(05-20-2020, 10:20 AM)Paraplegic Racehorse Wrote: Couldn't this be more easily done with, for example, a pcie card in a RockPro64 (or PC) and just use the 'Tab to interface with the server? Seems to me it would be much more flexible. You could then use any device - PinePhone, PineTime(?), desktop, laptop, etc - for home control.
Your use-case may be different, though.
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Thanks for your feedback. I totally get where you're coming from, but as you say, this is a very deliberate choice. Let me explain a bit.
I'd like to build a privacy friendly smart home product around the Pinetab. It has to be something normal mortals can use and install. So far we've been trying to use the setup you describe, but it's still too complicated.
- If the server has a screen, it's very easy to setup a network connection. No fiddling with temporary hotspots, just a nice interface.
- If the pinetab is itsef the communications hub, then it doesn't depend on a local network to manage the smart home. If the router is down, it doesn't matter. Related to this is the goal to avoid using wifi as much as possible, since in 9 out of 10 IoT security issues, these issues could have been avoided by not using WiFi as the commmunications layer.
- Instead of hiding a server, and then using a browser to access it, I'd like the server to be more readily accessible, and able to show data 'at a glance'. It can show dataviz, photos, appointments, you name it. The very fact that the Pinetab is a small server with a big display makes it very attractive for this use case.
The goal is, essentially, to create a 100% privacy friendly, trustworthy alternative to the Google Home Hub. And with the PineTab, this becomes possible.
About the flexibility argument: you could still use your other devices (such as the Pinephone, which I'm a happy owner of) to connect to the server. It's just that the server has a nice big display.
Really concrete situations in which this would be great are health- and elderly care. Ive spoken to numerous organisations and individuals interested in this subject. Smart home systems could offer a lot of value. Speech control for lights and other small devices is an obvious case for those who aren't as mobile anymore. Measuring air particles for those with resporatory issues. The list is endless. But these parties are rightfully hesitant to use the current crop of commercial products, because they want to avoid exposing the elderly to the surveillance industry.
Funnily enough, a lot of people I've spoken to in the industry about this project said "why have a separate server when you could integrate it into once device?" ;-D
