Right now I'm just loving technology . . .

[BartmanPDX]

Gotta love the technology of the modern world sometimes.

Background info: My daughter has a dangerous form of epilepsy. While she can sometimes go a few months without seizures, she will suddenly without warning have a bad seizure, usually in the middle of the night. These seizures can last over a half hour and are life-threatening. For this reason, she has to be monitored 24/7, and for the past 8 years either my wife or I have slept next to her every night in case of seizure.

For many years we used a baby monitor to keep track of her after her bedtime (when we would stay up). But if she made a funny noise, we'd have to jump up from wherever we were and go peer into her room to see what was going on.

About 9 months ago I finally got a wireless night-vision camera system put into her room. We put the receiver in the living room, and we've been running the audio separately through some speakers. Now when she makes a noise, we pause the TV and just hit the button on the remote to see what's going on in her room. I bought an extra receiver and an LCD TV for the other bedroom, so the other parent who is not sleeping with her can look in on the room.

But the latest kicker is this -- I now went ahead and put a dedicated small LCD in my home theater/man cave. I've had the receiver in there for a while, but I had it hooked up to some ugly computer speakers, and would have to fiddle with a bunch of buttons to get the picture up on the projector just to see what her situation was. Here's the before picture of the front of the man cave (not including the ugly computer speakers):



So check out the little 19" LCD TV below the projector screen in the next picture. Only cost me $200 including the mount, and took me all of 15 mintues to install. Gotta love technology!



Closeup of the monitor:


In use. I've turned down the brightness on it since I snapped the photo.



Now I have great video and sound and I can game on the big screen, or watch a movie or whatever without having to worry about my girl.

So right now, I'm loving technology!!

[FL Knifemaker]

Very cool!! I need an HD TV in my man cave. I have the only regular set left in the house With my basses, RC airplanes and cars, fishing gear and computer stuff, I doubt anyone would notice if I brought a nice TV in here

[BartmanPDX]

Originally Posted by FL Knifemaker

Very cool!! I need an HD TV in my man cave. I have the only regular set left in the house With my basses, RC airplanes and cars, fishing gear and computer stuff, I doubt anyone would notice if I brought a nice TV in here

If it's dark enough, you can get a projection system cheap and have a HUGE screen. They can be had for as little as a few hundred bucks.

My screen is 80" x 45", and that's on the small side as front projection systems go.

[A-Step-Towards]

that looks like GTA!

[FL Knifemaker]

Originally Posted by BartmanPDX

If it's dark enough, you can get a projection system cheap and have a HUGE screen. They can be had for as little as a few hundred bucks.

My screen is 80" x 45", and that's on the small side as front projection systems go.

One of my neighbors has a projection tv in his theater room. It's HUGE and it cost a small fortune. He updates his TV about once a year and spends a fortune doing it. He's a consultant the does work with companies that make them. The thing is BRILLIANT. I have enough space for about a 46" and will probably go with another Sony. I'm very happy with the one we have in our guestroom. We have FiOS and the signal and features are really good but I'll have to add on another HD box

[BartmanPDX]

Originally Posted by A-Step-Towards

that looks like GTA!

Niko Bellic in da house! Golf on the Wii on the big screen is fun, too.

I got my projector about 8 years ago for $5K and much better ones can now be had for 10-20% of that price. I've bought two new bulbs for it over the years, but otherwise do my own calibrations, and it continues to work perfectly and impress.

I am thinking about going to a new model though . . .

[jmattbassplaya]

That`s a great setup you got going on!

As an aside - I both love and hate all the new technologies that have come out and have become available to the mass public in recent (within 5-10) years. Cell phones, for example, are great for emergencies and contacting people quickly, but I`ll be damned if I don`t miss the days when I had actual freedom away from these phones. Nowadays you need a phone just to get by in the world... it just seems like we`re becoming slaves to our own technology.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

That`s a great setup you got going on!

As an aside - I both love and hate all the new technologies that have come out and have become available to the mass public in recent (within 5-10) years. Cell phones, for example, are great for emergencies and contacting people quickly, but I`ll be damned if I don`t miss the days when I had actual freedom away from these phones. Nowadays you need a phone just to get by in the world... it just seems like we`re becoming slaves to our own technology.

Just because the phone rings, doesnt mean you have to answer. It seems these days I take a hell of a lot of showers.

[EricF]

Very well executed, Bartman!!!

[baalroo]

my favorite definition for technology: any invention that doesn't quite work right

second favorite definition: anything invented after you were born



anyhow, I think we are headed towards a lot of awesome breakthroughs with technology and are beginning to finally see how all these cool gadgets can enrich our lives. your story is a great example and put a big huge smile on my face!

[Pilgrim]

The definition I use in my course on technology: "The application of knowledge and technique to achieve a desired end."

In this case, it fits beautifully!

[BartmanPDX]

Originally Posted by EricF

Very well executed, Bartman!!!

Thanks!

I looked at this picture again and thought of the perfect title:



"Sleep well, Princess. Daddy is going to gun down all the bad video game men now with his assault rifle."

The contrast between the ultra-violence in the video games and the innocent sleeping child is weird at first, but I'm getting used to it.

[Buslady7803]

awww shes sweet little angel sleepin there :P hehe

technology rulez...my brother can walk after his stroke cos of tech, a thingy called a Bioness, helps him rebuild nerve connections and helps him walk, he walks REAL good with it.

[UnsungZeros]

Originally Posted by MatticusMania

Just because the phone rings, doesnt mean you have to answer. It seems these days I take a hell of a lot of showers.

Yep. I have a habit of "not feeling the vibrate in my pocket" or "leaving my phone in the other room."

[BartmanPDX]

Originally Posted by UnsungZeros

Yep. I have a habit of "not feeling the vibrate in my pocket" or "leaving my phone in the other room."

FWIW, my wife just bought an iPhone, which she proudly showed off to me last night (I personally don't like cell phones and probably wouldn't own one if it weren't for my daughter's medical issues).

Today she's spent the whole morning cursing at it.

[Pilgrim]

Gee, I thought everything made by Apple was PERFECT!!!!

[EricF]

Originally Posted by BartmanPDX

FWIW, my wife just bought an iPhone, which she proudly showed off to me last night (I personally don't like cell phones and probably wouldn't own one if it weren't for my daughter's medical issues).

Today she's spent the whole morning cursing at it.

LOL!!!