Author: Craig Atkins

Managing Director of UK Automation. Keen home automation enthusiast, always on the look out for new technology. Not the world's best writer, but I'm a trier!

Futurist Developments – The Driverless Car

Google’s Project

Google’s driverless car prototype has driven more than 300,000 miles without an accident. Bill Ford, executive chairman of Ford Motor Co., says fully autonomous vehicles will be a common sight on roads in the U.S. By 2025 – while Google say within the next 3 to 5 years.  Interesting bet??

Google’s project is led by  Sebastian Thrun, director of the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory and co-inventor of Google Street View. Continue reading “Futurist Developments – The Driverless Car”

Futurist Developments – Google Glass

Introduction

Our two blogs this month are about two futuristic developments by Google X Lab, Google Glass and the driverless car. This Google facility thought to be located somewhere in Northern California Reportedly the lab is working on around 100 future technology projects.

Continue reading “Futurist Developments – Google Glass”

Insteon UK Launch Part 2

Insteon Installation

Insteon devices are set up using a Plug and Tap method.  The procedure to link two Insteon devices can be done manually at the devices. Although a basic system can be deployed without a controller or PC, such a device may be added for advanced home management. Some devices are able to save and restore the configuration of individual devices on the network. Continue reading “Insteon UK Launch Part 2”

Insteon UK Launch Part 1

Introduction to Insteon

Insteon is developed in Irvine, California.  After a ‘soft launch’ in December 2012, Insteon is off to a great start in the UK.  Joe Dada, Insteon said “’We’ve been in development of 230V/50Hz products for some time.  All of the powerline products are dual-band Insteon (both powerline and RF communications)”. Continue reading “Insteon UK Launch Part 1”

In the Home – fresh from CES (the world’s Largest Consumer Electronics Trade Show)

Are these “the high-techist gadgets of 2013”? (IET says they are)

The Scanadu Scout

Some people have called this the Star Trek tricorder in your pocket.  Monitor and track your body’s vital signs, such as heart rate and blood pressure, with a portable and relatively inexpensive device that connects to your smartphone.

Continue reading “In the Home – fresh from CES (the world’s Largest Consumer Electronics Trade Show)”

Out and About – fresh from CES (the world’s Largest Consumer Electronics Trade Show)

Are these “the high-techist gadgets of 2013”? (IET says they are)

The Cookoo Featurephone Connected Watch

  • Incoming and missed calls
  • Facebook messages and posts
  • Diary reminders
  • Featurephone out of range and low battery warnings
  • Alarm and Timer alerts set on your featurephone

Continue reading “Out and About – fresh from CES (the world’s Largest Consumer Electronics Trade Show)”

Sound solutions for the home – Marmitek and Opus

Sound Solutions

What I plan for this blog is to look at the different products we offer here at UK Automation and how they can be used to provide high-quality sound in your home.

Continue reading “Sound solutions for the home – Marmitek and Opus”