First let me introduce myself since I havent dont that yet.
My name is Marek, Im a 4th year student of communication and multimedia design at the HAN (Hogeschool van Arnhem en Nijmegen)in the Netherland.
Currently Im doing my Internship at a company called Logica. I have a assignment to design, develop and make a prototype of an interface that will make users aware of their power usages. Through the use of an avatar or digital representation that communicates with the user in an active manner (Emotions like sad, happy, encouraging ect) the user will be more aware of his energy usage. This avatar will have an positive influence on the energy consumption.
To make this system work I have to have a way to monitor the energy usage and get the data in my computer. Preferably wireless. Of course it would be possible to design the hardware myself but since I neither have the time or skills for this Im looking for an off the shelf solution since the interface is more important than the hardware.
At first I was looking at the plugwise plugs cause if Im right the source software includes a small web server that can be used to get information out of the Plugwise system in XML format (Yeah digit Ive been reading your blog
, thnx for the sample code ) Though I also need a way to look at the total energy usage.I know there are multiple devices like the Wattcher http://www.wattcher.nl/, Zienu http://www.zienu.com/ that use a small sensor to gather information from your home electricity meter. Either by counting the revolutions of an aluminium disc or watching the LED/infrared light. The downside of these systems is that they are closed and I cannot do anything with the data they are transmitting.
My question (yeah finally
) Do any of you guys know of a way to monitor this data and get it into my pc? preferably real time monitoring.
Are there sensors similar to the ones that the Wattcher and Zienu use? But open instead of closed?
Thnx in advance!!
Btw, Ive been reading the forum for a few weeks now and I keep being amazed by the cool stuff you guys come up with!! Really cool
