CompuServe Messages

Gregory, Regarding your question: "Who makes a relay that can be triggered from a PC card or serial port?" HYBRID TECHNICAL SYSTEMS, INC. is a vendor in the Compuserve mall offering home automation supplies. Reach them by typing GO HTS at most any prompt. HTS has products that allow you to control your home's lights, appliances, audio/video, and climate by one or more of the following: Personal Computer, wireless remote control, table-top control centers, voice control, situation control, and prescheduled control. In fact, one of their better known products, "BigmOuth," was named after me.<G> Guess I can give away my secrets, since I wouldn't be eligible for any prizes even if there was a contest. ( So what does Mr. Grubba say, Mr. Pyros? ) BigmOuth, as many will know, is a computer based voice-mail system. When linked together with PremierECS, it will let you do all kind of things with or without fancy batch files running under Video Post. Quoting from their promotional materials: "The PremierECS (Event Control System) is a multipurpose DOS program which can greatly simplify your life by monitoring and controlling virtually anything in your home in any manner you specify! This is the software you need for dedicated on-line control of your home or office by computer. It is interactive Home Automation Software for the IBM compatible computer." "The PremierECS software allows users to control everything in the house from Lights and Appliances to Home Security including Audio/Video, Pools/Spas/Saunas, Door/Gate Openers, Lawn Irrigation Systems and telecommunications. Premier is configured to answer to simple English statements (ie."If I am home, then turn TV on to channel 3"). This syntax is easy to define and comprehend. It can be fully configured and customized by a person having no technical background. No assistance in installation of the system is needed." HTS has inexpensive books and videotapes to help get you started in this area. They also have relay switches, Greg. I've got my computer doing all sorts of things. It wakes me up, starts the coffee, polishes my shoes, warms up the car, downloads my mail from Compuserve, draws me a hot bath, fries me up a couple of eggs, fetches the morning paper, lets the dog out, calls the office and says "I'll be late, I'm stuck in traffic," searches and retrieves information from the Compuserve database and composes responses such as this, and all before I get out of bed. Now if I can get a few of them obscure Video Post batch files maybe I can be even more creative. GO HTS for more info. HTS and the Compuserve Mall are part of Basic Services. But you knew that. Kevin Gibson Animation Nation <tm> -=We're a curious lot.=-