Well it's been a while so I thought I'd better post an update.
Automated Lights
The lights are now a "production" element of my apartment. They're essential, reliable and... they're awesome.
In order to consider them a "production element", I had a couple of things to implement.
Hardware
Firstly, my solution was in two pieces. I had the Raspberry Pi and then I had my soldered light module.
Not a tidy solution.
So, for inspiration I put Ironman 1 and 2 on (Ironman 3 is playing as I type this) and re-soldered the lighting module inside the Raspberry Pi case.
Two pieces become one (pretty sure the Spice Girls sang a song about this story).
Software
Now that the hardware is in a nice tidy case and tucked away in the corner of my office, scheduling was my next focus.
I've always had buttons to delay a light by a number of seconds.
But what I really wanted was to be able to say "Every Saturday turn these lights on at this time and then turn them off at this time". Or go on holiday and be able to have the lights come on at certain times.
So I've written a scheduling module:
I can now set recurring schedules of lights or one off schedules.
A great example of this is my Christmas Tree. Usually at this time of year, I'm performing an ungraceful crawl under the tree to turn the lights on and off. But no more!
Now, the lighting system (I really need to name it - feel free to comment with suggestions) turns the lights on at 6:30am Monday to Friday, switching off at 8am (I'm long gone on my way to work before this time but I want them to be on until I've left the apartment). They then return to full flare at 6pm, turning off at 11:30pm.
The schedule is currently checked at 00:01 every morning. A future enhancement will have it check more frequently, but daily is enough at the moment.
Raspberry Pi update
The excitement of Christmas brings a second Raspberry Pi for me. This Pi, nicknamed Robotics, will be my first experiment into the world of motors. My current aim is to be able to control a motor using linux. Once I can do that, I'll let my imagination run away with me.
Imagine automated blinds, a robot arm, an automated Degu feeder. Pipe dreams but cool.
The motor is en route so expect an update in a future post.
New Tech
NAS
In non-Pi related news, I was given a NAS for Christmas. My iMac is currently copying everything from my external hard drive over to the NAS.
It's all part of the automated apartment plan; I'll have all of my media anywhere, on any device via FTP, Media Server or file server. Cool.
The Office
I received a few gadgets for my office for Christmas. I'm mounting my monitors at my desk which is mainly to raise the height of them for comfort. I got a new monitor with VESA holes for mounting and two incredibly good looking and sturdy brackets for mounting a monitor to a desk. I went for desk mounting rather than wall mounting so that they can move with me and to prevent me putting more holes in my walls. This change also makes my desk look very cool. The second monitor is on it's way and once installed, I'll upload a picture.
Windows or Apple
I've recently purchased a MacBook Air 11" as well. I used to have HP Mini Netbook and loved it. I wrote this blog on it, used it on my sofa and wrote code on it but as technology moved on it became very sluggish to the point where it was painful to type, let alone do anything else. I decided I needed to upgrade it and considered a touch-based solution so that I could use it as a normal laptop or as a touch-screen one. I opted for the Microsoft Surface however a few months later I have sold the Surface and have purchased a MacBook Air.
For the Apple-haters out there, I didn't buy it because it was Apple, I spent many months looking over all-in-one windows machines, Android tablets, Netbooks, the Surface etc and none of them provided the size, weight and functionality I needed... except for the Surface and the MacBook Air. Unfortunately Microsoft just haven't got it right when it comes to Windows and Hardware at the moment, and until they do, I'm either an Apple or Google person.
I'm pleased to say that the MacBook Air is fantastic. It just does what it's supposed to well and fast. It's light and has great battery power. The only downside was that it was pretty expensive. I just hope that somebody can challenge Apple with a decent competitor and maybe we'll see a lower price in future. I think Dell are doing a half-decent job of this but the price is fairly similar from what I know... and of course it runs Windows 8 - the big downside.
Lights are just the beginning... that's what I've always said. When I first got a Raspberry Pi, my objective was to learn more about Linux and also to be able to type a command 'light on' and have a little LED turn on. I've progressed a little since then and now have the full automated lighting system I've mentioned above.
Next, along with the motor experiment, I'll be looking at expanding the home automation system. My vision at the moment is to be able to wake up, walk over to a wall-mounted tablet which is displaying the weather, whether my trains are on time, what my schedule is etc, all on one page. No apps needed, no button presses etc, just there for me and personalised - the right information on the right day etc.
I'm a little way off that now and I haven't thought about it anymore than the paragraph above. But it's the next plan.
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