Intelligent house or intelligent robot

I still prefer the distributed approach - a set of independent devices
that can communicate with each other and still function even if the
master controller (I use a redundant second controller since it's also
my main office server) should fail.

Although a single machine which could "shadow" the client throughout the
day may be versatile enough to cater for every need, it will never have
the resilience of a distributed system.

Two different approaches - I'm sure that we could find examples of both
in nature.

John - just out of interest, how would you address the resilience issue?


--
Matthew Smith
Kadina Business Consultancy, South Australia
Work: <http://www.kbc.net.au>  Personal: <http://www.mss.cx>

Matthew Smith wrote:


So you want me to get real :)

A general purpose robot is perhaps as unlikely
as the "helicopter in every garage" prediction
made in the 1950's for the homes beyond 2000.
What is theoretically possible may not happen
for reasons not considered. The home robot
may be limited to carpet sweeping drones or
novelty waiters serving drinks.

The technology already exists for an intelligent
home to monitor the residences needs.  It is
really only a matter of how cost effective it
is in terms of health care.

Resilience perhaps could be greatly enhanced by
a combination of land line, cable and mobile
phone connections to an internet service. Each
home system could be monitored and immediate
action take place if they failed to report in.

An intelligent companion doesn't need to have
a mobile body.  In fact a virtual friend is
perhaps more feasible in the near future to
provide a friendly non judgmental companion
to talk to if the old person is feeling lonely?
Or perhaps a furry version of the Sony robot
dog that is sensitive to the owners emotional
needs?

As for physical needs such as getting out of
a bath, off the toilet, out of bed and so on
the problem there is cost. The solution is
usually limited to hand rails. There are
chairs that can tip the person into the
standing position and beds that change shape
but they all cost money.

I have always considered the showers could
be improved.  Just stand there while you go
through a soap cycle, rinse cycle, dry cycle
just like a car wash, water from every direction
as old people may have limited movement.

Had the same idea while changing nappies.
Put the baby waist deep in a wash machine
that dissolves the nappy and goes through
the soap, rinse, dry, powder cycle. Lift
baby out, job done :)

Nature never meant us to grow old.  We all have
a different built in life span which for most of
us men is early 70's. Modern medicine means we
can all linger on beyond our allotted time.

Perhaps one day there will be biological solution
to old age so elderly care will cease to be an issue.

-
John

What fun to be on the beta test team for!

Step two, in untangling your infant's dangly bits from the maceration
roller.
Using the large pliers, back the roller up slowly turning counterclockwise
about half a turn..



The Eskimos had that, but it wouldn't be popular today.

There wouldn't be any roller of course!
I was thinking more like a spa bath with
moving or pulsating water jets.



Not with those over 70 anyway :)