If you guys like this project, Green Goose is another sensor based system coming out: http://greengoose.com/
Overall sensors + connectivity will be getting very cheap soon and it is cool to see a project like this see beyond this to include ifttt type functionality integrating other existing systems and actions.
The move to become the platform for all of data being generated by devices like this is getting heated as well (not sure if the Twine guys are thinking this route or not with the Spool web app) With Pachube, Thingworx, and a whole host of others attempting to become this centralized hub. It will be interesting to see if we end up with specialized platforms for different segments of our lives (i.e: one for health, one for your home, etc) or if a 'Facebook' for your things will emerge.
Self Plug: We are tracking this "Internet of Things" on http://postscapes.com if you are interested in the topic at all.
What's most interesting to me is that with respect to hardware, all of the parts have existed for years, but we're just beginning to see products that target tech-savvy consumers who are want to build something that suits their needs.
I've been working on a more modular, open source system like this for the last year or so: http://rascalmicro.com. The Rascal has powerful hardware and a real web interface, but it works with Arduino shields.
Twine looks pretty good, and I'm heartened to see that the web interface has some polish to it.
(Supermechanical, if you're reading this, let's get together some time. I'm one town over in Somerville-- email is in my profile. I don't think we're competitors. My customers use soldering irons; I bet yours don't.)
Greengoose looks interesting, but I've just read every page I could find on their site (3 mins?) and still don't understand exactly what the 'sensors' are and what they can 'sense'.
How does a sensors tell if I've fed the dog today?
Pretty sure the sensor detections motion above a threshold. So basically "the food bag was moved 45 degrees" is the trigger. That should kick off a 915Mhz analog pulse.
It's not a digital stack IIRC, which is why the battery is so small and circuit is like a dollar total.
Green Goose looks interesting. But the TC article says that they were going to start selling kits on 02/28/2011, but I don't see any on their site.
To me, it's basically a matter of cost. If the "washer is done" sensor costs $50, I'd much rather just get up and check it myself. If it costs $5, I'd be more than happy to buy it. A lot of these sensor companies seem to be targeting the $20-$30 price point; to many, that is too expensive!
Make a base station that is about $20, and a sensor that costs less than $5. You'll be selling millions of those things in no time.
On the topic of sensors, I was making pecan pie yesterday (with corn syrup) and thought to myself how awesome it would be to have the jar/bottle of whatever substance be able to measure the output/input of the opening. This would enable making recipes without measuring cups/spoons, automatically order new stock when running low, and even track the consumption of calories for a family.
Overall sensors + connectivity will be getting very cheap soon and it is cool to see a project like this see beyond this to include ifttt type functionality integrating other existing systems and actions.
The move to become the platform for all of data being generated by devices like this is getting heated as well (not sure if the Twine guys are thinking this route or not with the Spool web app) With Pachube, Thingworx, and a whole host of others attempting to become this centralized hub. It will be interesting to see if we end up with specialized platforms for different segments of our lives (i.e: one for health, one for your home, etc) or if a 'Facebook' for your things will emerge.
Self Plug: We are tracking this "Internet of Things" on http://postscapes.com if you are interested in the topic at all.