News Archive
Mon 24 April 2006
Like injecting Windows XP Media Center Edition with home automation steroids.
Exceptional Innovation’s lifelware: Media Center Edition is an all-in-one software solution for home automation and digital entertainment. It boosts the entertainment power of XP MCE operating system by adding in controls for things such as lighting, thermostats, security systems, cameras, window shades, audio devices, and pool controllers.
Life|ware can be accessed from the user's PC, digital entertainment center, Media Center extender, or its own hi-def control panel. One of the perks of LifeIware is that unlike other products that limit the user to one brand of home automation products, life|ware is compatible with all brands of products
For more on home automation see What can be controlled with Home-Automation?
Mon 24 April 2006
In all honesty you wouldn’t buy this swiveling chair on its looks but underneath all that upholstery are all types of goodies to make watching films or playing video games all the more exciting. The chair lets you plug your stereo, home cinema, or game system into it providing you a rich surround sound experience.
More importantly though it has tactile sound transducers that convert low-frequency sounds into vibrations! That’s right! It’s like sitting on a giant mobile phone! The chair has also a powerful 300-watt amp hidden in its base, and a side panel has separate volume and vibration controls, as well as a headphone jack. You can get the chair for $800 from Hammacher.
For more on home cinema see: 10 Upgrades to your Home Cinema without spending a penny!
Mon 24 April 2006
The Ladybag is the last line of defence to stop dizzy girls from leaving the house without their important items -- mobile, keys, pepperspray, useless toy dog or anything else ‘pink or sparkly’. The bag works by having an RFID reader inside that knows when each item is inserted by its RFID tag. If something's not there, the light on the outside shows an outline of the item. If it wasn’t so ‘cute’ I’d get one of these, although I could get one for the missus and she can carry all my stuff for me, not sure she’ll be so enthusiastic about carrying around a bag which looks like it has a xmas tree in it but there you go.
Mon 24 April 2006
It’s about time someone spiced up the traditional door. From this video it appears as if built-in infrared sensors identify the person or object that has approached and the metal bars that make up the door slide out of the way to conform to their shape. There isn’t much point trying to describe it when you can just watch the video (click on the image), the commentary is in Japanese as well which I find pleasant to listen, no clue what they’re saying though. Enjoy.
