New Generation Refrigerator To Detect What's Missing In It

South Korean's Samsung Electronics plans to launch the device in 2008 or 2009 a new generation refrigerator, equipped with RFID, which detects when its contents are running low or approaching expiration dates, reports All Headlines News (via del.icio.us/konomi).

In addition to automatically sensing inventory needs such as when milk or juices run low, Samsung's refrigerator could even send a shopping list to its owner's cell phone or to the supermarket.

"We are working on refrigerators wired for RFID. Technologically speaking, there is no barrier to come up with the new items, " explained Samsung spokesman Chae Hee-kook. "The refrigerator will be able to connect to cell phones for various new-concept applications."

Moreover, the new generation device will also offer recipes using available food products.

Related:
-- Refrigerated MMS
-- SMS your home appliances

Whirlpool Tests 'Smart' Washers Controlled by Cell Phones

Whirlpool began testing "smart" washing machines and dryers, monitored and controled from computers and cell phones. Mobiledia reports.

"The pilot project, called "Laundry Time," is part of an open collaboration involving Whirlpool Corporation, Hewlett Packard, Microsoft, Panasonic and Procter & Gamble.

To be conducted in Atlanta homes between today and early September, Laundry Time is built around a connected laundry solution that links a washer and dryer to a home network and sends text messages about the laundry's progress to a computer, TV and/or cell phone.

Mobile Phones Will Control Home Robots

This Fall, 1,000 sophisticated robots will make people's daily lives easier by cleaning up homes, taking care of pets or reading books for children, according to The Korea Times. And half of them will be remote-controlled by cell phones.

"Five types of wheeled robots will take part in the large-scale test runs and up to 50 percent of the 1,000 machines would be operated by mobile phones,'' said Oh Sang-rok, project manager at the Ministry of Information and Communication"

The cell-phone-directed robots can guard homes around the clock as camera-eyed models enable their owners to monitor their home at any time from anywhere.

When unexpected visitors enter a home, the owners will be able to check their identities via the robot's eyes connected to the cell phone before taking proper measures like reporting to the police. "

SMS to switch street lights off and on

The city of Utrecht in the Netherland is going to use sms messages to switch the street lights on and off. The purpose is to circumvent the high enery cost they get charged for switching the lights on and off.

All street lights will be connected to the Orca group software system and the mobile network of Telfort.

[via planet nl via Monique van Dusseldorp]

Related:

-- Smart Street-Lights In 2003, an article in the Indian press reported on an effort by the Kalamassery municipality (India) to save on energy and lower electricity bills, by installing "smart street-lights", which were to allow for the remote lighting, diming and turning off of street lights, by operators sending text messages with specific commands to sensors installed in the lamp posts.

Mobile Security door lock

Korean mobile solution provider InnoAce has unveiled a mobile security door lock, called Mobile ON.

CDMA module and wireless master sensors are embedded in the digital door lock (DDL). Enabling users to control 256 sensors to detect fire, invader, gas leakage and other security variables with mobile handsets.

People can lock and open the door using their cell phones. [via Telecoms Korea]

Aiming to Make Mobile Phone a Hub Device

SK Telecom is offering a PAN (Personal/or Private Area Network) service this month. It will be available on Samsung's CH-M600a smart phone. [via Telecoms Korea]

"Through the service, SKT aims to make the mobile handset the hub for devices like mp3 players or headsets. PAN is a technology to offer services connecting devices in a five-meter area. The devices can communicate with each other by Bluetooth or being touched by users."

SIM Cards That Talk to Each Other

Italy's TIM has announced the Italian launch of the first SIM Card that allows mobile phones to "communicate" with TV set-top boxes, computers, household appliances and a host of home electronics devices, reports Cellular News.

"The new Z-SIM" SIM Card is a Telecom Italia Group world exclusive, will be rolled out next year. The SIM card incorporates radio technology that enables all TIM cellphones to "communicate" with any terminal or device equipped with a similar SIM card simply by pressing a key on the phone.

... The technology works both inside and outside the home. The new SIM cards will also work with analog cards embedded into devices used to issue film tickets, parking and road tolls."

Remote control device acts on SMS commands

A flexible and versatile remote control device is now available from Idec. The device, which includes a modem for data connection, is also able to execute commands which have been received via SMS. [via Electronicstalk].

... "It can be used to operate something from a remote location: users can activate the roof windows of the commercial green house, activate the gates to you home or factory, switch on the heating of their country house, or give the go to the air conditioning, start the sprinklers to water the golf greens, or pull the rolling shutters up or down.

There is no limit to the operations that can be managed, provided that they control the electric signal."

Connecting a mouse trap to a cell phone

What does mobile phone technology have to do with catching mice and rats?

"A company called Wylesss has added a 21st century twist to the venerable mousetrap by installing a chip in the trap. The chip, connected to a mobile phone network, alerts the exterminator company when a rodent has been caught, so the dead creature can be collected and disposed of. "

[via Smart Mobs via The Guardian]

ReadyWhenUR : The satellite kettle

Scientists have invented a kettle that can be turned on by sending a text message, with the words "switch on", according to an article published in Ananova.

"Orange joined forces with PG Tips to create the satellite kettle.

Called the ReadyWhenUR, the silver and black kettle is fitted with a radio receiver programmed with your mobile number, an electronic circuit and a tiny set of mechanical levers.

The high-tech gadget - inspired by animated inventors Wallace and Gromit - will be on sale from January."

Picture of kettle from Pocket-Lint.

Home security via mobile

A New Zealand entrepreneur is developing a home security system that can send a warning to customers' mobile phones if someone ventures on to their property. Stuff.co.nz reports.

"The system, Parabeam, comprises solar-powered infrared sensors which send a text message to a mobile phone when tripped and which can be easily moved.

"There's a big need for a system that you can set up in 10 minutes and secure a site," he says.

... The next version will have up to four programmable "zones", so customers can receive different messages depending on which beam is tripped.

... And the next step is to incorporate a digital camera into Parabeam so photos of intruders can be sent to cellphones using PXT, "so you can verify who it is without panicking".

Related:

-- DoCoMo Systems to Launch Cell Phone Home Monitoring Service

-- MMS alert of someone breaking into your home

-- View your webcam on your cellphone

Firms eye system to control home appliances via mobile phones

Japan Today reports that a group of four companies said Friday they have kicked off tests to establish a system that will enable users to remotely control gas and electrical equipment at their homes via mobile phones, with the goal of bringing it into commercial use in a few years.

Nokia One

Özgur TASAR, from Umea Institute of Design in Sweden, has developed Nokia One, a home communication interface that unites home entertainment and commnunication, incorporating Instant contact into the home entertainment system (TV/Music).

... When you come home, you throw your mobile phone into NOKIA one. This action makes you digitally at home too. Mobile phone syncronizes with NOKIA One. Contact, message, photos and other media updates are exchanged. If you get an SMS, it will pop up on TV. When you get a call you'll see it on TV, and talk in the air without phone. You will also appear "at home" in your friends list in instant contacting application.

reBlogged from we-make-money-not-art

'Smart' homes not far away

CNN reports on a smart home concept, where you monitor the lights and the heating by text messaging, check out a specific room thanks to real-time images sent directly to your phone.

"Sound far-fetched? For one family of four, living just outside Barcelona, these are the capabilities their home already has, and the company that designed the house says many of us will be enjoying these features in as little as two years.

The anonymous family live in an Eneo Labs show home -- they act as voluntary guinea pigs to try out the company's smart home concept."

Advances in mobile ubiquity

An interesting post on the advances in mobile ubiquity from blog pal Anil de Mello.

"After all these decades, wireless technology finally makes M2M viable. The meter reader drives a pickup owned by the electric utility from homestead to homestead, which is expensive. Wireless technology would dramatically cut those expenses. I just met a guy who developed a system that uses GPS and reports both the location and maintenance needs of heavy equipment, which simplifies dispatching and enables more efficient service."

Related articles on machine-to-machine (M2M) technology:

-- Nokia camera sends MMS - A wall-mounted surveillance camera, the Nokia Observation Camera, that can send images directly to a cell phone will be available in the United States...

-- Nokia's M2M module - Nokia introduces first GSM module for machine-to-machine applications...

-- Let your machines talk - Nokia's M2M product page.