Exposing Austin

July 20, 2001 - Ever since we ran that first article about Bill Keneaster’s class project, using the XCam2 to keep an eye on some nesting birds, there has been a flood of pictures and email from others who have successfully done the same. It seems that bird watching is becoming the rage. Especially since it can be done without leaving the couch.

But with Butch Edwards, it’s more than just watching birds. Butch is a senior equipment engineer for Motorola, and for the past ten years has been on a mission to expose as many students in the Austin area as possible to the exciting world of high-tech gadgetry. "I can throw a show together with only a days notice with X10 devices included," Butch says, and X10 has become an enormous asset to his technological exhibitions.

This particular family of birds moved into Butch’s cul-de-sac a couple of years ago. "Since I have been doing high tech demonstrations I decided to adopt these kids as my test subjects for the presentations I do as a volunteer at the schools." Butch noticed the interest local kids had for the birds darting about the front yard while they were doing some batting practice, and as he watched the young people’s fascination with the birds, he suddenly had a light bulb go off in his head.

"The kids asked their dad if they could take a peek into the bird nest up above the front porch," Butch observed. So their dad went and got a ladder and one by one took they were able to peek at the eggs. Little JJ had a difficult time because by the time they got to him the ladder was a little shaky. "That night I went to the X10 room up stairs and got a Scan Power Addressable Power Supply, Wireless Video Camera Kit, a Two Plus Keychain Remote, and a Transceiver Module. All of which I had many of just for occasions like this one." From there Butch says "I pre programmed the Addressable Power Supply, the Two Plus Keychain Remote, and the Transceiver Module," all of which took him 10 minutes. And that next afternoon "I had the system installed up and running in less than half an hour." Now the neighborhood kids have access to their very own nature show. And when questions come up, they can go online and get answers.

"This is how technology should teach, open young minds," Butch says. Which is why he works so hard to place technology in the hands of every young person he comes in contact with. Thanks to him, these young people "dream of future adventures on mechanical wings of their own design." It’s a very poetic thought, and the work that Butch does is invaluable to future generations. "With the help of affordable technology such as that provided by X10 I will place technology in the hands of as many young people as possible."

And his company, Motorola, is assisting him in developing an elective robotics class at one of the local high schools. "I will be incorporating X10 devices in this class. The students from the class will be involved in the BEST Robotics and FIRST Robotics competitions," Butch says with great certainty.

The neighborhood kids were really excited about having their pictures taken with the X10 setup and being featured up on the XZone with their new adopted family. "Little JJ, the baby boy in the photo is a real big dinosaur fan." Butch says, "When I told him that birds were descendants of dinosaurs I won him over."

X10 is certainly very proud to have a hand in bringing up the future National Geographic photographers, robotics engineers and all the other budding technicians out there. We’re also glad that men like Butch have taken up the cause of creating a better future for our youth, and therefore us as well.

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