serial consign

So apparently twitter is where I find all my inspiration now. Yesterday Burak Arikan shared a link on an interesting use of said microblogging platform that deserves mention. Andy Stanford-Clark, a "Master Inventor" for IBM has wired his home automation system to post updates to twitter. Earlier this year the net was abuzz with news of pothos the plant that posted to twitter when it was thirsty for water (see the MAKE post on that project) and now we have an example of an object/entity broadcasting information about a variety of states.

As illustrated by the screen capture above, Andy's house posts data about water and power usage, telecommunications and temperature updates and also issues status reports pertaining to lighting and security systems. The architectural implications of this type of ambient intelligence aggregation are quite clear but what really interests me is the idea of objects using the same networks as people to communicate. I wonder if Andy's house ever asks Andy to come home because it is lonely?

Take a look at the twitter account of Andy's house to get better acquainted with this unique undertaking.