06-19-2002, 01:14 PM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
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WiFi coming to an appliance near you
http://news.com.com/2100-1033-937074.html
Not content to let Bluetooth encroach on its networking territory, WiFi is making a move to be included in appliances. For example, "in one [WiFi] trial under way in Michigan, called "OnStar@Home," wireless networking plays an integral role. The four-month project will let a car pulling into the driveway automatically arm or disarm a home's security system, turn on or off lights in the home, or adjust the home's thermostat. IHA, General Motors, security firm ADT, Panasonic and a handful of other companies are participating."
Houston has a trial going in 150 homes too. "Wi-Fi-powered devices similar to Web tablets have replaced the scribbled notes stuck under refrigerator magnets holding reminders about late soccer practices. Barra said these systems can use Wi-Fi to shuttle a short message to children's cell phones if their ride home is going to be late or automatically reconfigure an entire schedule based on a parent's sudden late meeting at work. "
Emergency workers are getting into the act as well. "IBM and Boeing have helped create "droppable access points" for police and emergency officials. In a recent trial, according to IBM manager Suzanne Rutkowski, emergency officials put Wi-Fi access points around the Pentagon, creating an on-the-go network."
WiFi - a working wireless solution. 
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06-19-2002, 01:54 PM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,350
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Re: WiFi coming to an appliance near you
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Originally Posted by Ed Hansberry
WiFi - a working wireless solution. |
if you have the battery to go with it.....
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06-19-2002, 01:57 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 252
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Re: WiFi coming to an appliance near you
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Originally Posted by Ed Hansberry
http://news.com.com/2100-1033-937074.html
Not content to let
WiFi - a working wireless solution. |
but an insecure one. Personally I would look forward to hacker being able to disable my alarm system. :wink:
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06-19-2002, 01:57 PM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
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Re: WiFi coming to an appliance near you
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Originally Posted by Marlof Bregonje
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Ed Hansberry
WiFi - a working wireless solution. |
if you have the battery to go with it..... |
None of my appliances have batteries. They have power cords. You guys do thing differently in the Netherlands? :lol:
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06-19-2002, 02:08 PM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,350
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Re: WiFi coming to an appliance near you
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Originally Posted by Ed Hansberry
None of my appliances have batteries. They have power cords. You guys do thing differently in the Netherlands? :lol:
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In the Netherlands, when we think about wireless technology, we prefer batteries over power chords. You just delete one cable, but keep the other in The States? 
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06-19-2002, 02:24 PM
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Philosopher
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 513
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So when can I get Sears to replace my garage door opener with a WiFi one? Drive by hacking, indeed 
On the other hand, I'd be able to open the garage from like 5 blocks away, kewl.
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06-19-2002, 03:00 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 83
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two points on this:
first with the jab of keeping one cord but getting rid of another... i think the issue is that most of us don't have quite as many ethernet jacks in our homes as we do power outlets.
secondly, perhaps these boys could work on something useful. perhaps building a nice car audio head unit with an f-ing hard drive and a media player UI. then use wi-fi to move your music over.
nah, instead let's let people continue to jerry-rig their stereos with fm modulators and headphone jack to rca plug adapters so we can focus on something everyone needs.... like disarming security systems which will have to be upgraded or replaced to be wi-fi compliant.
sweeeeeeet.
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06-19-2002, 03:12 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 252
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by st63z
So when can I get Sears to replace my garage door opener with a WiFi one? Drive by hacking, indeed
On the other hand, I'd be able to open the garage from like 5 blocks away, kewl. |
If you did open it five blocks away (you must have a really powerful card btw) you wouldn't need hacking -everything would have been pinched from the garage before you get home. :wink:
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06-19-2002, 03:36 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 194
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And what about security
Wi Fi has proven to be one of the most insecure protocols ever. It is enough to park a car near a building running a Wi Fi network to easily gain access to the network. It is a little more difficult when cryptography is used, but also proved to be quite easy.
I believe thieves will be very happy when we begin connecting our home alarms to this protocol. It will be back to the times we used to hide the key under the carpet.
More than that, all the weirdos and practical jokers will have a new subject to enjoy, getting our air conditioning to 180 degrees in the summer, making our lights act like a discotheque or activating our vacuum cleaner from far or turning off the TV at the moment of the goal !!! :P
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06-19-2002, 03:36 PM
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Moderator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 6,878
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Quote:
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The four-month project will let a car pulling into the driveway automatically arm or disarm a home's security system
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With a little bit of research, a thief could have a field day with this huh? Steal a car and get bonus "stuff" from the owners house - two for the price of one!!!!
I seem to remember a similar claim by a Bluetooth SIG member about walking up to your house and having your PDA shut off the alarm and open the door - and also a similar arguement: if someone steals your PDA, they have access to your home......
Steve
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