What is Home Automation?
Home automation is defined as a
process or system (using different methods or
equipment) which provides the ability to enhance
one's lifestyle, and make a home more comfortable,
safe and efficient. Home automation can link
lighting, entertainment, security,
telecommunications, heating and air conditioning
into one centrally controlled system. Automation
allows you to make your house an active partner in
managing your busy life.
Your automated home is no longer a passive
structure. Instead, it becomes a tool in helping you
make the most of your time, enhancing your safety
and security, even saving you money on your energy
bills! How does it work? A central microprocessor
(computer) receives signals from controlling
devices, then forwards those signals to the
appliances and systems in the house you want
controlled. The central processor serves as a
traffic cop by initiating and/or routing
communication signals throughout the house. As the
user, you can interface with the system via keypads,
touch screens, panic buttons, TV screens, computers,
telephones, handheld remotes or other devices.
What is Structured Wiring?
Create the infrastructure for current and future
technologies and realize the benefits of a networked
or "connected home." A "connected home" is a home
that is connected by a network from room to room and
to the outside world. It gives you the control to
integrate two or more home systems such as
communications, computers, audio/video,
entertainment, security, lighting controls,
utilities, environmental controls, and much more.
Whether it's home computing, entertainment systems,
or security, structured wiring is the key that links
all of your home technologies.
What is Distributed Audio or Whole House Audio?
Distributed audio systems (also known as
whole-house audio) allow residents to enjoy audio
sources such as CD's, radio or digital audio in
different rooms of the house without the need for
traditional stereo equipment in each room. For
example, you could be listening to your favorite CD
in the kitchen over speakers mounted in the ceiling
with a volume control that is mounted in the wall
much like a light switch. With more advanced
systems, different listeners could be accessing
different sources at the same time. This would mean
that someone could be entertaining on the living
room with soft background music playing over the
nearly invisible ceiling mounted speakers while
another person could be enjoying a ball game from
their favorite radio station in the den.
The advantages to this type of system include:
cost savings by utilizing one set of equipment for
an entire household, improved resale value of the
home, high quality sound reproduction without
unsightly speakers. Some of these systems can
include features such as local source input to run a
TV or other device through the same ceiling or wall
mounted speakers for better sound quality. Or
outdoor mounting options for the same quality sound
on your patio or deck.
Building a New House - How Should it be Wired?
Would you rather live in a house with modern
plumbing...or with a well in the backyard where you
had to hoist a bucket every time you needed water?
In the same way that you want up to date plumbing in
your home, you also need wiring that allows you to
connect with today's...and
tomorrow's......information and entertainment
`nologies. You want your house to be connected to
the services and features that help make it a real,
livable home. Here's what a typical home should
include: 4 pair twisted pair telephone wire
(category 5 preferred) and dual shielded coaxial
cable, home run to a junction box with access to
available electrical power, and accessible consumer
outlets for system connection.
By making sure your new home is wired to that
specification, you'll be able to have distributed
video and audio for more convenient and compelling
entertainment; easier and more powerful ways to
share internally and externally sourced data from
home computers; energy savings via access to utility
pricing signals; convenient access from the home to
a host of services, from banks to stores to
maintenance;
whole house control; and more. You not only want the
right kind of wiring in your house, you want to be
able to get to it when necessary in order to easily
connect different systems. Ask your builder to use
home run wiring to maximize accessibility. Home run
means running all the wires together vertically;
wires serving the first floor should come up from
the basement, while wires for the second floor would
come down from the attic. The home run approach to
clustering your wiring in a centrally located
enclosure helps home automation systems specialists
easily access the right kind of wire for the job.
What Products are Available?
A wide array of products are available to help
you simplify your life by automating your home. The
typical categories in which you'll find home
automation related products are listed below. Smart
Wire Solutions can help with the installation,
integration, and customization of all of these
components.
- Access Controls: The ability to gain access to
your home, including driveway gates, security
keypads, electronic locks, etc.
- Audio/Video Control Systems: these control home
theater, audio and video systems.
- Communications: Telephone systems and intercoms
allowing internal and external communications.
- Control Devices and Sensors: Modules, devices, and
sensors that activate a light, appliance or system.
- Home Automation Protocols: Also known as home
automation standards, these serve as the
communication infrastructure for your home
automation system, allowing different products and
subsystems in the home to communicate with one
another. Protocols include X-10, CEBus (Consumer
Electronics Bus), and LonWorks. You would typically
pick just one of these as the basis for your home
automation system, in consultation with your
dealer/installer.
- Home Theater/Satellites: For the ultimate in home
entertainment, these products bring you very large
screen television, top-notch sound systems, and
satellite dish technology providing access to more
TV channels than cable or broadcast usually offer.
- HVAC and Energy Management: Heating, ventilation
and air conditioning systems lend themselves well to
automation, providing the homeowner with maximum
comfort along with maximum control over the timing
and energy demands of temperature and ventilation
control.
- Lighting Devices and Sensors: These products allow
you to pre-set (or detect motion or light) and
activate the internal and external lights of your
home to turn on, off, dim, or brighten, at whatever
times you wish.
- Motorized Devices: These open and close things
like garage doors or blinds at just the right times.
- Security Systems: From alarms to child tracking
devices, these products help make your home safer.
- Utility Based Services: Services provided by
utility companies to monitor and control energy
management requirements in your home.
- Whole House Control Systems: When you want to be
able to control and automate many systems in your
home, go for a whole house control system.
- Windows and Covering Controls: These pull the
blinds...or open them up...without your lifting a
hand.
- Wire/Wiring and Cable Systems: Structured cabling
systems are the information superhighways of your
home; you need the right kinds of wiring to make the
most of communications, the Internet, and
audio/video.
- Other Home Control Products/Services: Technology
changes and develops at a rapid pace, so new control
products and services are always being developed!
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