This came to me via a daily DangerousPrototypes update*.

People all over are doing things with the ESP8266 "Internet of Things"
modules**.
Worth being aware of.
The ESP8266 allows trivially easy [tm] and very low cost interfacing of
stuff to the internet via WiFi.(Under to well under $5 per module).

Here is a "home automation" project using the ESP-12 variant.
Has enough related information to be worth a look if you are "IOT" and/or
ESP8266 interested.

             http://tech.scargill.net/home-control-2015/

              The related DP page:

                                http://dangerousprototypes.com/?p=3D86640

        Russell

**
I have a couple beckoning me from my workshop "ATSA"*** storage bin.
Hopefully (and very probably) I will resist their beckoning until more
important and urgent things are actioned.

*** "Any Technology Sufficiently Advanced ..."

________________

* DangerousPrototypes provide a (usually daily) feed of various projects -
theirs and other people's.

Quality obviously highly variable, but worth having as occasionally some
good or very good ideas or implementations flow past.
Requires as little as scanning a subject line and deciding whether to dig
deeper.


                     http://dangerousprototypes.com

____________________________

They say:


The ESP8266 boards have recently taken the IOT world by storm as providing
a REALLY low-cost entry solution into the world of IOT (Internet of Things)
making it possible to create in the simplest sense an Internet-controlled
LED for just =A32 or so (it could just as easily be a 2KW heater of course)=
..

There are a number of variations on the ESP8266 boards, the most popular
being the ESP-01 - a simple board with power, a couple of IO lines and
serial in and out. The thing is - they all use the same chip and that
particular board (the ESP-01) is very limited - and for no good reason -
the ESP-12 for example has several IO lines and costs the same amount! It's
only downside is 2mm spacing pins but for VERY little you can buy adaptors
to 0.1" - or of course use a board that will take the ESP-12.

....

Note that a particularly nice feature of this board is that it can be
programmed from a standard FTDI and importantly - without messing with
links thanks to an on-board Tiny-85 which handles the reset operation.
Simply program the board as you would an Arduino. Absolute doddle!

....

So in terms of "Features":

   - *Mains-powered WIFI controller board*
   - *FTDI-compatibility with auto-reset function*
   - *Accommodation for solid state or mechanical relay output*
   - *Temperature sensing using either popular type of sensor*
   - *All signals brought out to edge connector*
   - *Fits in an inexpensive box  available on Ebay*
   - *Uses inexpensive power available on Ebay*
   - *Debounced input also acts as manual over-ride for main output*
   - *2 spare outputs*
   - *RGB WS2812b output able to handle 300 or more serial LEDs*
   - *Thermostatic control commands including 2 sets of on-off times and
   frost fallback*
   - *More on the way*
   - *Flashing status indication that the unit is functioning and has the
   correct time which it maintains internally in between updates*
--=20
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