RE: Idratek Cortex

["Chris Bond" <chris@xxxxxxx>]

Glad I managed to generate a discussion this time!  I have to agree with
most of the comments the technical side looked bloody amazing, in there
demos they didn=92t even get a chance to show off the full potential of
there system.

The colours where off putting certainly, I think white would blend in a
lot better in a home (that means no idratek logos everywhere too though
as you don=92t see a manufactors logo on your light switch do you?).

The voice uses microsofts API so you can change it in control panel
lucky!  The control panel had a lot of functionality which is esscial in
every room in one box, the only draw back was the unit itself doesn=92t
blend in well with the home.

Im pritty sure the idratek guys are subscribed to the list but I'll send
Karam an email off the list to make sure he's got all the comments that
have just been posted.

Kind Regards,
Chris Bond

-----Original Message-----
From: Keith Doxey [mailto:ukha@xxxxxxx]=20
Sent: 10 June 2003 6:59 AM
To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
Subject: RE: [ukha_d] Idratek Cortex


Hi David,

I didnt get the chance to see too much of UKHA due to spending an awful
lot of time on my stand but I did get a brief chance to look at the
Idratek stand.

I remember Peter's early work when he was still at university, (I did
have his website linked but it disappeared when he left Uni).

I was very impressed by the functionality of the system and particularly
impressed by the multipurpose moulding used for all the single gang
faceplates. I do think the initial choice of colour was a mistake that
put several people off at first glance. For wall mounted electrical
accessories, if you are only launching in one colour it should be White
as that is the colour of the majority of electrical accessories.

Whilst I can see the need "to be different" they havent got the
full
range of electrical accessories to go with their modules so you would
have different styles for power points and light switches.

My KAT5 modules are available in Light Grey or Black as they are the
colours that the manufacturer of the boxes has available. All my own
personal modules are grey.... not from preference but because I bought
some of each colour boxes to give people a choice, most people choose to
have Black so it fits with their AV kit. I have shipped less than 5% of
the units in Grey.

I do think that launching without a dimming capability is also a mistake
as affordable quality dimming is something that anyone installing a
large HA system will want as an essential.

They dont actually need to MAKE a dimmer. There are many affordable
dimmer packs used in the entertainment industry that are rugged, and
more importantly have passed all the EMI and safety tests. They could
easily be linked in by incorporating a module that either had  Analogue
0-10V outputs, or a DMX512 output to interface to Digital dimmers. That
would avoid the expense of designing and manufacturing dimmers and would
allow a choice of dimmer packs already available of the shelf in a range
of sizes eg 4 x 5A, 8 x5A from the likes of NJD ( http://www.njd.co.uk )
upto 18 x 5A, 9 x 10A from Pulsar ( http://www.pulsarlight.com ) etc. I
cant remember who it was, but someone on the list was using NJD's
Midi-Controlled dimmer pack for HA Lighting.

As I said at the begining of this reply, I didnt get much time to see
Idratek but I was impressed by what it could do and the range of things
that had already been developed. I personally didnt like the colour of
the faceplates although the functionality and design is very good.

The thing that sticks most in my mind is the large control panel (sorry,
I cant remember the name). I didnt like the shape of it at all and I
imagine the voice output would become a bit annoying after a very short
time. Personally I would prefer to see a more conventionally shaped
panel with a 2x40 or Graphics VFD as for me I feel that would be more
useful and blend into the house more easily.

I believe that to gain widespread acceptance, HA systems need to
unobtrusive and user freindly. They should do the control without you
feeling that control has been "taken away" from you (even if it
has!).
It is evident that a lot of hard work has gone into Idratek and I wish
them all the best for its success but they do need to get lighting
control sorted ASAP and have the faceplates available in other colours.

Keith

www.diyha.co.uk
www.kat5.tv


> -----Original Message-----
> From: David Gumbrell [mailto:david@xxxxxxx]
>
> Let's not forget that Idratek are a small start-up without access
to=20
> the resources of the likes of Clipsal.
>
> They basically have one single gang faceplate moulding which they
use=20
> for all the single modules, by changing the stick-on fascia. Given the

> size of the company and the cost of injection moulds (=A3-five
figures)=20
> this is pretty understandable at this stage in their business.
>
> It seems that the comments about the modules have been taken on board,

> since alternate colours for the plastic are being investigated.=20
> Apparently, once you have the mould, colour changes are relatively=20
> cheap.
>
> They currently don't have any lighting modules of the form you
might=20
> expect (DIN rail or "wall-wart"). But: one of the single
gang modules=20
> includes 2 (network addressed) relays to support switching of light=20
> circuits (2 push buttons on the front). Another module has 2 higher=20
> current relays suitable for switching appliance loads.



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