Smart home controls unveiled
A system that could eventually control heating, home security cameras and draw curtains has been demonstrated by phone maker Nokia.
The Nokia Home Control Center is a wireless router which can interface with equipment around the home. The Finnish firm has partnered with European energy company RWE to manage heating systems and is hoping other firms will sign up soon. It has been showing off the gadget at Nokia World in Barcelona. The system is expected to be on shelves towards the end of 2009.
Heating on
The smart box is based on an open Linux-based platform and includes a raft of wireless technologies which allow users to connect remotely via a PC or smartphone. It is envisaged that third parties will integrate their own services as Nokia vies for a slice of the "networked home" market. It packs 6GB (gigabytes) of storage, necessary if it is to act as a store for video from security cameras.
It can also work out when conditions change, if such automatic functions are pre-set by users. So the system might recognise a cold snap when the home-owner is on holiday and turn on the heating to avoid freezing pipes on their return.
Read the full story at BBC Technology