Lighting: Let's start with the
basics, lighting. Home Automation can control lights in a
number of ways:
- Using timed events, lights can be set to turn on or off at
specific times during the day. This is useful for
controlling exterior lights and landscape lighting. The
automation computer will automatically calculate sunrise & sunset
and can also adjust for daylight savings time. No more
messing around with those mechanical timers on low-voltage
landscape lights!
- Motion sensors and door contacts are useful for security, but
Home Automation allows them to control lights as well. The act
of opening a door, or walking into a room can automatically turn
the lights on and then turn them back off you leave the room. This is useful for closets, garages, basements, bathrooms
and other areas of the home where lights are often left on.
- Conditions can be used to make lights behave differently
depending on time or other variables. This can be used
during the night to turn on the bathroom or kitchen lights when
you enter the room at a dim level instead of at full brightness.
Entertainment & Music:
Audio
and video systems in the home can be integrated with the Home
Automation system to bring a new level convenience.
- Distributed Audio/Video systems can be controlled by the
automation computer to provide easy control of what music or
video is playing in any room of the house. You can be
listening to jazz in the study while your spouse is watching TV
in the living room and the kids are listening to MP3 music in
their room or while playing in the back yard.
- Voice announcements from the automation computer can be
spoken throughout the entire house or in select rooms only.
This can be determined for any event so a security alert may be
spoken in every room at a high volume, while requested weather conditions are
only spoken in the room that you occupy.
- You know how difficult it can be to do something like watch
a DVD on the home entertainment system. You first have to
turn on the DVD player and load the disk, power on the TV and
audio equipment, press buttons on possibly several remotes to
set the correct TV input and audio settings, then press play to
get the movie started.
Home automation can simplify this process so that all you have
to do is use the touch screen to pick a movie. Touching
the title of the movie will automatically load the DVD if
located in a DVD changer, power on and properly configure all
the required equipment, dim the lights and start the movie for
you. The system can even route phone calls directly to
voice mail if desired so the phone won't ring and interrupt the
movie.
Telephone & Messaging:
The
telephone is an important part of most peoples lives and can be
tightly integrated into the home automations system. Here are
some things that are possible.
- Your home phone can allow control of the Home Automation
system using voice commands or by pressing pre-defined buttons
on the phone. The same can be done remotely from any phone
or cell phone. Imagine calling with your cell phone to
lower the thermostat, turn the lights off, or even unlock the
door to allow guests or service providers in while you are away.
- Caller ID information can be displayed on touch screens or
your television and can also be announced through the house
speakers. You'll know exactly who is calling from anywhere
in the house.
- Voice messaging is also an integral part of the home
automation systems. Messages can be setup like a simple
answering machine, or expanded to include separate mail boxes
for each family member. Caller ID information can allow
for personalized greetings for specific callers and can even
automatically route calls to the proper mail box.
If you have teenage kids that receive lots of calls from
friends, these can automatically be routed to that child's
mailbox. This can even be done without ringing the phone
if the home automation system knows that that child is not home!
- When a voice message is left, you can be notified in a
number of ways and the message can be retrieved by telephone,
the web interface, or even sent to you as an audio file attached
to an email.
- The Home Automation system can even restore piece during
dinner by blocking unwanted calls from telemarketers.
These calls can be automatically dropped or sent to voice mail
before the phone even rings. A "Do Not Disturb" feature
can also be setup to send all calls directly to voice
mail. This is valuable for times that you do not wish the
phone to ring such as during the baby's nap, while eating
dinner, or while watching a movie.
Safety & Security:
Safety and Security are growing concerns these days, especially if
you have children at home. The Home Automation system can
integrate many useful features to ensure you and your family's
safety.
- Alarm systems can be tied into the Home Automation system to
provide integration with lighting and security cameras.
When someone rings your doorbell, the image from a camera at
your front door can automatically be displayed on the TV or
touch screens. You'll know who is there before you even
walk towards the door.
- If you are away, motion can trigger security cameras to
record what's happening in the house or yard. If an
intruder trips the alarm, the Home Automation system can
actually speak loudly indicating that they have been detected in
a specific area and that they are being recorded and the home
owner and Police have been notified. The system can also
turn on all the lights and within a minute forward audio and
video of the event to any email address, or alert you by phone
or pager. All this is much more effective than a simple siren
and can help deter an intrusion as soon as it's detected.
- RFID technology can add convenience and safety by ensuring
that the alarm is activated if no one is home. IT can also
turn on lights at night when you arrive home so the entry and
house is fully lit before you even get out of the car.
RFID technology can also alert you if a child wanders too far
from home or enters a hazardous area like a pool or too near a
street. This technology can even safeguard certain
valuables and alert you if they are either moved or removed from
a specific area.
Additional topics will be added soon:
- Irrigation - Rain, Moisture and Wind sensors
- HVAC plus Fan & Window Blind control
- Weather Information
- Convenience - Macros, RFID, Reminders
- Energy Savings Benefits
- Assistance for Physically Challenged
|
