Re: X10 Computer Interface

[shb*NO*SPAM*@comporium.net (Si Ballenger)]

On Mon, 28 Mar 2005 13:07:00 -0800, Dave <dju@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

>Hi,
>
>I'm authoring a video motion detector application and would
>really like to be able to send commands to X10 devices from
>the user's PC if motion is detected.
>
>Is there an interface that a third party app developer can
>support in their software that will have some longevity? In
>other words, do the X10 computer interfaces that are
>currently available have any likeliness that they'll be
>around in 5 years. I wouldn't want to support something then
>have to explain shortly afterwards that the X10 feature is
>no longer usable.
>
>Would appreciate it if anyone can tell me which are the most
>popular X10 computer interfaces. I used to have an X10
>system when I had a house and the box I had (made by X10)
>connected to the serial port of the PC. Now they probably
>have something that uses USB. I hope so. I need to either
>pick an existing device and declare that I support it or I
>need to make my own hardware. The problem with that is that
>it no longer becomes software only and the Internet cannot
>be used to send hardware to the user..., let alone having to
>make the x10 adapters too. BTW: The Parallax Stamp chips can
>provide an X10 interface for anyone who wants to fiddle with
>programming them.
>
>Thanks for any help.
>
>Dave

Just make it so it will run one or more user specified command
lines when motion is detected. That way when motion is detected,
the user can have applications run that operate x10 gizmos, send
email, grab pix, or do all sorts of other things. You can add
other fancy stuff later after the motion detection part is
developed.