Home Tech

[meyert11]

I've always enjoyed the shows that give me something I can try out at home, like mythtv and ajax (original system). How about a DIY-home tech show?

Show ideas:
- update on the mythtv and ajax stuff. For instance, whatever happend to the mythTV-mini apple computer?
- Hak .5 had a cool early episode where they took a a device from radio shack that went between the power outlet and an electronic device and you could control it via wifi. So you could turn your home lights on via the internet etc.
- basically anything that allows you to control a household device with our computer, or something like the nokia n800
- There was an old systm where they visited the make conference and a guy had implanted an RFID chip into his hand and setup his home door so that he could open it by waving his hand. Why not just put it in your watch?
- An episdode on setting up the 360 and PS3 as home media centers
- How to use Skype as a home monitoring system. You setup a dummy account that turns on the video automatically when someone calls.
- DIY biodiesel
Just a thought, good luck guys!

[8pozzum]

I had almost the same idea, but went down a different path.

I was thinking more of Bob Villa meets Revision3. The hosts could partner with some local carpenters/contractors to see what technological options are going in to new housing construction. They could go "green" and show off geothermal HVAC, solar panels, ambient heating, etc. Or, get "techie" with shows on tankless water heaters (green also?), wired LAN, x10, computer controlled thermostats (AC and water), and all kind of appliances(ovens, refrigerators, microwaves.)

I think topics will never be in short supply, and there is a lot of new construction/remodeling in the SF and LA area.

[jlouderb]

Do you think we could do something like this in the context of SYSTM? We've been doing the Month of Mame, what if we did this as a series? Or a series of one-offs?

jim

[8pozzum]

So, I pull the show description for Systm:

"Systm is the Do It Yourself show designed for the common geek who wants to quickly and easily learn how to dive into the latest and hottest tech projects. We will help you avoid pitfalls and get your project up and running fast."

Some, but not all, of meyert11's and my suggestions clearly fall under this description. The rest, arguably, do not. I'm not sure that many of the projects on Systm fall under the show description either. How many "common geeks" do you know that have the floor space to build a project like the MAME cabinet, much less the access to all the tools we have seen used on this project? Don't misunderstand me, I'm not shitting on your idea at all, I love it for several reasons! I just wanted to point out my biggest argument with using Systm as a host.

I do think Systm would make a great show of the topics due to a great mix of talent, intelligence, production, and equipment.

David is obviously very knowledgeable in carpentry, electronics, and engineering as can be seen weekly on the show. I think this is the same guy I saw in the Revision3 Gazette cutting the terminal ends off of the new studio lighting because they weren't using that type of connection and he knew of a place to sell them. That suggests to me that he knows a guy, who knows a guy that has done at least of the few projects we have suggested. He is a little on the "dry" side, but I don't want a guy telling me about taking apart a TV and joking about getting my drunk friends to grab a few key spots on the tube just for a laugh.

Patrick Norton is your "media" guy. I admire his talent in keeping a show moving, and making menial, uninteresting, or boring topics actually interesting. He also seems very knowledgeable about every topic I have seen him cover. When a co-host is covering a topic, he asks relevant and interesting questions at the end of their segment. I'm thinking he does a lot of pre-show research, and it shows in the final product.

Mix those two together with the excellent production, and all of the equipment I have seen used in Systm so far, I think the show could easily pull off a home tech series of projects in-house. B-roll can usually be obtained from manufacturers if no local source is available, but I would think people putting cool stuff in their new house would be more than willing to show it off during the construction phase.