Linux computers are easy to program, they can do almost anything! Here is how I have my Linux (Ubuntu) computer boil my kettle early in the morning before it plays me a song as an alarm to wake me up. A marble sits on this stick which is stuck on my wall with blu-tack and tape. The CD drawer is programmed to open five minutes before the music starts. The CD drawer bumps the marble off the stick and it falls on the mouse trap. (continued)...
The falling marble sets off the mouse trap, which snaps shut. As it closes, it flicks the switch on the power board, turning on whatever is plugged in at the time. In this example, it will boil my kettle. The kettle has a thermostat so it will turn off by itself when it has boiled. I could add more appliances here if I wanted, toaster, microwave, george foreman grill, ...anything! Anyone for breakfast? :)he-he! Actually I have improved this arrangement a little since this photo was taken, I have learned exactly where to position the marble so it gets caught in the trap and doesn't go rolling across the table any more and possibly to the floor. This system is proving very reliable. It would be possible to add a funnel or a chute to guide the marble if accuracy was a problem. Visit http://members.iinet.net.au/%7Eherman546/p8.html#alarm_clock if you want to see how to program your Ubuntu computer to do this neat trick!
