Swimming pool and domestic heating and heat pumps

text-lock padlock

We have been at it again - and text-lock is the latest big idea.

We have already invested heavily in the text-lock, and CE mark testing starts this month, but we would like to know what you think by helping us with your answers to eight simple questions on our on line survey which will take you less than a minute to complete.

What is it?

Text-lock is a remote controlled padlock which can be opened by a mobile phone, mobile device or pc from anywhere in the world, while logging an electronic signature of everybody who uses the text-lock for access.

We are utilizing the latest in GSM and power storage technology which is now not only very powerful in what it can deliver but is small enough to engineer into a product such as this.

Why?

In 2008 in the UK alone 80 million deliveries failed on their first attempt and 20 million collections were also failed at the first attempt. This alone results in massive financial losses, frustration and inconveniences to both customers and parcel service companies. The impact on the environment is also staggering, when you consider the huge waste of human, equipment and fuel resources doing everything twice or inefficiently.

Today’s online community provides us all with more and more opportunities to make purchases and sales without visiting the shops. This is because it fits our current lifestyle to do such activity from our pc screen as we like to maximise our time either working, socialising or involved in leisure activity.  However this online convenience generates its own new challenges such as: how do we take delivery or organize collections of such online trade ?

Text-lock makes all this possible.  It is very simple, economical, secure and convenient.

All you need is a safe box, store, room or enclosure which is secured shut with a text-lock. Set up the delivery/collection with the parcel service, and that’s it, you never need to make a special journey or hang around all day or pay somebody or inconvenience somebody else to meet a driver – its all done automatically and remotely.

Also:

Grocery deliveries from the supermarket.

Remote access for: tradesmen such as painters and decorators, meter readers, estate agents, cleaners etc.

Allowing children access after school.

Allow neighbors to borrow tools, feed your pets while you are away etc.

Securing stores, enclosures, gates etc.

Portaloos and stores on large sites such as golf courses.

Military applications.

Field medical operations.

Home based businesses and home workers.

Small business flexibility.

Large business targeting.

Farms.

Large industrial sites.

24 x 7 x 365 deliveries – early morning restaurant deliveries.

And there are many more very interesting applications the text-lock can be used for.

We would like your opinion.

How flexible is it?
The text-lock comes in two forms:
1. Firstly the text-lock padlock is perfect for securing boxes for deliveries and collections, gates, enclosures, containers, sheds , storage facilities, garages etc.

2. Secondly the text-lock controller is supplied as an auxiliary device which can be connected to electric edge locks or existing electrical locking mechanisms such as electric doors found in hotels, electrically operated gates and garage doors etc.

Electronic signature:
Each text-lock comes with a unique electronic serial number ID. The text-lock can only be opened by an authorised command linked to its unique serial number. The text-lock works hand in hand with our signature server which logs every access event to the individual text-lock owners account which is based around the unique text-lock serial number.

You can even set up an access event on the signature server with an access code, for example a tracking number. The server will only allow access to the authorized requester (such as a parcel service driver) with the correct code. This leaves you free to work late, go for drinks with colleagues, or indulge in a leisure activity like the gym a swim or squash etc.

Anyone trying to open the lock without the correct code will be traceable as he will have left his phone ID on your signature server log. This feature makes the system almost impossible to abuse.

How secure is it?

The text-lock comes with an integral secondary link which enables you to secure the padlock itself so that it cannot be taken away. This also prevents such as a drop box from being removed.

Most standard locks are actually quite insecure in that they rely on a barrel and tumblers which are quite simple to crack or pick with a little knowledge.

With the text-lock there is no external route from the lock catch to enable this lock to be cracked or picked in any way. The only way it can be opened is with the right command which even in its simplest form is millions to one against being guessed.

If anybody tries to tamper with the text-lock it will text you to alert you to the situation.

If anyone leaves it open it will text you and him to remind him to secure the lock again.

Other features include: email alerts, low battery warning text, audio and text-alert tamper alarm and i-phone app.

We are now at a very advanced stage with our development of this product and most of the technology has already been tested with 100% success. The text-lock padlock will be CE mark tested this month (December 2009) and we hope that it will be available for general distribution sometime in the first Q of the new year 2010.

There just remain some outstanding issues for us to address and this is where you can help us with your valuable feedback.

In recognition of your help we are giving five of these fantastic and exciting new products away and every completed online form that we receive back will enter a prize draw. The first five out of the hat will receive a brand new text-lock. The draw will be made on December 22nd 2009, so please take a minute and send your feedback to us today.

The online form can be found by clicking here.

Rest assured we will not share your email address or any other personal information with any other party.

For more information about text-lock please visit the website.
Thanks for your help.

The text-lock team

Wesley G. Hughes, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/04/2009

redlandsdailyfacts.com

Here’s a word of warning for the new year.

If you get a hankering for one of those fancy new iPhones, pause and think twice, maybe three times.

The question to think about is not whether to buy but where.

The Apple phones are nifty but there is built in peril, especially if you are a little on the clumsy side and drop it in the backyard swimming pool as I did.

If you bought it from Apple, the builder, or AT&T, the service provider, you’ve just waved bye-bye to about $250 - more if you opted for the 16 gigabyte model.

I learned the hard way but you don’t have to.

I’ve had insurance on every cell phone I ever owned. It was almost automatic. It’s even paid off a couple of times. But too late I learned that AT&T - we used to call her Ma Bell in the bad old days - doesn’t offer insurance on the iPhone. Someone at the store suggested I take my new paperweight to the Apple Store and not mention how it happened to stop working.

My boss suggested it would make a good artificial reef in my aquarium.

I called the Apple Store and asked a hypothetical question of the young woman who answered: “What if this old guy was cleaning the leaves out of his pool filter and his new iPhone fell out of his pocket into the water.” The answer in her perky feminine voice was quick and definite, “That would void the warranty.” No, bring it in and we’ll look at it, no happy solution at all.

And I had just finished putting all my phone numbers into what had become a pretty black brick.

I tried checking on the Internet to see if anyone else offered a solution but no luck.

So as I said earlier, if you have a yen for one of those sleek iPhones - they are really neat and can do almost anything but swim - don’t buy it from Apple or AT&T.

Do as my colleague Al Cuizon did. He went to Best Buy and that store offered a special insurance package that covers such hazards as getting run over by a car or bouncing down a flight of stairs or fortuitously stopping a bullet from a hit man.

I should have talked to Al first.

When I think about it, I can take my iPhone incident as an optimistic sign. It happened on Dec. 31 bringing a fitting end to what has gone down in the annals as a pretty lousy year.

I’m expecting 2009 to be a lot better.

Swimming pool heating specialists