Home Hacking Projects for Geeks

Description

Take a geek and a PC, add one soldering iron, a home, and a copy of Home Hacking Projects for Geeks, and you'll give new meaning to the term, "home improvement." From fearless neophytes to tool-wielding masterminds, the home hacker in any geek will find new inspiration and plenty of hands-on guidance to take on a variety of home-transforming projects once relegated to the world of sci-fi.

This fun new guide combines creativity with electricity and power tools to achieve cool--and sometimes even practical--home automation projects. Never again will you have to flip a light switch when you enter a room or use a key to open your front door. With a few off-the-shelf devices, some homemade hardware, and a little imagination, you can be living in your own high-tech habitat.

Home Hacking Projects for Geeks shows hackers of all ability levels how to take on a wide range of projects, from the relatively small but energy-conscious automating of light switches, to building home theaters using Windows or Linux-based PCs, to more complicated projects like building home security systems that rival those offered by professional security consultants. Each project includes a conceptual diagram, a "What You Need List" and a small "Project Stats" section that describes the relative difficulty, time involved, and cost of the project. What's more, each project is a workable, practical way to improve your home--something unique that you can customize for your individual needs.

The thirteen projects in Home Hacking Projects for Geeks are divided into three categories: Home Automation, Home Entertainment Systems, and Security, and include projects such as:

* Remotely Monitor Your Pet
* Make Your House Talk
* Remotely Control Your Computer's MP3 player
* Create Time-Shifted FM Radio
* Watch Your House Across the Network
* Build a Home Security System If you've ever thought the Jetsons had it made, or looked around your house and thought, "I could make that better " then you're ready for Home Hacking Projects for Geeks.

CONTENTS:

About the AuthorPrefacePart I: Home Automation
* Chapter 1: Automate a Light
* Chapter 2: Automate Your Porch Light
* Chapter 3: Remotely Monitor a Pet
* Chapter 4: Make Your House TalkPart II: Home Entertainment
* Chapter 5: Remotely Control Your Computer
* Chapter 6: Control Your Home Theater
* Chapter 7: Build a Windows-Based Home Theater PC
* Chapter 8: Build a Linux-Based Home Theater PC
* Chapter 9: Create Time-Shifted FM Radio
* Chapter 10: Access Your Entire Media Collection Over the InternetPart III: Home Security
* Chapter 11: Keyless Entry Welcome Home
* Chapter 12: Watch Your House Across the Network
* Chapter 13: Build a Security SystemColophon