Table of Contents

Preface; Part 1: Home Automation; 1.Automate a Light; Project Overview; Light Switch; Motion Detection; Wrapping Up; Extensions; Exhibit A: Bill of Materials; 2. Automate Your Porch Light; Project Overview; Light Switch; Motion Detection; - Logic and Timer; Understanding the Script; Wrapping Up; Extensions; Exhibit A: Bill of Materials; Exhibit B: Script Source Code; Exhibit C: Software Versions; 3. Remotely Monitor a Pet; Project Overview; Motion Detection; Image Capture; Understanding the Script; Image retrieval; Wrapping Up; Extensions; Exhibit A: Bill of Materials; Exhibit B: Software Versions Used; 4. Make Your House Talk; Project Overview; Weather Information; Speech Interface; Whole-House Audio; Scheduling and Logic; Wrapping Up; Extensions; Exhibit A: Bill of Materials; Exhibit B: Software Versions; Part II: Home Entertainment; 5. Remotely Control Your Computer; Project Overview; The Infrared Receiver; Infrared Signal Processor (Linux); Infrared Signal Processor (Windows); Wrapping Up; Extensions; Exhibit A: Bill of Materials; Exhibit B: Ready-Made IR Receivers; 6. Control You Home Theater; Project Overview; The IR Transceiver; The IR Signal Processor; Wrapping Up; Extensions; Exhibit A: Bill of Materials; 7. Build a Windows-Based Home Theater PC; Project Overview; The Hardware Platform; The Software Platform; The User Interface; The Services Layer; Wrapping Up; Extensions; Exhibit A: Bill of Materials; Exhibit B: Drivers and Software Versions; 8. Build a Linux-based Home Theater PC; The Platform; The Services Layer; The User Interface; Wrapping Up; Extensions; Exhibit A: Bill of Materials; Exhibit B: Remote Configuration (.lircrc); Exhibit C: Drivers and Software Versions; 9. Create Time-Shifted FM Radio; Project Overview; FM Receiver; Audio Recorder; Audio Playback; Whole-House Audio; Whole-House Control Distribution; Scheduling and Buffering; Wrapping Up; Extensions; Exhibit A: Bill of Materials; Exhibit B: Software Versions; 10. Access Your Entire Media Collection Over the Internet; Project Overview; The Media Player; The Backing Store; The Web Interface; Wrapping Up; Extensions; Exhibit A: default.asp; Exhibit B: display.asp; Exhibit C: playlist.asp; Part III: Home Security; 11. Keyless Entry Welcome Home; Project Overview; Linking the Physical Plant to the Control Medium; The Control Medium; The Controlled Devices; The Intelligent Dispatcher; Wrapping Up Extensions; Exhibit A: Bill of Materials; Exhibit B: Script Source Code; 12. Watch Your House Across the Network; project Overview; Video Cameras; Video Capture; Video Transfer; Video Playback; Playback Control; Wrapping Up; Extensions; Exhibit A: Bill of Materials; Exhibit B: Software Versions; 13. Build a Security System; Project Overview; Intrusion Detection; Intrusion Deterrence; Gathering Evidence; Arming; Monitoring and Alerting; Wrapping Up; Extension

About the Author

Eric's Love affair with technology began as a child with his first electronics project kits from Radio Shack. In his early teens, a friend's Texas Instruments TI99/4A introduced him to computers and programming, thus sealing his fate to be a lifelong geek. Professionally, Eric's experience is diverse. He worked for a voice messaging pioneer in the 80s, and spent three years in the Army working with nerve agents. He designed fully automated manufacturing facilities for the precast concrete industry. Then he went to college. These days Eric makes a living as a technology consultant and systems engineer. He also finds time for writing, teaching, and editing. He lives in Massachusetts. Tony Northrup, a Boston-area network security consultant and technology author, developed his interest in home automation after renting an apartment where every light was controlled by pulling a string. Tony turned to home automation products to add light switches without needing to hire an electrician or cutting into the drywall. Tony later bought a house and now uses computers to control and monitor virtually every system in his home: electrical, home theater, security, and even plumbing. Tony's wife, Erica, ensures his home hacking projects are user-friendly and reliable, while his cat, Sammy, mangles every project within paw's reach.