The Reconfigurable House is an interactive, yet low-tech, take on the conventional "smart home", which non-experts can build from off-the-shelf components, hacked toys and gadgets and open source hardware and software.
Not only is the design of the House provided through an open license, but also the system itself can be "reconfigured" dynamically by its occupants through the life of the structure. The project stands in opposition to ubiquitous computing "smart homes", which are based on the idea that technology should be invisible to prevent DIY. Smart homes actually aren't very smart simply because they are pre-wired according to algorithms and decisions made by designers of the systems, rather than the people who occupy the houses.
In contrast to such homes, which are not able to adapt structurally over time, the many sensors and actuators of Reconfigurable House can be reconnected endlessly as people change their minds so that the House can take on completely new behaviours.
The house consists of walls and devices that respond to sound, light, touch, footsteps, phone calls, mp3 players and even distant remotely connected spaces. Through elements like the Cat Brick Wall, Mist Laser garden, Monkey Corridor and Radio Penguin Ceiling, constructed from hacked low tech toys and gadgets, the house can be inexpensively recreated by even those who are not experts in electronics. This means that not only is the software of the House open, but the hardware is too.
The software is constructed using open source programming language, Processing, and the electronics are controlled by Arduino, an inexpensive open source micro-controller. All code used in the project will eventually be found on this site. For more experienced programmers, it will be possible to connect their software, devices and websites directly to the prototype Reconfigurable House located at ICC, Tokyo, through the Environment XML protocol.
Complete information is available at http://house.propositions.org.uk/
