Better by Design? - (RANT!)

["Paul Gordon" <paul_gordon@xxxxxxx>]

Did anyone just see the "Better by Design" programme on Channel
4?

It was all about designing a "better" home security system...

The two designers faced with the challenge came up with a car-like central
locking system for the house - keyfob operated, with electric lock strikes,
powerline data transmission (ala X10) between the locks, AND between
lights/appliances (VERY ala X10). They worked with a Nottingham based
security company to design & build the prototypes, and at the end when
they
demoe'd their conception to the MD of the company, they were all very
impressed with each other for having been so clever, and all concerned were
amazed that no-one had thought of it before!!!

What amazed me the most was that all of those people THOUGHT that no-one
had
thought of it before!!  we've all been doing this kind of stuff for years!!
- but they think they've just invented it!!

I saw NOTHING in the programme that could not be achieved easily with
either
a Comfort or Homevision based HA system and X10.

The security company involved (I think they were called "UK
alarms") were
described in the programme as being "innovative" and "at the
leading edge of
security technology" - PISH AND TISH! - they never once even uttered
the
phrase X10, and never mentioned that there are already products on the
market (Comfort) that do all this (and more).

I think the CH4 researchers want a red hot poker up the jacksie for so
comprehensively failing to uncover these facts and feature them on the
programme! - Andrew, where were you!! - you should have just been on TV!

Still I suppose it does serve to bring the technology into public
awareness...


Cheers.

Mr. Angry

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