The Internet of Things comes to the Hermit Kimdom. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2018, 04:01:17 am
content: https://www.dailynk.com/english/tv-on-north-koreas-first-smart-house/Quote

author: tsman
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2018, 04:10:02 am
content: An AI doing voice recognition or are the secret police listening in on you just toggling the switch?

author: German_EE
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2018, 09:21:30 am
content: How does their smart house deal with all of the power cuts?

author: Domagoj T
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2018, 10:03:42 am
content: With all the Arduinos and RPis available these days, this project sounds like something a high school kid would tinker with in his spare time, not a PhD level research.

author: hermit
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2018, 01:40:01 pm
content: Is this title meant to troll me?

author: tsman
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2018, 02:05:45 pm
content: Quote from: hermit on December 08, 2018, 01:40:01 pmNope

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2018, 03:22:00 pm
content: You betcha!I bet a RPi or similar SBC is what's inside the box.Quote from: Domagoj T on December 08, 2018, 10:03:42 am

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2018, 03:40:13 pm
content: I doubt it if they'd want to discuss it. But of course you're right."we just get byhowever we can"Quote from: German_EE on December 08, 2018, 09:21:30 am

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 09, 2018, 05:49:57 am
content: I suspect one day (soon), truly smart homes will be using 19th/20th century technology, press switch, light comes on. Press another switch, heating/cooling comes on. No need for internet connections, usernames/passwords, pairing and trouble shooting network issues when it ultimately fails to work.

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2018, 06:30:18 am
content: Quote from: Domagoj T on December 08, 2018, 10:03:42 amI don't think the North Korean academia is recognised as such elsewhere.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2018, 10:27:29 am
content: In NK, house is telescreen.In west, pocket contains telescreen.I’m not sure who lost or won there.Really NK are quite technically capable considering the trade embargoes and supply problems they have.Quote from: Mr. Scram on December 09, 2018, 06:30:18 amYet. Remember eastern bloc.

author: ebastler
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2018, 12:14:22 pm
content: Quote from: Halcyon on December 09, 2018, 05:49:57 amI think the sweet spot is something thatfeelslike 19th century technology, but has more flexibility in the background:Instead of point-to-point wiring from switch to light outlet etc., use a bus which runs through the whole house or flat, and provides power and signalling. Each switch just sends a fixed signal to a central house controller, and each outlet comprises a solid state relay, addressable by the controller.The controller should be configurable locally, without an internet connection. Users who don't care about gimmicks can let their electrician (or nerd friend) configure the controller once and then forget about it. If you like to play with the system, you can configure it yourself, via your computer or a permanently installed touch screen. Remote access via an internet connection could be optional, preferably with limited rights. (Don't switch on the kitchen stove while you are away...) And I very much agree with Halcyon that there is no reason why you would need an account somewhere if all you want to do is run the controller locally.I am sure I did not just invent this, but such systems must already be available -- although potentially still expensive? Maybe there's even a signalling standard supported by multiple vendors? (Wired would be my preference over wireless optiones like Zigbee etc.)

author: JPortici
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2018, 12:52:21 pm
content: Quote from: ebastler on December 09, 2018, 12:14:22 pmthis has been tried for years, it never took off. When i was doing my electrician internships back in high school there was yet another wave of interest in domotics. This was 15 years ago, system was way too much expensive to lay down.IOT is the way to go for the user because you don't have to redo all of your wiring, you can do it in small steps, one device at a time. It's also the way to go for developers because of all user data and of course subscription based services.And now (OT), car makers offering subscription based optionals, car is going to be connected on the internet at some point (with the integrated modem, when you pair your phone or when you go to service) so you can't cheat it. Disgusting.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2018, 12:56:00 pm
content: X10 was a thing in the 1990s for this stuff.

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2018, 01:52:33 pm
content: Quote from: cdev on December 08, 2018, 04:01:17 amRepeated dozens of times a day this alone will drive people crazy. Maybe it is ok for a person living alone, they do not mind talking to themselves, but for practical purpose a house with 4-5 people living in it will become a mad house.

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2018, 02:10:38 pm
content: Thermostats, definitely are good candidates for some automation.For almost everything thats usually switch-driven, I think I would likely prefer to have either a light that comes on when I come in to the room, or a nicely placed switch. The only places where I would like to have verbal control are places where my hands are typically busy. (scanning things or taking screen shots while typing, for example) I could also do them with a foot switch, though.HVAC though, is a good candidate for automated operation.Also maybe morning things. For people who get up to go to work early, having all the breakfast tasks done with automation might be helpful. (but perhaps might increase accidents because doing them is how many people wake up!)Quote from: Halcyon on December 09, 2018, 05:49:57 am

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 09, 2018, 02:16:48 pm
content: In NK, only a quarter to a third of the people in the country, basically the descendants of people who are related to the people who fought with Kim Il Sung before the Japanese were defeated, are allowed to go to college. As far as I know, it was never anything like that in any of the other Communist countries. (although 'family background' was important.) Other Communist countries all thought (think) that they are too extreme.They divide the entire nation up into three main (core, wavering and hostile) groups and countless sub-groups based on a family's perceived loyalty. Only members of the 'core' group are allowed to go to college or get a decent job, even under the best of circumstances.Its likely that access to the resources and skills required to perform any kind of technical profession would be limited to those in this core group. (And can easily be taken away if somebody's family member deviates even slightly from the officially sanctioned behavior, then the entire family has to suddenly move to a rural area.)If somebody in the 'hostile' or 'enemies' group tried to quire such skills - not having any way to use them in any officially sanctioned good job, (one would also be stuck in a rural area, forbidden to travel to counties that contained the cities - the only places where stores exist where one could buy electronics parts) For learning those new things one would almost certainly come under suspicion for being up to ill good.Recently a lot of North Korean defectors have written books - some of them are quite good, which explain how people live there.Good description of the songbun system by Andrei Lankov.Quote from: bd139 on December 09, 2018, 10:27:29 am