Washington Apple Pi

A Community of Apple iPad, iPhone and Mac Users

February 2016 General Meeting

Jimmy Obomsawin

February 27, 2016, 9:30 a.m., George Mason University

Slides from Larry Kerschberg's presentation after the general meeting on his home automation journey.

HomeKit allows you to automate smart devices from your iOS device.

Jimmy Obomsawin ("JimmyMac") will talk about home automation and HomeKit, Apple's innovative effort to integrate activities of daily living.

Over the years we have dreamed of the automated home. Recently the market has exploded with devices aiming to make life simpler, more functional, or more secure. Over the past year many manufacturers have been integrating Apple’s HomeKit protocol, finally allowing devices from many different manufacturers to exist in harmony. Our future may head in a different direction from Isaac Asimov’s domestic servant robots, but it is exciting nonetheless.

We will be taking a look at what HomeKit is, how it can be utilized today, and where it might go in the future.

Once again, we will attempt to stream the meeting over the Internet: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/wap-general-meeting.

The General Meeting will be in our usual location, Enterprise building, Room 178 on the George Mason University campus in Fairfax VA. Check back closer to the meeting date for any updates or changes.

George Mason University map

Enterprise Hall, our normal meeting place, is #16. Click on the map for a much larger version of the George Mason University campus map.

George Mason University Essential Information

The meeting will be held in Enterprise Hall, Room 178.

Address: 4400 University Dr., Fairfax, VA (near Rte 123 and Braddock Road). Directions and Map: http://www.gmu.edu/welcome/Directions-to-GMU.html

Interactive map of campus: http://eagle.gmu.edu/map/fairfax.php

Important Parking Information: Two Options, Paid and Free

The Shenandoah Parking Garage (formerly the Sandy Creek Parking Garage because it is located on Sandy Creek) is fee-based facility. It is more convenient and closer to the meeting location. The Pi will subsidize the facility's parking fee by providing vouchers for donation request of $4.00.

If using the parking garage, park in Visitor's area; i.e., the lowest level. Take the elevator to the third floor (Campus Level), and exit along the sky bridge.

After the meeting, exit the garage using the exits marked for Validated Tickets. Your parking ticket goes in first. Then the validation ticket goes in next. If you have any problems, there is a speaker box for calling the parking lot attendant at the checkout point.

Free parking in Lot A

Park as close to Mattaponi River Lane as possible, then walk north along that road toward the main campus buildings. The sidewalk route takes you directly to the side of Enterprise Hall, on your left. The meeting room is located on the second floor, accessible via outside stairs or via an elevator on your right as soon as you enter the building through the doors behind the outside stairs. We will endeavor to have signs posted to help guide you to the right location. It is at least a five-minute walk from Lot A and up a slight incline. We will be using a golf cart along the route, to offer rides to those who want or need a lift.

Handicapped Parking: There are three handicap parking spaces next to Enterprise Hall that can be used by members, on a first come first served basis. Have your Handicap Sticker showing on the dashboard or on the rear-view mirror.