Show HN: Wovyn, physical world sensors for developers

Post by jamesrcole » Fri, May 11, 2012, 4:21 PM UTC

huhtenberg wrote: post #3

Oh, hai :) After thinking about home automation on an on-and-off basis for several years, I have concluded that the only thing that's needed is automation of electrical sockets. Being able to flip a physical switch and/or check its current state from an iPhone covers good 90% of automation needs. The 9.9% is a thermostat, a temperature sensor and a flood sensor for basement. The remaining 0.1% is exotic stuff to meas…

> I have concluded that the only thing that's needed is automation of electrical sockets.

I guess we're thinking of home automation in different ways, but the kind of automation I'd like is of cleaning.

Post by webwright » Fri, May 11, 2012, 6:49 PM UTC

huhtenberg wrote: post #14

webwright wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Getting an SMS if one of my doors opened during the day might be nice. Drop in on light switches would be huge... But how do you manage drop in? If the consumer has to actually replace the switch with a "smart" switch, that's DOA (requires wiring, messing with the breaker box, etc).

> Getting an SMS if one of my doors opened during the day might be nice. And what will you do in response? :) > that's DOA I don't know what DOA is, but replacing a light switch is the same whether it comes from the Home Depot or from a home automation start-up.

If I got an SMS that my front door was opened in the middle of the day, I'd call my wife to see if she went home early. If she didn't, I'd call my neighbors and/or the cops.

My point on light switches is that (unlike outlets, which could just have a pass-through unit) they require someone actually un-attach and re-attach wires, which many/most home owners aren't super comfortable with. Even if they are, it's a meaningful time investment in comparison.

Re: Show HN: Wovyn, physical world sensors for developers

Re: Show HN: Wovyn, physical world sensors for developers