Thursday, May 3, 2012

Here`s BRAD, the Berkeley Ridiculously Automated Dorm




Derek Low is one creative fellow. Everything in his dorm, from the curtains to the lighting and the music, can be controlled from either a wireless remote, an iOS
app using his iPad or iphone, or through simple voice commands using his laptop Macbook. Motion sensors automatically bring the room to life when Low enters, and voice commands shut it all down at the end of the night. B.R.A.D. goes beyond the basics. Some of the more complicated macros can completely change the room's environment. There's a romantic mode, (yeah right!) which includes a disco ball and a little soft music on the sound system. There is, of course, a party setting. Homework mode shuts down everything except the desk lamp. Sleep mode draws the curtains as it kills the lights.
Sadly, Berkeley is calling Mr. Low in to a judicial hearing because his room violates their housing policy. Low apparently has spent "three months and several hundred dollars" tweaking his room and now it looks like he`s either going to have to take it all down or move off campus. No word yet on an Android version, funny I don`t see any video games or consoles in his room.

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