HIGH-TECH COMFORTS OF CYBERHOME.Byline: Dawn Yoshitake Daily News Staff Writer At first glance, the gray, two-story home looks like a typical model home found at any new housing development. Fresh paint, new carpet and elegant furniture is stationed throughout the house. But take a closer look and reality gets tweaked See tweak. . A 31-inch computer monitor has replaced the traditional TV set in the family room. A wall-mounted computer that logs family events and notes has taken the place of the old paper messages taped to the kitchen refrigerator. And video conferencing See videoconferencing. (communications) video conferencing - A discussion between two or more groups of people who are in different places but can see and hear each other using electronic communications. equipment is in the home office instead of the traditional telephone. This technology exists today, but visualizing it working together in the home is something else. ``We wanted to make computing in the home a reality and something tangible. We wanted people to see how it would work in the home and have a better sense of how things can be integrated,'' said Patty Ames, associate features editor for Computer Life magazine. The San Francisco-based publication and West Venture Cos., a Burbank-based home builder, will open the 1996 CyberHome to the public Saturday for a four-month run. The four-bedroom home, located at 16313 Vista Court, Chino Chino (chē`nō), city (1990 pop. 59,682), San Bernardino co., S Calif.; founded 1887, inc. 1910. It is the business and processing center of a diversified farming (notably dairying) area. Hills, showcases such items as Intel Corp.'s ProShare Conferencing Video System 200 to 3M's Post-It software. In the kitchen, for example, family members can access a wall-mounted computer with a wireless keyboard. Messages can be posted, recipes read and phone calls placed while whipping WHIPPING, punishment. The infliction of stripes. 2. This mode of punishment, which is still practiced in some of the states, is a relict of barbarism; it has yielded in most of the middle and northern states to the penitentiary system. up a pasta dish. Meanwhile, the computer that has replaced the traditional television offers games, Internet surfing and television shows, too. Wiring in the house and networking equipment allow family members sitting at computers to message each other without yelling yell v. yelled, yell·ing, yells v.intr. To cry out loudly, as in pain, fright, surprise, or enthusiasm. v.tr. To utter or express with a loud cry. See Synonyms at shout. n. across the house. And home automation technology can dim lights, flash warnings of a fire and operate other home appliances. Home automation is nothing new. It started several years ago with Smart House, a Maryland-based home automation system manufacturer. But despite the concept of having lights, sprinklers and a host of other household functions kick on at a predetermined pre·de·ter·mine v. pre·de·ter·mined, pre·de·ter·min·ing, pre·de·ter·mines v.tr. 1. To determine, decide, or establish in advance: time, or via remote control, the Smart House system has not caught on. A home retrofitted with a Smart House system can run as much as $20,000, said Sandy Sigal, chief executive of West Venture Cos. However, the price of progress might drop in the future. For example, it costs $2,000 to $3,000 to equip a house with something called a consumer electronics bus - which uses computer chips to run appliances. The technology, called CEBus for short, uses existing electrical wiring Electrical wiring in general refers to insulated conductors used to carry electricity, and associated devices. This article describes general aspects of electrical wiring as used to provide power in buildings and structures, commonly referred to as building wiring. , Ames said. Although Ames said CEBus someday some·day adv. At an indefinite time in the future. Usage Note: The adverbs someday and sometime express future time indefinitely: We'll succeed someday. Come sometime. may set the standard for home automation, it still is in the early stages of development.Susan Ritter rit·ter n. pl. ritter A knight. [German, from Middle High German riter, from Middle Dutch ridder, from r , Smart House marketing director, said her company's system can accommodate CEBus, but appliances equipped with the technology have yet to hit the market. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: A home designed by West Venture is wired for the Int ernet. Phil McCarten/Daily News |
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