My Home Can Now Talk To Me

For about a year I have had my eyes on a small device called The Ubi.  Essentially The Ubi is promised to be a computer without a computer.  The device can do such things like setting alarms, notification of temperature, connecting calls, sending text messages, and even controlling home automation devices.  However what is really cool is the fact that The Ubi can (from what I assume) Google different questions that the device is asked.  For example, if I ask the device “What is 2 plus 2?”  The device will respond with the correct answer.  Or if I ask the device “How did George Washington die?”  The device will respond with the correct answer.

Some of you may be thinking, doesn’t your Denise program do the same things?  In short, yes.  However the difference between these two devices are that A.) The device can be used without having the computer on 24/7.  B.)  Can connect with my phone to call or text people from my contact list.  Other than that, that is where the majority of  the differences end.

My Ubi is already on its way to my home and I cannot wait to get my hands on it. 

This was the initial video I saw when I first learned about The Ubi.  Apparently this video was featured during their Kickstarter campaign.

Beware Of Hackers

Fairly recently I had a terrible realization.  For several weeks I have been plugging away giving away massive details about my upcoming home automation project.  However what I did not take into consideration is the fact that I was setting myself up for a cyber attack.

Luckily for me, I have not decided on many aspects of my project and  many decisions on which direction to take are still up in the air.  For example, I am getting SmartThings, however I have also been looking into other hubs.  Just because I acquire the SmartThings hub does not mean I will keep it on a permanent basis.  This is just one of many examples.

Also lucky for me, I have not given away details of my future home security system.  I feel posting these details about my home security is not a good idea.  It is already bad enough that I have already publically declared my interest in home automation, however I am not going to allow that to deter me.  My main fear is to have someone invade my system.  This fear alone is why I have also decided that I will be encrypting my entire home setup.  Granted I am well aware anyone with some real skill behind a keyboard can find and access a system even behind an encryption.  That seems to always be a risk when doing anything regarding the internet. 

I guess this realization is the main reason as to why I haven’t been blogging as much.  I will still continue my project and gradually update my blog with details.  However it is safe to say that I will be much more aware when it comes to what I will share and what I will keep to myself.

2014 is basically here, this is going to be a great year.

Getting Organized

It is getting closer and closer for me to begin thinking of initial Alpha testing for my Home Automation project.  However due to some scatterbrained thinking, I am second guessing myself and feel I need to organize more carefully so nothing is left to chance.

In order to do that I feel that I need to make a checklist of sorts in order to later help me organize everything just right.  This also substitutes as both a reminder and also a to-do list.

1.) Overall Project:

• Intertwine household electronics with SmartThings via sensors and Z-Wave technology
• Code Denise to interact with those electronic devices
• Code Denise to control Nest Smart Thermometer so temperature is remotely changeable
• Setup household intercom/microphone system to speak to Denise with voice commands
• Code Denise to perform those voice commands
• Setup security system (including cameras and motion)
• Code security system to Denise and enable mobile remote viewing into home through video
• Setup mobile phone integration to have Denise screen calls or send text messages
• Setup projection and Kinect system to display Denise onto the wall
• Acquire smart door locks
• Install/Setup/Code Denise to work with smart locks

Looking at this list it in no way justifies the massive amount of time and energy that I am going to have to commit to make this a reality.  The list seems short, but I know just how much work it is going to be for me.  I think the main thing will be coding Denise to do all these things will take the most time, especially if I am creating that code from scratch.  The codes and commands need to be individually tested and that will also take time.  Eventually I want to replace every outlet in my home to a Z-Wave input/output, that way literally anything plugged in can be controlled by Denise.  I will have this project already started by the time that happens.  I plan on buying some gradually to where eventually all plugs will be Z-Wave technology.  Now THAT would be awesome.

I got a lot of work ahead of me.

My Home’s Brain Will Arrive In Early January

Several weeks ago I had reached out to the company who makes SmartThings and asked them to send me a unit for product review.  They agreed and said that it would arrive mid-November.  Leading up to mid-November I received an email saying that media review units were delayed and that they would not be able to send me a unit until January.  I was a little disappointed, especially since a vast amount of things involving some of my projects regarding Denise required this piece of technology.  After all, this was going to be the brains of my property and everything was going to be tied into it. 

This morning I awoke to an email from the company reassuring me that I was going to get one.  In addition, I was also told about a new mobile device app that made it even easier to control the devices in the home.  I could not be any more excited. 

First thing I am going to do aside from continue working with my home security and home automation, is get SmartThings to work alongside my smart Nest thermostat.

This this going to be awesome!