The Brains
Saturn.dsu.edu is a 386DX/40 system running
FreeBSD. Dakota State
University provides two ethernet connections to every dorm room. One of
ours runs to Saturn, which then routes TCP/IP to Mike's Macintosh. The
other runs to Anthony's PC.
Door Sensor
Our door sensor was constructed from aluminum foil and a pair of wires,
running directly into one of Saturn's serial ports.
Status of Computer Power
To check our computer's power status a Perl program issues TCP/IP pings to
each of our computers. If they respond, the power must be on.
Blow our fan
A small 12 volt fan is connected to one of Saturn's parallel ports. When
you submit a request to blow, the fan is provided power for the duration
of time that you specify.
Our Socks
No, sock sensors are not in place. Anthony has 9 pairs of socks,
Mike has 11 pairs, and they each wash clothes are regular intervals
during the month -- a Perl script keeps track of the numbering.
Leave us a message
Messages sent to us are displayed on Saturn's console, along with a beep
to alert us. Messages are also logged to a file in case we're gone, busy,
or (most likely) asleep.
Current Temperature
Anthony has a UPS with a built-in thermometer (to prevent overheating).
His computer keeps track of the UPS temperature, and Saturn fetches this
info at regular intervals.
Light Sensor
We've constructed a simple circuit
that can detect when our room is illuminated. The sensor itself is a
cadmium sulfide (CdS) photo cell. As with the door, the light sensor
simply runs into one of Saturn's serial ports.
Mike and Anthony's Wired Room