RE: Re: Fw: Comfort LCD

["Nikola Kasic" <nikola@xxxxxxx>]

Paul,
What's wrong with web browser approach? Most of the HA applications
have
that interface, you just need a homepage to integrate them.
You can run IE in kiosk mode, so user doesn't have to know that it's
web
interface. I suppose that you can do the same in Netscape on Linux, but
don't use it so not sure.
That way you don't need any software developed and no need for local
CPU,
just plain touchscreen, connected with CAT5.
It would be nice to have few hard buttons next to touchscreen, e.g. for
starting on-screen keyboard, or jumping to homepage (your main menu).
That
can probably be achieved through the keyboard or mouse drivers -
hopefullly
using one of existing.

The only problem is that you cannot have multiple ones throughout the
house,
because you are actually viewing the screen of the server, but for the
main
control display it's cheap (compared to other solutions) and almost
nothing
has to be done on software side.
And it doesn't exclude having your "smart ones" later.

Cheers,
Nik
  -----Original Message-----
  From: paul_watkin <paul_watkin@xxxxxxx>
[mailto:paul_watkin@xxxxxxx]
  Sent: 28 January 2003 12:35
  To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
  Subject: [ukha_d] Re: Fw: Comfort LCD


  I have been thinking about a similar solution could be achieved
to
  control Comfort, Barix Exstreamers, CBUS Lighting and an Elan
whole
  house audio amplifier (the Elan system has RS232 control from PC
and
  supply an application for that purpose ).

  My thoughts were leaning towards the Idea of a central server
running
  Linux Terminal Server Project, this would connect up to comfort
etc
  etc. And then use Linux clients based on an LCD touchscreen and
Via
  DSP board (no local drives required) this approach would be much
  cheaper than that proposed by comfort especially if you fancy
touch
  screens control in multiple rooms.(thus far ignoring software
  development costs) Admittedly some work would be required to
amke
  things look pretty for the all important SWMBO approval!!!

  My ideal would be that the server run actual menu screens rather
than
  be web browser based, but this is where the plan falls apart due
to
  the fact that the software for this isn't out there. And as Paul
Gale
  suggests those people with the expertise to do this kind of
thing
  have more than enough proper paying work to take up their time.

  So question is how much do people charge for this kind of
development
  or am I about to need a second mortgage if i ask somebody to do
this
  for me??

  Paul

  P.S. Could this be acheived by bolting together xAP modules??
  --- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, "Nikola Kasic" <nikola@k...>
wrote:
  > Of course it's expensive, because it's tailored and made for
them
  and they
  > need huge volumes to drop the cost.
  > I just suggested them to use some standard components to
achieve
  the same
  > results e.g.
  > - use LCD touchscreen - about ?400
  > - use KVM over CAT5 - about ?300
  > - use dedicated server based on VIA mini ITX motherboard -
about ?
  300 (this
  > is optional, for people without server)
  >
  > Most of us (including me) would need only first two pieces, and
it
  would
  > have much greater flexibility. They would be able to sell it
even to
  > non-Comfort users (like me).


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