LCARS-esque touchscreen controls home, excites Trekkies

za9000's LCARS-like touch panel isn't quite ready to hop aboard any spacecraft, but it sure seems to do a fine job of controlling his home. Truthfully, detailing this thing in words wouldn't do it justice, so we'll leave it to you to don your best Spock face and check out the three-minute clip waiting just past the break.

[Thanks, Daniel]

[couchpundit @ May 15th 2008 12:02PM]

I think you mean 'Trekkers'

Better be careful about the proper nomenclature when dealing with those crazies.

Glad I'm not a nut like that.

May the force be with you,
Master Jedi Couch Pundit, esq.

[Andy @ May 15th 2008 3:12PM]

Either works, Mr. Jedi ;-)
Most Trekkies started with the Original Series, whereas Trekkers typically started with a later series.

However: I started with Voyager, but call myself a Trekkie, so this isn't any sort of rule.

[dhughes @ May 15th 2008 12:17PM]

I beg your pardon, it's pronounced "basement-living-technology-enthusiast-virgins"

[Joe @ May 15th 2008 1:42PM]

Actually, I think it's Trekkors per Mr. Roddenberry's version of the pronounciation.

[dg @ May 15th 2008 7:59PM]

I always thought that Trekkers were people who just enjoyed The Original Series, and perhaps the later versions too, but most people who like the later versions end up being Trekkies, which are people who are obsessed with only the newer series and go to conventions and stuff.

[Speney G @ May 15th 2008 12:09PM]

Ehh...I'm going to wait for the HAL 9000 before committing to a home control system.

[rock99rock @ May 15th 2008 12:23PM]

This?

http://www.automatedliving.com/

its not the 9000 series, but it is HAL :)

[Randy @ May 15th 2008 1:32PM]

Interesting Useless fact about HAL:

Increment each letter by 1 and you get: IBM

Mods, Feel free to mod me off-topic. I'm used to it...

[Ignatius @ May 15th 2008 2:08PM]

You're a budding conspiracy theorist already.

[tiuk @ May 15th 2008 4:50PM]

Yeah, I've always wanted a home automation system that tries to kill me.

[MdP @ May 15th 2008 12:13PM]

Would have liked to have seen more action and less of the friggin' camera panning around the screen. Show me what it can do!

[Matt Smith @ May 15th 2008 1:07PM]

I agree... the camera action was awful...

I'm guessing it can't do much more than what was shown... otherwise they would of shown us more.

[Daniel @ May 15th 2008 2:12PM]

wrong guess ;o)))

The complete house electric is using EIB and can be controlled complete. The system is also connected to the phone and outlook adressbook, so it can show "incomming transmission", when receiving a call. Other things are showing, if doors or windows are open, security and so on...

The video is just a short amateur shot for fun ;-)

[BluesK1d @ May 15th 2008 12:13PM]

Dude we don't need the dramatic videography. Just show us the damned thing. All that and all we got to see was a shutter go up and down? The video was so awful, it made me angry.

[dhughes @ May 15th 2008 12:24PM]

I didn't mind it, although you could see the screen very well it showed it actually works.

The heavy breathing and the sound of nylon pant legs rubbing together was a bit creepy though.

He should have worn a Star Trek uniform...but then again we're into wedgie territory.

[sean.m.hawk @ May 15th 2008 5:04PM]

Dude! I had the same exact reaction. What's with the closer/further/closer approach?

[Will Kinsey @ May 15th 2008 12:26PM]

When did panning the camera around and zooming in and out become a film technique. They use this on the news sometimes and I want to bitch slap the camera man.

[whatphone @ May 15th 2008 12:27PM]

yeah this is German :)

and it looks as though the bloke is a porn director... at least his camera action could be pornoesk ;)

[Eldiablo @ May 15th 2008 12:53PM]

Well, its pretty obvious that its not running on Gel Packs, and I'm sure Star Trek had better camera's.

But do I want want? Hell yeah!

[Jason @ May 15th 2008 12:38PM]

Actually, it's the system47 screensaver running on it.

It's a free download here http://www.mewho.com/system47/

And it's awesome on dual screens, IMHO

[Jason @ May 15th 2008 12:40PM]

Edit: just watched video. Screensaver - then his custom app. Very nice.

[Golferal @ May 15th 2008 12:56PM]

LCARS in German? NEIN!

[Strange Quark Star @ May 16th 2008 2:00PM]

It isn't even proper German, he made "Haus Steuerung" out of "Haussteuerung" (the latter is correct).
Nein, nein!

[senyl @ May 15th 2008 1:02PM]

This is geek-tastic!

[010111 @ May 15th 2008 1:12PM]

Spock generally isn't associated with the LCARS-era Star Trek series.

[Joshua Topolsky @ May 15th 2008 2:10PM]

Yet he does make some substantial appearances in TNG, so I think that reference works just fine.

[DJZeratul @ May 15th 2008 3:42PM]

i was going to post this, then i thought to myself, wow, that would make me look like a complete nerd. Thanks for taking the nerd prize and donning it yourself!

[Velireon @ May 15th 2008 1:38PM]

I have to go home now and change my pants. I just creamed myself.

I don't know why you pansies are bitchin' and moanin'. REAL fans (who are Trekkies, not TrekkERs) can take the steady-cam action in order to sensually soak up what is absolutely the SEXIEST home control system I've ever seen.

[STAT @ May 15th 2008 1:43PM]

All it is is a desktopX theme thats been around for years. You can get desktopX here: http://www.stardock.com/ for $14.95 or just use the free version.

LCARS theme is also free. Get it at http://www.wincustomize.com/skins.aspx?libid=31&search=LCARS

also, the video is worthless. At least whow us it actually controlls something in your house. And what is up with all these silent vids?

[Daniel @ May 15th 2008 2:20PM]

Maybe all there themes are downloadable - but the control app inlcuding the gfx is complete written in c# from scratch ;o) No theme or something like this...

[oarking @ May 15th 2008 2:01PM]

Oh, and by the way, they didn't have the LCARS system during Spock's time (The Original Series). That was invented for The Next Generation specifically. So the appropriate pun would be along the lines of "Data face". Yes I am that much of a geek, no I'm not ashamed.

[Squid @ May 15th 2008 5:11PM]

It looks like the control system may be Cinemars...which is Flash based so it's easily customizible.

www.cinemaronline.com

Late

Squid

[TheCow5 @ May 15th 2008 2:28PM]

I am a star trek voyager fan (7 of 9 is hot), so I do like this but I will wait until the HAL 9000 come out, that is my dream.

who ever video taped that video is a nuncer

[Bad Beaver @ May 15th 2008 2:35PM]

You know the really scary bit is this thing running on Windows underneath, as seemingly many of these home-automation thingies do. I don't want my house to run on Windows. The mere thought kills away all the geeky glory of putting a LCARS skin on it so you can impress the geekette you dragged in with just the promise of "I'll let you play with my LCARS... it controls things".

Are you sure you want to open the windows?
Sure, I'm suffocating in here!
Are you really sure you want to open the windows?
YES! *cough*
Are you really really sure?
YES! Rotten thing! I'm dying! *pokes touchscreen repeatedly*
ERROR_CALL_NOT_IMPLEMENTED please restart by pressing ctrl alt del
THIS IS A TOUCHSCREEN! A Toooouuchchscccccrrr*choke*

[glocks out @ May 15th 2008 5:57PM]

No, most automation products do not run on Windows. Crestron, AMX, HAI, Elan and Control4 run on proprietary software. Savant runs on OSX. It is the newer products from Niveus, and Life|Ware that run on Windows, and I'm also staying away from that. I don't want to reboot my house.

[Darrell Rossman @ May 15th 2008 2:54PM]

This looks like an exact copy of the screen for the game "Starship Creator" reworked, that would make it a lot easier to program.

[Eastman @ May 15th 2008 3:08PM]

Well done on this .. i'd love that ..

BUT .. duuude .. lets hope this guy never does an unboxing video .. cos that be 2 hours long ( just to take of the shrink wrap )

[Sean @ May 15th 2008 3:21PM]

I don't get this....this guy is a hardware/software and home engineer but can't hold a camera steady for 3 minutes? I can't stand to finish watching this video, he's just swaying back and forth and back and....::puke::

[Michiel de Jong @ May 15th 2008 3:26PM]

Whowwww OMFG, Yeah you can tell I'm a big fan.
It's true though about the windows running underneath. But still, this thing is extreeeeemly sexy. I'd like to have one in my home for sure.

[Towncivilian @ May 15th 2008 3:25PM]

System 47? Am I the only geek who noticed the significance of 47? :)

[AlekZander @ May 15th 2008 6:21PM]

Eh, if he really wanted to be cool, it'd have been System 31.

[Amerist @ May 15th 2008 3:26PM]

a tip to camera men everywhere: Go to the bathroom before recording video.

[Nutsy @ May 15th 2008 4:06PM]

I WANT!!!!

[Jordan @ May 15th 2008 5:18PM]

*raises eyebrow*

...fascinating.

[glocks out @ May 15th 2008 5:48PM]

Looks kind of like a slow Crestron or AMX touchpanel. Congratulations on the old news.

For something really cool, check out this:
http://www.electronichouse.com/article/next_generation_star_trek_home_theater/

http://blog.audiovideointeriors.com/casual/907star/

[duxxyuk @ May 16th 2008 4:43AM]

It is indeed very pretty and well integrated into his home (I loved star trek).

From a usability point of view I can't see many people using it. It all looks the same and it doesn't appear (from the video) that the interface indicates where the user is in the system.

I would be very interested in the results of some hallway testing....