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The New Millenium Smart Homes |
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Current Status Over the past three to five years, consumers have been educating themselves on the smart home concept. When the technology first began to surface, only the wealthy could afford the luxuries. Home automation companies as well as do-it-yourself programs currently offer it. Although less expensive the do-it-yourself programs are not as fully integrated as the automation systems installed by professionals. Professional home automation uses the following three phases to implement the most high tech quality user friendly automated home systems. The first phase involves structured cabling which involves the design, layout and installation of the pre-wiring. The consumer determines how much wire and for what purposes it’s desired. In this phase the following is installed: basic pre-wire for phone and cable, advanced pre-wire with audio distribution, and SOHO (small office home office) pre-wire for computer networks and home automation features. The second phase is the trim out/component installation phase. This is where wire and cable punch down, trim plates for outlets, and speaker installation is done. The third phase of a home automation system involves the automation, systems integration and programming. This is where the setup, configuration, integration and programming of all subsystems: switches, lights and devices, I/O, electronics, A/V distribution, HVAC, etc. in the home. In this phase the consumer decides which lights, appliances, A/Cs, etc are controlled. The consumer selects a master control system, then chooses the remote controls, keypads and sensors used to interact with the system. After all is completed all of the sub-systems are integrated into one easy to use home control system. These three phases are distinctly different, yet require careful consideration of other phases and systems and the desired end result. If the consumer wants the system its availability is based on the amount of money the homeowner is willing to spend. The key to the smart home system is integration. System integration is a recent advance within the past few years that allows entire subsystems to communicate with each other and provide status feedback. Systems integration uses dedicated wiring, cabling, infrared or radio frequency to allow 2 way communication between subsystems and the integration subsystem. The strengths of the smart home system integration concept are the advantages of energy saving automation and the ability for subsystems to interact with each other and some environmental factors. An action from one system can be signaled to create an action in another subsystem (Ex: One button marked "leave" could turn off lights, turn down temperature and arm a security system). In today’s world of home automation, there are a few things that should be considered. The home automation systems give the homeowner control of subsystems from a remote location, however the user still has to learn how to operate each separate interface. Standard cabling or electrical power lines are limited transmission reliability and speed deteriorates with longer distances and also with each additional device. The most advanced integration systems involve intelligent integration. These systems are customized to fit the users needs and preferences and intelligent systems engineers work closely with architects, builders, consultants, and contractors. The reliability and stability of the intelligent integration systems is exceptional. If there were a power outage the system would not be interrupted due to an uninterruptible power source and system settings would automatically adjust to their proper settings once the power is restored. This system is also equipped with backup if it were to crash or goes down. The backup drive allows the systems to run, even if the main drive goes down. If the main drive goes down a systems technician is automatically be contacted and changes the bad drive. With the intelligent integration systems there is solid safe security. Access can be restricted to other people and any function or mode on the system can be password protected. The IBM Home Director is the most advanced integration system on the market. Click here for more information The current do-it-yourself concept involves the use of the X10 system. The X-10 is a communications protocol for remote control of electrical devices. It is designed for communications between X10 transmitters and X10 receivers, which communicate on standard household wiring. Transmitters and receivers usually plug into standard electrical outlets although some must be hardwired into electrical boxes. Transmitters send commands such as "turn on", "turn off" or "dim" preceded by the identification of the receiver unit to be controlled. This broadcast travels over the electrical wiring in the home. Each receiver is set to a certain unit ID, and reacts only to commands addressed to it. Receivers should ignore commands not addressed to them. The reliability of the do-it-yourself systems has varied since the use of home automation system. There have been discoveries of problems with consumers receiving X-10 commands from neighbors that live down the street. Due to the fact that both homes were wired for 200Amp service they may have shared transformer secondaries or commands were somehow bridging the secondaries. Since this incident there is a new device that isolates a home from other on the street. Overall, home automation technology is just beginning. Due to the endless capabilities home automation will become more and more high tech in the future.
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