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Automated Dorm Room Causes a School Inquiry

Posted by samzenpus on from the dorm-of-tomorrow dept.

First time accepted submitter ElectronicHouseGrant writes "Freshman Derek Low rigged up his Berkeley dorm room with something he calls B.R.A.D., which is short for 'Berkeley Ridiculously Automated Dorm.' The room includes automated lighting, drapes, music, motion detection, and more. He can control everything through voice recognition, but a wireless remote, his iPhone and his iPad are also in on the control party. Derek started the install on February 4 and finished just a few days ago."

5 of 170 comments (clear)

  1. School inquiry? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Maybe I missed something, but since the headline said school inquiry, shouldn't there be some info about that either in the blurb or the article it's linking to?

    1. Re:School inquiry? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Messing with the fixed wiring in a room that you do not own is not "initiative", especially when you can't turn off the power while you're working on it. In that case it's called "recklessness". Faulty contacts are a serious fire hazard, and unlike the stuff you just plug in, the installed wires do not simply revert back to safe when you move out.

    2. Re:School inquiry? by Chris+Mattern · · Score: 3, Insightful

      It's like a gun. You always assume a gun is loaded but you unload it before working on it. In both cases, it's dangerous enough that if you don't want *both* precautions, you're a fool.

    3. Re:School inquiry? by spikedvodka · · Score: 4, Insightful

      As the saying goes:
      - There are Old Electricians
      - There are Bold Electricians
      - There are no Old Bold Electricians

      --
      I will not give in to the terrorists. I will not become fearful.
  2. Re:Why do American Dorm rooms by PeanutButterBreath · · Score: 4, Insightful

    always appear to be multiple occupants? I've always found that a bit weird.

    It is to condition Americans to despise a) sharing and b) small living quarters, yielding a steady supply of cooperation- and organization-averse individualists who seek sprawl and thus fuel the real estate, automobile, & energy industries.