Re: [MLUG - DISCUSSION] net-enabled microcontrollers for appliances, VCRs, stereos

["Igor Izyumin Jr." <EMAIL:PROTECTED>]

> I
> can't see how a web-enabled interface is any more complex to build than
> your IR remote interface.
Do you have any experience with electronics?  An IR interface can be built 
using about 10 simple logic chips, since all you have to do is get a series 
of pulses, demodulate, and decode them.  If you use a microcontroller, you'll 
need exactly three parts:
1. Microcontroller
2. Photodiode with demodulator built in.
3. Crystal for microcontroller.
Furthermore, you can make that into an ASIC and have it integrated into the 
VCR or TV CPU.  That's how I seen it done.  The typical TV consists of a 
power supply, a couple of big ASICs and the parts you absolutely can not put 
on a chip (like the flyback or the HOT).  The buttons, controls, output, even 
RF runs straight to the chips.  Sure, each chip probably costs around $30, 
but there are only a few of them.  The webserver stuff adds another chip of 
about the same complexity, and a whole bunch of components to interface that 
stuff to the rest of the VCR or TV.  And how many people would want that if 
it couldn't do hardly anything other than say "yes I'm a TV and here you can 
adjust my brightness and volume through this webpage" to a web browser?  You 
can do the same with the controls, and it would work better, too.

The point here is, it might not cost a lot, and it might be possible, but 
it's not necessary.  Sure, you might be able to integrate a vacuum cleaner 
into a car, but what's the point?  Same thing with the webservers in your TV 
or VCR or electric toothbrush.
-- 
-- Igor
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