Dummies, Wireless

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Part V: The Part of Tens
In this chapter, we expose you to some things that you could bring to your
wireless home network soon. Many of these products already exist. Expect in
coming years that they will infiltrate your home. Like the Borg says on Star
Trek, “Prepare to be assimilated.”
Your Bathtub
Yup, wireless toys are everywhere now, having traversed their way into the
innermost sanctuary of your home: the bathroom. We’re not talking Psychotype
shots of people in the shower — we’re interested in how to get audio,
video, and data into the bathroom so that you can enjoy your privacy even
more than you do today.
Not too many homes are wired for computer and video in the bathroom.
(We’ve even seen a creative retrofit solution from Google, jokingly launched
on April Fools Day — the Google TiSP service, www.google.com/tisp/index.
html). Wireless may be the only way to get signals — like a phone signal —
to some of these places. We have seen wireless-enabled toilets (don’t ask)
and all sorts of wireless controls for lighting in the bathroom to create just
the right atmosphere for that bath.
It’s the wireless enablement of the bathtub itself that gets us excited. Luxury
bathing combined with a home entertainment bathing center in one outfitted
bathroom set is probably the ultimate for a wireless enthusiast.
Jacuzzi (www.jacuzzi.com) is the leader in this foray. They have 42-inch
plasma TVs in hot tubs and LCDs in the shower. These days, Jacuzzi sells the
only wireless waterproof remote control (Aquasound) we’ve seen, but it’s
what comes with the remote control that gets us. The Jacuzzi Affinity hot tub
(Figure 19-1) comes standard with a built-in stereo/CD system, complete with
four speakers as well as an integrated 9-inch television. The multichannel unit
is waterproof and includes a remote control. Cable ready, this feature allows
you to enjoy the morning news or your favorite movie. A digital control panel
offers easy access to the whirlpool operation, underwater lighting, and
temperature readout. Talk about wired! All these features cost a mere $12,919
retail, but you can find it for a street price of a mere $7,000 or so. Oh, and you
get the hot tub part too — three fixed back jets per person and five fully
directional jets around the perimeter.
The problem is that most homes aren’t wired for audio or video in their bathroom.
That’s where your wireless home network comes into play. You can use
the same wireless A/V extension devices used to link your PC and your stereo
system to reach into the bathroom and bring your Affinity online.