My alarm clock is somewhat pathetic. It only works about half of the time, and I really need some sort of replacement. I've always wanted to have a mac-controlled alarm clock, in which I would write a program to play a sound a repeated number of times until I wake up. Problem is, the only mac I leave on constantly that could handle such a task is downstairs with my other computers.
Tonight an idea hit me. I was thinking about possible ways I could get a sound signal upstairs. I thought about AirPort, but that requires a computer running in my room, and I don't like the noise. I then realized that there happens to be an ethernet jack right next to my bed, and the other side of the cable ends up right next to the server. Both ends are not connected to anything, as my iBook has replaced my PB520 and there is no need to plug in to anything anymore. At work tomorrow I'm going to use the enet cable crimper tool to make two special cables with enet connector on one end and an audio plug on the other end. I just plug into the server downstairs and into an amplified speaker upstairs.
Only problem remaining is how to control the thing remotely. I thought about voice recognition and adding a second audio plug to the cables, but then realized that the interference would be way too bad by the time it got downstairs, plus its a 68k mac anyway.
So my question is... will adb work that far? it's about 35 feet of cable. And are there any ADB keypads out there? I don't want to use a whole keyboard just for snooze and off, and I really don't feel like building my own controller... what do you guys reccommend?
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