In its current form, Siri can certainly be quite useful as a digital assistant, but what if you want something even more amazing out of Apple’s assistant, like the ability to control your smart house? That’s exactly what Youtube user “Elvis Impersonator” set out to do using his iPhone and a SiriProxy-loaded Raspberry Pi.

The results are that he can now control the thermostat at his home, shut off and dim lights, open/close the garage and even change TV channels, all from Siri.

Here’s a quote from the man behind this project:

I have been following the development of SiriProxy since its initial appearance in November 2011 and even got it installed and working on an Marvell SheevaPlug ARM based plug computer. I spent countless nights dreaming of the day I could use voice commands to control my home, but I was still under a long term contract on my existing iPhone. I already had been experimenting with IP2IR control in various forms, but the controller I use in the video seemed to offer the most features which the manufacturer added a REST API in March 2012.

Wishing you could do something like this yourself? You can. All of this user’s SiriProxy plugins are open sourced and available via his GitHub page. Pretty cool stuff, wouldn’t you say?

[ source ]

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With help from Crestron’s AMS-AIP home automation equipment and an intermediary proxy server, Apple iPhone 4S Siri can take over the highly intelligent voice control of lighting, temperature, home theater equipment and more; commanding your home’s WiFi thermostat by voice.

It’s not the first time Siri is used beyond the borders of usual tasks of iPhone 4S, and you can be sure, it won’t be the last one. I can see many new WiFi controlled devices may get a sticker “Siri Compatible” very soon. Talking to your thermostat in the middle of the cold winter night wouldn’t sound weird any more. Especially when listening to these silky soft and tender Siri lady answers and reports.

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EnOcean has created self-powered, energy-harvesting sensors which monitor the temperature and light settings of a building and adjust them accordingly. The wireless technology functions to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs in buildings and industrial facilities. EnOcean’s wireless modules are in use in over 100,000 buildings. The sensors are located in EnOcean’s light switches.

The self-powered wireless energy switches and sensors capture energy from their surroundings using a combination of solar cells, thermal and linear motion converters. They are powered by energy drawn from movement, which could be light or changes in temperature. The harvested energy then transmits sensor data in a building to control lighting, heating or air conditioning, eliminating the need for cabling. Outdoor light sensors can be installed, which detect natural light and adjust indoor lighting levels. Additionally, occupancy sensors turn off lights when a room isn’t occupied, and window sensors lower the thermostat if the window is open.

The wireless sensors and switches can now communicate via TCP/IP networks. This means that when installed, any computer hooked up to the internet can communicate with the sensors and relay temperature settings and energy use to the server. Users can monitor and adjust settings outside the home, accessing the information from any internet-connected computer.

There’s even an app that allows you to get the information from a cellphone. Apps like VenergyUI let users monitor and control home energy usage from a cellphone, meaning they can activate the thermostat on the ride home and come back to a toasty, warm house.

According to EnOcean’s press release, the use of self-powered wireless technology enables businesses to save as much as 40 per cent in energy and operating costs. The wireless components save maintenance costs, as there is no need for costly installation, which requires ripping open walls to install hardwired energy management sensors. The cost is proximately $50 to $100 a switch, which are peel-and-stick. EnOcean hopes to expand the wireless sensors to hotels, schools, hospitals and even private homes.

The post Wireless, Self-Powered sensors can be controlled by Android App appeared first on Mobile Magazine.