Rather than just an RV trip, what makes this Technomadia is that I'm bringing along my technology. Understand that I'm going to be a little vague for security reasons, but there's much that's common knowledge anyway.

Tripstar

Many years ago I bought Donald Fagen's Kamakiriad. A solo effort from half of Steely Dan, it didn't sell so well; it was an artisic piece. And kinda about me...or any Technomad.

In it is a song that mentions "All screens and functions...in sync-lock with Tripstar." And so, could I call it anything else? Here's where it lives, just before installation:

The 400mhz Celeron lives in that space on the left, the right side is the toolchest and where the trash can sits. In this space it's safe, nearby, and easily accessed. I still need to put the metal foil around it for EMI/RF enclosure, but it's not bad at all.

The computer uses a 12V supply. It's a PicoPSU that's been quite a little performer. In more than a year it's never offered me a moment of uncertainty or doubt. And now the trailer is a UPS for the internal computer! :)

Sensor Network

In order to sense temperatures, the opening of doors and such, I needed some sensors. The traditional variety was mega-expensive and required much programming, so instead I settled on the One Wire Filesystem and those cool sensors from Dallas/Maxim. It also affords me an LCD for a general readout, without needing my other computer to interrogate it.

The LCD allows me to watch all the sensors, as well as an assesment of the climactic trending ("Getting too hot; needs an A/C unit" and "Switching to vent mode.").

The technology doesn't just read the environment, it can also effect it as well, with a relay module, which is how the various fans kick furncace, and eventually the A/C will get turned on and off.

Serenity

Another computer exists on which I get work done. The photo shows it before the last computer changeout. It also controls the media; one day it'll have two screens for better show-watching from the bed. There's a switch on it for turning the audio to the local speakers, or piping it through a pair of speakers in the 'bedroom'. Right over head, they can be used for an alarm clock, alerting me to trouble, or simple background music.

I've mentioned before that God plays a role, more than the obvious, in the development of this vehicle. Here was another place He helped. I was watching a show late in the summer of '08 when I heard the fan kick on, kick off, and really start to annoy me. In an idea that seemed foreign to me at first, I was given the concept of Tripstar controlling the volume control.

The idea was so much better than my own, and in 10 minutes I had a simple version worked out. A few days later I made it more sophisticated with a slow-change of volume, and timed it to also work with the furnace timings. Now, when climate-control is about to kick on, volume on the workstation computer goes up before it happens, making everything more audible.

Serenity is also where I generate the graphs that you've seen. It's named that in honor of one of my favorite shows, Firefly. And I was kinda out of ideas at the time. :)

Serenity also culls various XML lists of news and, on the top and the bottom of the hour, reads them off to me during the waking hours. Again, just another use of existing technology, all made simpler by Linux.