Our future, prophesied
Earlier this evening, just after I got off work, I had an idea; the plug-less (and easily rearranged) house!
The idea hinges on a simple square or hexagonal plate with induction coils embedded in it and a bidirectional focused RF node at the center. These plates would literally enclose every room of the house: embedded in the floor, walls and ceiling. Devices like TVs and computers would simply have a corresponding induction plate and focused RF signaler built into their back or base, respectively. The RF signaler would use an integrated rechargeable battery to initially signal the house's embedded induction plate directly next to the appliance, which would turn on the induction plate and begin feeding power to the appliance... without any plugs or cables! No matter where you put the computer, TV, microwave, toaster, clock radio, etc, as long as it is flush to a house surface, it can receive power. End tables, coffee tables, and similar elevated surfaces would have built in "extensions" to bridge between the floor and any device set upon the elevated surface.
That's not the end of it, however. As mentioned, the RF node is bidirectional. Not only does it receive the signal that a device needs power, it can also send signals. When a device is put in place, it registers with the central house computer; a ceiling or floor lamp, a wall switch or dimmer, even a ceiling or floor fan. Then using the central house computer, you connect the switches to the desired devices. If you want the dimmer by the door to operate the spot lighting, so be it; if you want it to operate the ceiling fan instead, that is just as easy. Any induction powered device may be turned on or off by any one or more switches in the whole house!
Still not cool enough? Even items that traditionally would not integrate with this system would have built-in advantages. For example, your couch would have induction plates and RF nodes built-in, registering with the house computer. Maybe the couch would have built in seat warmers or massage units. If the temperature at night drops below 55 degrees, your favorite morning arm chair automatically begins warming fifteen minutes before your alarm goes off in the morning. You want to rearrange the living room? No problem, you press the hidden switch in the arm of the sleeper sofa (50+ lbs) and it levitates a quarter inch on an electromagnetic field, allowing a single person to quickly and easily maneuver it into a new position, and then turn off the field!
More, more! The RF nodes would have enough bandwidth (data throughput capability) to send (and receive) continuous information to devices that could use it. Networking and internet for the computer, cable or dish TV or photo album slide shows or movies from the computer to any LCD digital picture frame on any wall, surveillance camera output or input, web cams... the list of possibilities goes on and on, all orchestrated, routed and managed by the smart technology embedded in each household item and the house's central computer.
This is my vision. I can only imagine others have already thought it, but here I am documenting my idea as of 5:30pm today, Oct 3rd, 2007.
Edit: Oct 15, 2007 - Instead of RF nodes, I'm looking more at additional induction-based signal transfer for data (see comments). Additionally, I wanted to add that this idea would make houses implicitly safer for children and pets. No sockets to poke wires into, not cords to chew on (or trip over). Setting up a home theater system would be easier too, because all the wiring would already be in place - you simply attached your speakers to the wall, floor or cieling and desired and the house computer helps you designate and route the audio signals from the stereo equipment to the correct speakers.
The idea hinges on a simple square or hexagonal plate with induction coils embedded in it and a bidirectional focused RF node at the center. These plates would literally enclose every room of the house: embedded in the floor, walls and ceiling. Devices like TVs and computers would simply have a corresponding induction plate and focused RF signaler built into their back or base, respectively. The RF signaler would use an integrated rechargeable battery to initially signal the house's embedded induction plate directly next to the appliance, which would turn on the induction plate and begin feeding power to the appliance... without any plugs or cables! No matter where you put the computer, TV, microwave, toaster, clock radio, etc, as long as it is flush to a house surface, it can receive power. End tables, coffee tables, and similar elevated surfaces would have built in "extensions" to bridge between the floor and any device set upon the elevated surface.
That's not the end of it, however. As mentioned, the RF node is bidirectional. Not only does it receive the signal that a device needs power, it can also send signals. When a device is put in place, it registers with the central house computer; a ceiling or floor lamp, a wall switch or dimmer, even a ceiling or floor fan. Then using the central house computer, you connect the switches to the desired devices. If you want the dimmer by the door to operate the spot lighting, so be it; if you want it to operate the ceiling fan instead, that is just as easy. Any induction powered device may be turned on or off by any one or more switches in the whole house!
Still not cool enough? Even items that traditionally would not integrate with this system would have built-in advantages. For example, your couch would have induction plates and RF nodes built-in, registering with the house computer. Maybe the couch would have built in seat warmers or massage units. If the temperature at night drops below 55 degrees, your favorite morning arm chair automatically begins warming fifteen minutes before your alarm goes off in the morning. You want to rearrange the living room? No problem, you press the hidden switch in the arm of the sleeper sofa (50+ lbs) and it levitates a quarter inch on an electromagnetic field, allowing a single person to quickly and easily maneuver it into a new position, and then turn off the field!
More, more! The RF nodes would have enough bandwidth (data throughput capability) to send (and receive) continuous information to devices that could use it. Networking and internet for the computer, cable or dish TV or photo album slide shows or movies from the computer to any LCD digital picture frame on any wall, surveillance camera output or input, web cams... the list of possibilities goes on and on, all orchestrated, routed and managed by the smart technology embedded in each household item and the house's central computer.
This is my vision. I can only imagine others have already thought it, but here I am documenting my idea as of 5:30pm today, Oct 3rd, 2007.
Edit: Oct 15, 2007 - Instead of RF nodes, I'm looking more at additional induction-based signal transfer for data (see comments). Additionally, I wanted to add that this idea would make houses implicitly safer for children and pets. No sockets to poke wires into, not cords to chew on (or trip over). Setting up a home theater system would be easier too, because all the wiring would already be in place - you simply attached your speakers to the wall, floor or cieling and desired and the house computer helps you designate and route the audio signals from the stereo equipment to the correct speakers.