In my book Integrating the Smart Home and its Owner ("ISHO" for short) I make mention of the fact that Home Automation is something of a black art. Not in any moral sense, of course, but it is so very undefined that it can mean almost anything. I'd like you to know on this very first page exactly what I mean when I speak of home automation. First of all, I hate the term. It doesn't mean anything substantial. Heck, your furnace comes on automatically, doesn't it? And can't you control the light bulb on the other side of the. | Page 1 of 20 SmartHomeUSA A Smart Home Systems Company 1. Approaching home automation. Guide to Course 1. Approaching Home Automation 2. Wiring in New Construction 3. Wiring in Existing Construction 4. Getting Used to X10 5. Infrared Other Protocols 6. Audio and Video Distribution 7. Programming Logic 8. Resources In my book Integrating the Smart Home and its Owner ISHO for short I make mention of the fact that Home Automation is something of a black art. Not in any moral sense of course but it is so very undefined that it can mean almost anything. I d like you to know on this very first page exactly what I mean when I speak of home automation. First of all I hate the term. It doesn t mean anything substantial. Heck your furnace comes on automatically doesn t it And can t you control the light bulb on the other side of the room by flicking a switch I can hear it now Gee the neighbors say you must have an automated home Hardly. Just because some things happen automatically doesn t necessarily imply home automation. Ow - the phrase is painful . I much prefer the term system integration. Page 2 of 20 System Integration speaks to the need for intelligent cooperation between the electronic systems in your home. It could be a matter as small as controlling different lighting zones by time or circumstance or it may go so far as interfacing audio video security lighting heating a c sprinkler systems oh-gosh-so-many -other-things. Remember the key idea Integration of systems. Did you ever have a great idea that really excited you but found you couldn t put it into words Turned out that you really didn t have such a good idea of what your great idea was didn t it Once you have a grip on exactly what it is that you re talking about when you say you want to automate ow your home it becomes easier to conceptualize what you ll be doing. It becomes something you can actually discuss in concrete terms or shall we say put on paper. The other concept that will make it easier for you
