John Hendow

Every electronic device in my house has a different control interface, and anything with a remote control uses a proprietary IR command set per manufacturer (and sometimes per device). As much as I can appreciate the competitive advantage that this provides, it means all my gizmos live in isolation from each other. I can’t use them to the degree I want to. And it means that whole-house automation is a challenging task. What I want to see is a standard USB port on every electronic device in the house, with some kind of control panel or other documented API for control. USB is fast, ubiquitous, and inexpensive to implement. They should be able to discover each other and be controlled from any computer on the network.

There are a number of advantages to implementing USB across all electronic devices
Consumer Advantage #1: Simple Remote Control

With a USB port on the back of every device in the home theater, a total control universal remote would be much more reliable and powerful. There could be a simple device that could receive IR and RF, and output commands via USB. Remote commands are collected from a single point and distributed to the components via USB. If you need more USB ports, just plug in a standard USB hub. This allows “hidden” components to be controlled without line-of-sight requirements.  

Consumer Advantage #2: Macros

It should be possible to build simple scripts or macros that facilitate control over several aspects of the device kingdom. In home theaters this is pretty common; press a single macro button labeled “watch DVD” and the appropriate devices should power up, the TV should choose the correct input, the surround amp should choose the correct input, and any other necessary settings should be made. Why not extend this to other devices in the house? Usually when I watch a DVD, I want the lights set to a certain level. And if it’s below 60 degrees in the basement I usually turn on the (natural gas) fireplace. Why can’t this all be accomplished via a simple USB interface? Most gas fireplaces have IR remotes, and my existing universal remote can learn the codes, but if it were a hard-wired interface, I wouldn’t need to point the remote at it.  

Consumer Advantage #3: Whole House Automation

If my devices presented themselves to computers as USB devices, then they could be shared within the household network. This would allow 2-way communication between devices and facilitate a powerful means of control over devices. If the fridge door is open for longer than three minutes, I want some kind of notification across the network. If the phone rings, I want caller ID information on all displays in the house. Since I also have a whole-house alarm system, I want status reporting on every measurable aspect of the system. This allows greater security, energy use monitoring, and optimization. And while we’re at it, let’s have some kind of secure web-based interface… this provides yet another way to streamline energy usage and manage status. 

Manufacturer Advantage #1: Sales

People are going to buy devices that interconnect because we all want our gizmos to simplify our lives. More often than not, we get some new electronic device and it comes with a complicated manual. What consumers want is a simple way to plug something into the network, have it automatically discovered, and then have a simple means of configuring it. People will buy and use more gadgets if they can be simply integrated into a larger system. The simpler it is to fully use devices on a regular basis, the more consumers will discover new needs for new devices. 

Manufacturer Advantage #2: Replacement

While there is some effort to manufacture reliable, well-designed technology, things wear out. And they wear out a lot faster if they’re actually used. If the devices are easily incorporated into a bigger system, they’ll be more tempting in the first place, and they’ll get used a lot more. This increases initial demand, since savvy users are good salesmen for other consumers. And it means upgrading/replacing devices has a lower barrier. How many people hang on to outdated or partially broken electronic devices simply because it’s uncomfortable and inconvenient to learn how to use something new? My advice is to make the replacement process as painless as possible. Hook it up. Use it up. 

Manufacturer Advantage #3: Goodwill

Consumers are frustrated by technology that becomes “outdated” within weeks of purchase. If electronic devices were more modular, it would be a boon to manufacturers and consumers. Major electronics companies like Sony will always produce a full line of multi-feature devices. They also could provide a means of extending technology by interconnecting devices. Consumers will still buy the multi-function devices that are the newest generation, but it also means that we’d be looking for ways to get more out of all devices. 

Global Advantage #1: It’s better for the planet

If devices are simpler to configure then the manuals can be smaller, so we use less paper. If the devices can be controlled via USB system, we don’t need dedicated plastic remotes for every devices, so we use less petroleum. Fewer remotes means less batteries, which cuts down on waste. The cost is lower because manufacturers don’t need to produce dedicated remotes. They can focus on making cool system-wide remotes. Technology that can be integrated will be more likely to be used longer, which helps reduce the presence of unused and “obsolescent” in landfills.  

Global Advantage #2: It’s just plain cool

You know it would be cool.