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Ninja Sphere: Next Generation Control of Your Environment

kickstarter.com

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Re: Ninja Sphere: Next Generation Control of Your Environment

#4
I don't see mention either way of subscription/cloud requirements. If it isn't fully self-contained, then the risks out-weigh the benefits.

Edit: Drilling down to the ninja blocks pages I see mention of a "ninja cloud account" as being required to install drivers. That sort of unnecessary external dependency is a deal-breaker for me, essentially negating the entire value proposition of open-source.

http://ninjablocks.com/blogs/how-to/9555237-installing-drive...

Re: Ninja Sphere: Next Generation Control of Your Environment

#6
post #5

I watched the entire video and I still have no idea what it is or does.

Me either; I came here hoping for the explanation.

My guess, from the amount of times they said "trilater-something", is that it uses radio waves and triangulation to figure out where people are in a home/office? Maybe?

Re: Ninja Sphere: Next Generation Control of Your Environment

#7
post #5

I watched the entire video and I still have no idea what it is or does.

I cant watch the video but did you try scrolling down the page? It explains that it uses a series of sensors to keep you informed about your appliances, possesions and property.

eg. someone is moving your valuables around, or someone left the heater turned on with no one home.

Re: Ninja Sphere: Next Generation Control of Your Environment

#8
post #5

I watched the entire video and I still have no idea what it is or does.

Dan from Ninja here. That's what happens when you try and explain something geeky to a broad audience... but for the techies...

It's a powerful (same chip as beaglebone black) ARM computer with WiFi, BLE and ZigBee radios. Runs ubuntu. Everything open source. Almost all Node.JS.

It uses open source drivers to connect to devices and learns how they operate, building a model. If something is out of place, it notifies you and gives you context aware control. For example if nobody is at home and the heater is on, it will alert the last person to leave and give them the option to turn it off.

Key new tech is positioning with little USB powered dongles placed around your house and Leap-motion style (but simpler, no 3d hands) gestures for controlling lights, temp, etc.

Everything the NinjaBlock did, but all built-in (no more dongles for wifi etc).

Hope that clarifies a bit!

Re: Ninja Sphere: Next Generation Control of Your Environment

#9
post #6
post #5

I watched the entire video and I still have no idea what it is or does.

Me either; I came here hoping for the explanation. My guess, from the amount of times they said "trilater-something", is that it uses radio waves and triangulation to figure out where people are in a home/office? Maybe?

It's essentially a home automation controller that bridges the many different monitoring and control protocols together with spatial awareness.

Re: Ninja Sphere: Next Generation Control of Your Environment

#10
I think this is a cool idea and I'm pretty sure something like this will exist in the future.

Can we all agree though that its time to start phasing out the use of the word 'Ninja' with everything? How about 'Ranger Sphere' or 'Knight Sphere' or just 'The Sphereamid' - thats a pretty neat word you guys came up with, go with it, enough with the 'Ninjas'

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