There are many definitions for home automation; the automation of domestic appliances, electronics pre-wired into residential applications. None really capture the incredible impact of a home where appliances and technologies converge to create a space that adapts to your changing mood, or provides fingertip control of everything from your heating to your CD collection.

Don’t confuse home automation with home cinema. If anything, home cinema is a small part of the automated home. The automated, or intelligent home, brings together seamless control of a variety of aspects of modern living. Be it the security system or the heating, technologies exist that allow these systems to work in unison to create a safe, warm and entertaining environment.

Imagine a scenario; you are on the way home after a busy day at the office. It’s mid winter. You know you will arrive to a cold, dark and quiet home. Not always a nice thought. What if, though, you could ‘program’ your home to get ready for your arrival? By ready, we don’t just mean the heating will be on. By ready, we mean heating at the exact temperature you like it, blinds already drawn, relaxing classical music played throughout the house, washing machine on.

Complete control over the home from any room, intuitive control panels to allow each aspect of your environment to be changed instantly. Common controls include lighting, audio, temperature and blinds/curtains. One control pad for every device in your home is a reality. It’s feasible to have your entire home ‘set up’ with the touch of a single button. You can even pre-program settings that reflect common situations or emotions. For example, a ‘relaxing’ setting where you have pre-selected the music, the intensity of the lights, even the temperature of your bath. It’s all possible.

Intelligent home systems are complex and require thorough design, with schematics to show how each element of the system connects to the next, and subsequently the end user control system. However, with enough design an intelligent home system gives the ‘wow’ factor. There really isn’t anything quite like the ability to sit back and watch your home entertain you. Guests will be amazed.

In terms of installation, automated, or intelligent homes require a great deal of cabling as well as design. This is best done during a new build project where audio visual professionals can work alongside builders and electricians. That way, cabling can be hidden which will make for a more impressive system. As most of the system runs via computer network cable, it’s not a difficult job but can be messy. Alternatively, intelligent home systems can be retrofitted to older properties. In these instances, greater care must be taken during the setup phase and some degree of decoration will be required post installation.

If you are looking to save money then it is perfectly understandable if you wish to take up the task of home automation yourself, however if you are not too technically literate then it may be a job that is a little too big for you to take on. There is not need to worry as it shouldn’t be too difficult for you to find and contact a specialist supplier of smart home systems who will be able to take care of the installation for you.

Author Bio: Edward Kendricks is writing on behalf of CTS, a UK supplier of home automation systems.

Category: Home Management
Keywords: home automation, home, smart home system, security, crime, technology, IT, computers