Subject: From: Date:

Multi-machine ECS Dan Carrington Thu, 24 Sep 1998 09:00:11 -0700

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Martin Terry wrote:
> 
> Long term, divorcing the "thinking" side of ECS from the user interface
> and changing it to a service would be the better goal. This would allow
> the user interface to exist anywhere, either locally or remotely.
> 


	Martin, in your interface/server idea, you forgot to add machine #3. 
ECS under dos for Bigmouth access and any other "necessary" pieces of
hardware that become unusable under windows.  And of course in making
the interface on a separate machine, possibly a web based interface, you
would allow almost any control machine type.  From those of us using
unix at work, to those of us having palmtop computers that could jack in
anywhere and have an actual interface beyond the phone cues.  
	Now take into your mind this thought, palmtop computers are getting
better and faster, with color and backlighting, and best of all,
wireless internet links.  Now consider driving along and wanting to
check on your home.  Just pull out the palmtop and hit "on" and open
your favorite web brouser..... (of course, you would need to wait for a
stoplight or some other reason to stop your car while doing this, cops
might not understand your reasoning for the accident caused  "I'm sorry
officer, I have been waiting for a special package at home that I have
to sign for and I am running late.  So I decided to check if anybody had
pulled into my driveway or rung my doorbell.")
	I don't know how much trouble I may be causing by saying this, but
consider the group pages as html pages.  The interface machine would
download the icons and such the first time and then just cache them from
then on.  Needing only the status of each item across the internet.  No
front end software needed.  Just design nice, even graphical, web
pages.  Those of you who really get into that kind of thing could even
use images of your house?
	Mark, I don't mean to get people all over your back wanting things, but
possibly a system based on this idea could increase sales.  Think about
it, I don't think anybody else has done this type of universal access. 
It might make your system the top dog (as if I didn't think it already
was).  Machine to machine between the local systems (server, interface,
and dos hardware) could be serial or TCP/IP, whatever was easier. 
Theoretically, someone could use only one machine if they wanted, but if
the server is only doing ECS, it would not need tons of speed or
graphical interface.  That means cheap.  The DOS machine of course is
even cheaper, if only using bigmouth or similar outdated hardware that
there are no newer and better variations.  The only real concerns of
mine are in a good encryption and password for access.  And the best
part, you don't have to "program" an interface for this type of access,
or concern yourself about what machines that interface will run on.

Dan Carrington

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