In an Unusual Twist

September 24, 2001 - When most X10 customers talk about how they use ActiveHome they tell us how their day starts with ActiveHome turning up the heat, turning on the lights, and starting the coffee brewing. Those are a lot of fun, but Tommy Randolph has just a slight twist on all this.

Tommy’s day starts off with ActiveHome all right, but a little more abruptly. Tommy has set an ActiveHome Macro to wake him up in the morning first by setting off RoboDog. "I’m allergic to dogs," Tommy says, "but I’ve always wanted one. By doing it this way I can feel what it must feel like to have a dog wake me up in the morning demanding that I take him out."

Once he’s let the dog out, so to speak, Tommy heads into the kitchen to get his coffee. Yes, ActiveHome started the coffee brewing. On his way to pour that first cup of coffee, the macro sends out another message to turn on the television. Tommy likes to listen to CNN first thing in the morning to get a jump on the news, hear the stock quotes, find out what the weather in his area’s going to be like, and basically get a feel of how his day’s going to look.

Then, just to make absolutely sure, Tommy switches his TV over so he can see what the weather is actually like outside. Tommy has an XCam2 WideEye which he keeps focused out the window and up toward the sky. If it’s sunny, he can see it on his TV. If it’s raining, he can see it on his TV. If it’s snowing... You already know the rest. No matter what, Tommy has access to what’s happening outside his house. Of course he could just look out his window, but "that’s just not as much fun. Besides, I don’t like to open the curtains until I’m dressed and ready to leave the house."

Once he’s had a look at the news, the weather and the stock market, it’s time to shower and get ready. Now Tommy has a difficult time tearing himself away from the television in the morning, so ActiveHome takes care of that for him. ActiveHome simply shuts off the TV just in time for him to hit the showers. But it turns on the radio in the bathroom so that Tommy will have some company while he’s getting ready for work.

That night ActiveHome turns on the lights, and turns up the heat, and has everything ready for Tommy when he arrives home. When he gets home, he reads his mail, checks his email, fixes dinner and settles down to a good book, unless of course he has an appointment that night. How does he know? Tommy read one of the How2s explaining how to set up an electronic mnemonic, and he thought he might try it out for himself. Now he likes it so much, that any appointment he has he tracks in ActiveHome. If he has an appointment/date that evening, ActiveHome turns on the radio in the bathroom shortly after he arrives home, which reminds him to get ready.

And on the weekend, according to Tommy, "All bets are off. I get up when I have to, and I take my dear sweet time doing it."

It’s a great setup, Tommy says. "I just wish it could have dinner waiting for me when I get home." ActiveHome won’t be able to do that, but perhaps he could call in a catering service.

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