fusing real with digital

Openkontrol joins us, and the "stuff" around us, to our computers and networks.  This enables control, monitoring and interaction with the real world but at a digital level. OpenKontrol is the first and only system designed by users for users. It was designed with people NOT machines in mind. It has passed the acid test I first set, in that my wife can understand the basics. This is I believe the dawning age of mass machine networks. There are more "things" in my life I might want to join up than I have actual computers. A mass machine network could dwarf the internet in scale easily by a factor of 5 to 10, if it hasn't within my lifetime I'll be very very surprised. Imagine temperature, humidity, sound, speech, indeed everything that encompasses our human senses.  Then everything we activate or control: the door, the heating, the lighting, the TV, the fridge, the list is endless.  Until robots can act like humans we can achieve similar when we add "intelligence" to objects instead. The "language" we created for this, is based on the terms "automation protocol" we call it aProtocol or aP for short. Spec sheet. DEFINITION: ROBOT:  "A robot is a virtual or mechanical artificial agent. In practice,  it is usually an electro-mechanical machine which is guided by computer or electronic programming,  and is thus able to do tasks on its own".  So ........... it could be argued this project is "robotics without robots" a comment from the founder.  This resource and licence free protocol is a side shoot of a commercial system by CISECO plc. We are compiling example code for these systems:  Arduino  - Proton+ - My Amicus- Swordfish -  KicChip  - PICAXE - Basic Stamp & Propeller - Coridium Basic  - Windows with VB6 - Visual Basic.NET Express (FREE) - Visual Basic.NET Visual Studio with CF  - Linux Look at the sample code NOW

Not quite what we mean Kids in Kontrol

The protocol can be ported to any platform that has RS232 communications. Currently the only wireless device supported is the XBee in 802.15.4 mode (so other kit should be compatible). The system also supports wired, infra red and TCP/IP based communication. Some people have used 433Mhz kit, we as yet don't support these basic transceivers (they need extra code to make them reliable, we are working on this already, it will be a transparent link just like the XBee). We are also looking at 3G, EDGE, UMTS, GSM products. There have also been conversations about very long distance (60 mile) RF. As aP is not dependant on any type of technology, in theory commands can be carried by any means (telepathy not yet available).

We will remain an inexpensive yet powerful system by means of:
                   • Remaining 100% licence free.
                   • Enabling collaboration between large and small.
                   • Lowering barriers to entry for all, there is no fee to use or produce compatible equipment.
                   • Keeping things as simple as possible.
                   • Designed in "anti-obsolescence"  so what you use today will work with what you have tommorow.
                   • Re-sharing knowledge to everyone in one place (you are here).
                   • Utilising the least expensive tools, software and hardware available where possible.
                   • Encompassing accepted standards where possible.
                   • Accepting everything in life hasn't always a financial "bottom line". Fun, people and the environment are all equally valuable

Still interested?................Main table of contents

copyright ciseco plc 2009

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