making the lighting, security, audio, the lighting, security, audio, video, and heating and video, and heating and ventilation systems work as ventilation systems work as a unit. His house is like a a unit. His house is like a never-ending project he’s never-ending project he’s always tinkering with.always tinkering with.

Home Network Home Network connects connects electronic devices – appliances & electronic devices – appliances & sound systemssound systems • SYS is basically a software unit SYS is basically a software unit

that allows you to plug in that allows you to plug in electronic devices and add electronic devices and add them to a network that enables them to a network that enables systems integrators and systems integrators and serious do-it-yourselfers more serious do-it-yourselfers more time to seamlessly integrate time to seamlessly integrate electronic systems for your electronic systems for your convenience. Dan and Pat’s convenience. Dan and Pat’s family was the perfect testing-family was the perfect testing-ground.ground.

A Simple Computer System A Simple Computer System • You might think that You might think that

such a complex such a complex computer system in a big computer system in a big house is hard but Dan house is hard but Dan programmed it so that it programmed it so that it was very simple to use. was very simple to use. “We didn’t do any “We didn’t do any custom electronics in the custom electronics in the house” He said.house” He said.

Convenience is the key!Convenience is the key!• Dan thinks that his house is Dan thinks that his house is

the smartest house in the the smartest house in the world with 14 environmental world with 14 environmental zones, 16 security zones, zones, 16 security zones, more than 100 lightening more than 100 lightening loads and 128 occupancy, loads and 128 occupancy, motion, temperature, and motion, temperature, and moisture sensors inside and moisture sensors inside and out. “One of the things we’ve out. “One of the things we’ve learned is that these kinds of learned is that these kinds of systems can get really systems can get really complex to use,” says Dan. complex to use,” says Dan. “You have to make it really “You have to make it really simple and focus on the simple and focus on the person and not the person and not the technology.technology.

A Day In The Life….A Day In The Life….

• Consider a typical day Consider a typical day for Pat, who does not for Pat, who does not consider herself consider herself technologically technologically oriented, yet works oriented, yet works out of the house and out of the house and interacts with its interacts with its systems throughout systems throughout the day.the day.

Listening to music is easy:Listening to music is easy:

• To listen to classical music To listen to classical music while working in her large, while working in her large, cathedral-ceiling studio, all cathedral-ceiling studio, all she has to do is call up the she has to do is call up the home’s Web page on her home’s Web page on her computers web browser, computers web browser, press “Media,” and a list of press “Media,” and a list of her favorite artists appears. her favorite artists appears. Everyone in the house has Everyone in the house has his or her own library of his or her own library of music and customized play music and customized play lists and they can access lists and they can access from anywhere in the home.from anywhere in the home.

They can access their music They can access their music from any computer over the from any computer over the Internet. Internet. • When Rich and Katie, When Rich and Katie,

their teenage kids, are their teenage kids, are at their friends’, and at their friends’, and want to listen to their want to listen to their own music, all they own music, all they have to do is go to the have to do is go to the Quigleys’ own Quigleys’ own password-protected password-protected home control Web home control Web site, and select a site, and select a song.song.

CDs and DVDs and MP3 filesCDs and DVDs and MP3 files

• Any kind of source, be it a CD Any kind of source, be it a CD or an MP3 file, can be played or an MP3 file, can be played anywhere in the house, and anywhere in the house, and play lists can be created my play lists can be created my mixing albums, tracks from mixing albums, tracks from CDs, and MP3s. This is done CDs, and MP3s. This is done by Premise Systems; new by Premise Systems; new mSense, an intelligent mSense, an intelligent switching technology that switching technology that automatically determines automatically determines whether the source is a CD, a whether the source is a CD, a DVD, or an MP3 file, and how DVD, or an MP3 file, and how to play it.to play it.

Ventilation and fireplace Ventilation and fireplace sensorssensors

• If the TV cabinet is closed If the TV cabinet is closed before the TV cools enough, before the TV cools enough, a ventilation fan activates a ventilation fan activates automatically. Similarly, a automatically. Similarly, a firewood cabinet to the right firewood cabinet to the right of the fireplace has a fan that of the fireplace has a fan that helps dry the wood if alerted helps dry the wood if alerted by a humidity sensor there. by a humidity sensor there. The firewood cabinet can The firewood cabinet can also be opened from the also be opened from the outside so wood can be outside so wood can be stacked there without stacked there without carrying it though the house-carrying it though the house-a low-tech form of a low-tech form of convenient home convenient home automation.automation.

Sensors measure the number Sensors measure the number of people in the room and of people in the room and adjust the heat and cooling.adjust the heat and cooling.• Sensors in some areas Sensors in some areas

consider the number of consider the number of extra people to adjust the extra people to adjust the heat accordingly. For heat accordingly. For example, if several people example, if several people occupy a single area, the occupy a single area, the HVAC system may actually HVAC system may actually decrease the temperature to decrease the temperature to the room doesn’t get stuffy the room doesn’t get stuffy or hot. The occupancy or hot. The occupancy sensors also prevent the sensors also prevent the Quigley’s dog or cat from Quigley’s dog or cat from activating the HVAC system activating the HVAC system in a zone when one of them in a zone when one of them enters a room.enters a room.

Control the lights and the Control the lights and the heat:heat:

• Pat’s office is a serene Pat’s office is a serene space, its ambiance space, its ambiance often warmed by a gas often warmed by a gas fireplace and fireplace and illuminated by 2 illuminated by 2 skylights. The 2 skylights. The 2 motorized skylights in motorized skylights in the ceiling close the ceiling close automatically when it automatically when it starts to rain, a huge starts to rain, a huge convenience in the oft-convenience in the oft-wet Northwest.wet Northwest.

Sun Senor and lighting Sun Senor and lighting levelslevels

• For example, a sun sensor For example, a sun sensor on the weather station on the weather station provides SYS with the provides SYS with the information it needs to information it needs to adjust the lighting levels in adjust the lighting levels in certain rooms if people are certain rooms if people are occupying them. This is occupying them. This is useful in areas of the homes useful in areas of the homes that collect a lot of ambient that collect a lot of ambient light, so when it becomes light, so when it becomes dark outside, lighting will dark outside, lighting will come on in a room that come on in a room that sensors determine some sensors determine some has walked into.has walked into.

Touch panels are near the Touch panels are near the doorwaysdoorways

• When it’s time to When it’s time to make dinner, Pat can make dinner, Pat can summon artists such summon artists such as U2 or Collective as U2 or Collective Soul to help her stir Soul to help her stir some ingredients, just some ingredients, just by pressing a button by pressing a button or two on the or two on the MicroTouch LCD touch MicroTouch LCD touch panel near the panel near the doorway.doorway.

• Pat is alerted Pat is alerted whenever someone whenever someone approaches the approaches the home. She can go to home. She can go to any display in the any display in the home, such as the home, such as the in-wall touch panel, in-wall touch panel, the TV or her PDA, the TV or her PDA, and see a picture of and see a picture of the guest captured the guest captured by security cameras.by security cameras.

Security cameras in the home Security cameras in the home and outsideand outside

• If Pat goes out for an If Pat goes out for an appointment and returns appointment and returns home after dark, sensors in home after dark, sensors in the garage door activate the garage door activate pathway lighting to the door. pathway lighting to the door. The sensors also notify the The sensors also notify the security system that security system that someone is home. When Pat someone is home. When Pat presses a button on the key presses a button on the key fob, the house knows it is Pat fob, the house knows it is Pat and the security system is and the security system is disarmed.disarmed.

Security and lighting Security and lighting sensorssensors

The whole house audio The whole house audio systemsystem• She enters to a lighted She enters to a lighted

hallway, and a newscast for hallway, and a newscast for her begins with the three top her begins with the three top national stories, three top national stories, three top business stories, and national business stories, and national weather over the whole-weather over the whole-house audio system. If she house audio system. If she hasn’t pressed the button on hasn’t pressed the button on her key fob, she can hit a her key fob, she can hit a welcome home button on a welcome home button on a touchpad to bring up the touchpad to bring up the lights in whatever areas she lights in whatever areas she is likely to occupy.is likely to occupy.

When the telephone rings the When the telephone rings the TV and sound system is muted.TV and sound system is muted.

• The family may gather later The family may gather later to watch a movie in the home to watch a movie in the home theater, which also serves as theater, which also serves as a library. When the a library. When the audio/video system cues up, audio/video system cues up, the lights automatically dim the lights automatically dim to a very low level. And if the to a very low level. And if the telephone is answered when telephone is answered when someone is watching a movie someone is watching a movie or listening to audio, the or listening to audio, the sound automatically mutes, sound automatically mutes, and the lights brighten.and the lights brighten.

The sprinkler system…The sprinkler system…

• In the summer, a In the summer, a sprinkler system comes sprinkler system comes on to water the lawn and on to water the lawn and plants, but only when plants, but only when moisture sensors and a moisture sensors and a leaf wetness gauge call leaf wetness gauge call for it. If someone starts for it. If someone starts up the walkway while up the walkway while sprinklers in the area are sprinklers in the area are operating, motion operating, motion sensors there alert SYS, sensors there alert SYS, and those sprinklers and those sprinklers automatically shut off.automatically shut off.

Temperature sensors outside the Temperature sensors outside the homehome

• The family room opens via patio doors The family room opens via patio doors on two sides to porches, one with a on two sides to porches, one with a pergola. The intent is to bring nature pergola. The intent is to bring nature inside, especially during the wet inside, especially during the wet winter months of the Northwest, when winter months of the Northwest, when residents don’t get much time outside. residents don’t get much time outside. And if it gets cold, the Quigleys are And if it gets cold, the Quigleys are covered. If motion or occupancy covered. If motion or occupancy sensors are tripped in the room and sensors are tripped in the room and the Davis weather station registers an the Davis weather station registers an outside temperature below 55 degrees outside temperature below 55 degrees Fahrenheit, the HVAC system goes Fahrenheit, the HVAC system goes into automatic mode, heating the into automatic mode, heating the room to the desired temperature room to the desired temperature specified by the in-room thermostat.specified by the in-room thermostat.

This is a guest friendly This is a guest friendly homehome• But when people do visit-and But when people do visit-and

they often do-this house is they often do-this house is guest-friendly. When guest-friendly. When entertainment modes are entertainment modes are engaged, the fireplaces come engaged, the fireplaces come on and bathrooms stay lit so on and bathrooms stay lit so lights aren’t being constantly lights aren’t being constantly switched on and off as people switched on and off as people go in and out. The main home go in and out. The main home control panels also freeze, so control panels also freeze, so guests can’t inadvertently affect guests can’t inadvertently affect light, ventilation or music levels.light, ventilation or music levels.

Everything turns off by hitting Everything turns off by hitting the good night buttonthe good night button• When the day is complete, the When the day is complete, the

Quigleys can settle down for Quigleys can settle down for sleep and shut off everything in sleep and shut off everything in the house by hitting a good the house by hitting a good night button on a control panel. night button on a control panel. If someone happens to get up If someone happens to get up in the middle of the night, in the middle of the night, motion sensors trigger a motion sensors trigger a pathway of dim lights to the pathway of dim lights to the bathroom. Of course, even the bathroom. Of course, even the best technology doesn’t always best technology doesn’t always work as intended. Sometimes work as intended. Sometimes it works too well, as was the it works too well, as was the case one night when Katie case one night when Katie came home. came home.

Dan is a Sound effect Dan is a Sound effect pranksterprankster

• That doesn’t mean Dan can’t have That doesn’t mean Dan can’t have fun with guests, or even his own fun with guests, or even his own family members. One night while family members. One night while testing the system he came across testing the system he came across some digitized sound effects. He was some digitized sound effects. He was quickly able to program the system quickly able to program the system so that when motion sensors detected so that when motion sensors detected someone entering the kitchen, blood-someone entering the kitchen, blood-curdling screams would emanate curdling screams would emanate from the speakers. Sure enough, from the speakers. Sure enough, daughter Katie and a friend entered daughter Katie and a friend entered the dark kitchen at 11 p.m., dropped the dark kitchen at 11 p.m., dropped everything and screamed themselves. everything and screamed themselves. Rich, Katie and their friends spent Rich, Katie and their friends spent some time thereafter dueling in some time thereafter dueling in house-produced horror sounds.house-produced horror sounds.

Source & Source & Acknowledgments:Acknowledgments:

• Castle, Stephen, “Life in a Very Cool Castle, Stephen, “Life in a Very Cool Lab,” Lab,” Electronic House MagazineElectronic House Magazine, , May 2002.May 2002.

• Thanks to Michael DeMille and Jordan Thanks to Michael DeMille and Jordan Gardner for putting this slide show Gardner for putting this slide show together.together.

The Smart Washing MachineThe Smart Washing Machine

• Web-enabled Web-enabled AppliancesAppliances

• You can control The You can control The Smart Washing Machine Smart Washing Machine over the internet. over the internet.

• The Italian Company The Italian Company sold more than 1 million sold more than 1 million networked appliances networked appliances last year. last year.

• The washing machine The washing machine costs $450.costs $450.

The Thinking Oven MittThe Thinking Oven Mitt

• The oven mitt can tell The oven mitt can tell if the food is still cold, if the food is still cold, is hot but not cooked is hot but not cooked or has cooked all the or has cooked all the way throughway through

• It tells the wearer It tells the wearer either to put the either to put the casserole back into casserole back into the oven, or to serve the oven, or to serve the meal, or to pull out the meal, or to pull out the fire extinguisher.the fire extinguisher.

A fridge then tells you want to A fridge then tells you want to cookcook• A refrigerator A refrigerator

named Minerva named Minerva that can tell what’s that can tell what’s sitting on the shelf sitting on the shelf with 80 percent with 80 percent accuracyaccuracy

• If you have a few If you have a few tomatoes, and tomatoes, and onion and some onion and some pasta, Minerva pasta, Minerva might suggest that might suggest that you make spaghetti you make spaghetti for dinnerfor dinner

SourceSource

• Herper, Matthew, “Smart Kitchen a Herper, Matthew, “Smart Kitchen a Long Way Off.” Forbes, May 21, Long Way Off.” Forbes, May 21, 2001.2001.

• http://www.forbes.com/http://www.forbes.com/2001/12/21/1221networking.html2001/12/21/1221networking.html

You try it…You try it… Design a new Design a new Product:Product:• Design an original home automation product or Design an original home automation product or

applianceappliance• Type your description at the bottom of the Smart Type your description at the bottom of the Smart

Home Worksheet Home Worksheet • Insert a picture of your idea from clipart – Click Insert a picture of your idea from clipart – Click

Insert – Click Picture – Search for a picture – click Insert – Click Picture – Search for a picture – click it to insert the picture on your worksheetit to insert the picture on your worksheet

• To move the clip art - double click it – click the To move the clip art - double click it – click the Layout tab at the top if the window – click in front Layout tab at the top if the window – click in front of text – click OK – Click and move the picture to of text – click OK – Click and move the picture to where you want it.where you want it.

• Save your worksheet in your Network Folder as Save your worksheet in your Network Folder as Smart homeSmart home