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The Rise of Smart Buildings
Roland Piquepaille writes "In a very well-documented article, Computerworld describes the current status of building automation systems (BAS) that control heat, air conditioning or lighting and how these systems are merging with traditional IT infrastructures. Computerworld writes that they're not enough standards in this industry and asks a fundamental question: who will administer these building networks, IT or facilities managers? Take for example Yale University which wants to connect 210 campus buildings, but also wishes "to integrate the BAS with the university's accounting system for billing and chargeback." Imagine the security risks involved with such an approach. This shorter summary contains selected excerpts of this must-read article."
The IT Dept will do it. With the advanced technologies and networking involved, it's along the same lines as full computer networking. Maybe in the future (10~20 years) it'll be simplified for less qualified. Until then, it's a higher paid salary taking care of it.
"I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection." -- Sigmund Freud
Don't read "the shorter summary", fuck Roland. Somebody mod up the A/C with the article text from Roland's site.
Slashdot sucks
Hmm... guess some PHBs have been clicking those X10 pop-ups.
-- If god wanted me to have a sig, he'd have given me a sense of humor.
Bruce Schneier scratched the surface of this in his book Secrets and Lies. He specifically adressed internet or network-accessable appliances. Basically his take is: sure they might seem convenient, but how can you be sure that someone properly went over the code on your refrigerator to make sure it was secure? Last thing I want is someone hacking my fridge and shutting it down so my beer and mountain dew get warm.
I hate this so much. When I was in school, physical plant had control of the central air/heat in our building. They were in a small office next to a warehouse. I spent most of my time in a five story building on the other side of campus. They decided when our a/c went on. We could call them, but we'd be lucky if they actually listened. There were lots of people in our building 24 hours per day. Good luck getting the air turned up in the middle of the night. Ugh.
One time I threw a brick at a duck.
> that they're not enough standards
Thank God there're enough standards in the English language that we don't have to read mistakes like this... oh...
Gah. I thought we were done with the Roland Piquepaille articles. Good idea posting the article text in the comments to reduce the ad hits though.
~Lake
Obviously timothy doesn't share our concerns. I wish he would, though.
It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile
Be yourself no matter what they say
Does this guy actually think that this article is of improtance and relevance to every single slashdot reader? Sounds like old TV commercials . . . "Tonight a very special episode of Blossom . . . the one you can't afford to miss . . .
Is "smart" going to be the new "e". A word tacked on the front of other words to satisfy writers eager to sound hip?
This is well said. Some day, hopefully soon, the world will realize that the IT department can't do everything that has a computer attached to it, and along with this, IT managers will quit assuming that they should be in charge of everything on the network!!
IT people would have no more idea what to do with HVAC controller errors than the DJ at your local radio station should know what to do with a RAID error.
I wish people would quit assuming that the network is more than just a service, like POTS lines etc. There are services offered over the network, but that doesn't mean the network provider has any clue about it. Network connectivity needs to be comoditized, not specialized and part of the desktop functionality.
No one will get any love calling up the local bell company and asking why their 56k modem won't work on the same line they are calling from. If the bldg service department puts devices on the network, its their problem, not the responsibility of IT.
Generally speaking, most IT departments have a *LONG* way to go before they can simply offer services and stop sweating when some server in the back room of a dark building stops working, but that is where they need to be.
It bugs me when an IT guy *WANTS* to be involved in the daily operations of the billing system? Who wants that hassle? Who wants to be yanked away from reading slashdot just because the A/C in building across town isn't working right?
S
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" Think how amazing it will be to be able to turn the lights on at your house from your PC at work before you leave to drive home "
Amazing yes, usefull no. And contrary to what this is supposed to do, which is reduce energy costs, burning a bulb/bulbs you don't need is wstefull.
More usefull is the motion sensor I have for the bulb in my carport. When I pull in it lights up so I can get in the house, and flip that highly complicated analog switch to light the inside house.
Turning the light on when I need it with a lag of approx 1 second.
Me, I'm sick of Roland
I don't give a shit. I'm sick of you and the rest of your trolling little clique. You've wasted an order of magnitude more space and reader time than this "Roland" whosit ever will, and unlike Mr. Pipquwhatever, you post your trash where I can't just skim past and not click the story if I'm not interested.
Putting a plagiarist, seeking ad revenue, on the front page posing as news is NOT OK.
Why the fuck not? Who cares? If he's plagiarizing, the people he is plagiarizing are free to take it up with him. Talk to them, not us.
Irritable, left-wing and possibly humorous bumper stickers and t-shirts