Subscribe by EmailHow to smarten up your electrical outlets
June 10, 2009 by Geeks are Sexy | 3 commentsIn the following video, long-time electronics inventor John La Grou unveils an ingenious new technology that will smarten up the electrical outlets in our homes, using microprocessors and RFID tags. The invention, Safeplug, promises to prevent deadly accidents like house fires — and to conserve energy.
- Monday morning links serving: The January 5th edition
- RFID Wardriving for Fun and Profit
- Using iPhones to Track Students
- The Corpus Clock & The Chronophage (Time Eater)
Did you enjoy this post? If so, subscribe to the geeksaresexy RSS feed.
I saw a video a little while back (here or elsewhere) about the security risks involved with those RFID tags. I could see a thief pulling up to a house and seeing on their laptop “Okay, they’ve got a big-screen tv, a desktop computer, a laptop, and a Wii plugged in.” Can you control the range on this signal? Exactly what info is being broadcasted? Even if it’s just a wattage, I’d be concerned that people could still figure out whether it was in the tv wattage range or some other expensive eletrical applicance. But as my name suggests, I’m blissfully ignorant on the technical details of what he’s talking about.
Apparently, these safety tags have a range of only a few inches, so probably not a problem.
It sounds like a good idea, but no-one will convert unless there is something that could be used for existing appliances. Otherwise you’d have to buy all new appliances to go with your new plug!