Android monitors your power readings while you do dishes
This is one of those, "well I didn't really need this, but the fact that this is even possible is pretty frakking cool" stories.
From Moto Labs, those same wacky guys who brought us the Scalable Multitouch display, comes the DIY Android Home Energy Monitor (or AHEM, as in "ahem, look at my clever acronym").
The AHEM can use an average wireless network to track your utility readings and post them on your Google home page. Here's how it works. Wireless Webcams take pictures of the ever-changing dials on the user's utility meters.
How it all works. These guys are quite the talented scientists...and artists. Damn them.
(Credit: Moto Labs)A motherboard called a BeagleBoard running Android and the AHEM custom applications pushes the pictures up to a designated Flickr photo set.
The AHEM application transcribes the reading numbers into your Flickr image tag. Then, Moto Labs' Google Gadget will automatically chart meter activity on your Google home page.
Check out the site to see all you need to get started and get step-by-step instructions on how to set the whole thing up.
Eric Franklin refused to write a bio, saying, "Why are you bothering me about this bio business again? If I wanted people to know more about me, I'd send them to the Inside CNET Labs Podcast" (shameless plug). E-mail Eric. 
- by sannmer June 2, 2009 11:31 AM PDT
- Smart grid won't track your gas, or your water. And gas consumption is likely makes a bigger footprint than your electric.
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