Home, Smart Home

For years the so-called "smart home" promised to be the way of the future. Evidently, the future is now-because everything from lighting, temperature and appliances, to audio, video and security can be automated to create a whole-house experience that is out of this world. And the possibilities are endless.

Imagine simply pushing "Goodnight" on an LCD touchscreen to turn off all but a few lights, activate security, lower the temp, lock the pet door and play a relaxing CD to help you fall asleep. In the morning the blinds automatically rise, the kids each wake to their own favorite song, and the dog lets himself out to play. All you have to do is hit a button and then the shower-which has been heated to the desired temperature. Even more impressive is that these commands can be initiated from your bed, or from anywhere in the world.

Lights, Camera, Automation!
Moderate systems, which typically transmit signals over existing wiring to control two or more subsystems, range from $1,000 to $3,000 and are perfectly adequate for the average-sized home. They're sufficient and reliable, just lacking some of the more sophisticated interfaces. High-end systems that rely on structured cabling, on the other hand, start at around three grand and can exceed six figures.

"The only thing holding you back from having a fully automated home is your imagination-and your wallet," says Andrew Guenther of Advanced Audio Design, who installed a multimillion-dollar system in John Travolta's 40,000-square-foot Ocala estate. "It's a matter of how much you're willing to spend. To do it right costs a certain amount of money. The worst thing in the world is to have a home automation system that isn't engineered properly."

There are reports of people who are less than thrilled with their systems, and others who simply can't adjust. The New York Times a few years ago printed a story about a "digital caretaker" on call 24 hours a day, who watched as a client sold his house lock, stock and remotes after it was wired because he found the controls too daunting. But Guenther insists that with adequate training, even the technologically challenged can adapt.

"I couldn't imagine living in a large home that wasn't automated," Guenther says. "My master bedroom is on the third floor. I can pick up my touch panel and see what the temperature is on the ground floor. If my 17-year-old son cranked the air conditioner down to 50 degrees, I can adjust it so he doesn't freeze out the other kids. The Jacuzzi is also on the ground floor so I can fire it up and go down when it's ready. And the lighting control is outstanding. It even has an astronomical clock so it knows what time it gets dark every day of the year."

Keeping up with the Jetsons
As our homes and lifestyles incorporate more and more electronics for entertainment and communication, the wiring in most homes will become the weak link, according to Guenther. Some builders are making sure that won't be an issue. Vision Homes is using expandable central control panels and wiring that is "home run" as opposed to "daisy chained" to prevent crossover of data-a common problem with some systems. These homes will readily accommodate home automation technology like that featured in the new HBA Tech House in Vision Homes' Trillium subdivision off Proctor Road just east of I-75.

John Cannon Homes' Temora model in The Country Club at Lakewood Ranch also has trendsetting technology. The home is wired for voice, data and video throughout and features the latest advanced electronic systems available for entertainment, security and lighting-all controlled via flat-panel wall-mounted LCDs, wireless touch panels or handheld remotes.

"Home automation features are considered a convenience," says George Ackerman of the Ackerman Team at Keller Williams Realty. "And while they don't dramatically add to a home's value, they are a great sales tool."

Of course value has different meanings to different people. To the physically challenged, it serves as a virtual extension of the body. Rick Marks, president of HomeSmart Central, says today's technology plays a critical role in the lives of the disabled. He recently completed a project for a St. Petersburg woman who suffered a spinal cord injury and is confined to a wheelchair. "I retrofitted her new place with automation features," says Marks. "When someone's at her front door, a bell will ring the telephone. She can then speak to the person and push a button on a remote to completely open the door. Of course, she'll already know who's there thanks to the door cam, viewable from her TV or computer." The same remote allows her to wheel in or out of the house, adjust the thermostat or dim the lights.

The popular television show Extreme Makeover Home Edition has done a good job of demonstrating the remarkable powers of technology, such as "HAL" from Home Automated Living. HAL uses a voice interface to allow a blind man to pick up any phone in the home, press the pound key and issue instructions. HAL then confirms-using a very human-sounding voice-that it has performed the requested action. HAL can even read e-mails or look things up on the Internet.

As our population ages, home automation may help keep a watchful eye on elderly loved ones, perhaps locking doors for a forgetful parent or notifying a family member that a daily task, such as turning on the coffeemaker, was not performed. A break from routine could signal trouble.

Keeping Safe and Secure
Many of today's systems actually began as advanced security systems. "A key function of a well-designed system is to keep the user informed," says Marks. Hearing an alarm can be a disorienting experience, so he installs an "alarm notification module," which describes in full speech the alarm type and location. "In the middle of the night it can be a life saver to know precisely where an alarm was activated." Marks can even instruct the system to log when exterior doors are opened and closed, a clever (if sneaky) option of alerting parents should a teen-ager leave in the middle of the night or come home after curfew.

Marks' vehicle detector has received many accolades. "A probe buried next to the driveway notifies residents that a vehicle has entered the driveway. We like to call it the doorbell before the doorbell. You know your guests have arrived a good minute before it rings," he notes.

Cameras are also being used to monitor children or domestic help. A camera-equipped nursery, pool or play area can alert parents of health or safety problems. The area can be viewed on any television in the house or from remote locations via the Internet.

Part-time residents can monitor their homes from afar. When one of Marks' clients leaves his Longboat residence for Denver, for example, he arms the security system for "vacation mode." The system automatically turns off the lights and fans, and sets the thermostats at 78 degrees. From his computer in Colorado, he can check and adjust the settings, determine if any doors or windows are open, and view his front door, dock, driveway and pool. He can even review the day's activity because cameras digitally store any video that contains motion.

Gadgets and Gizmos
Today there are a host of new products designed to make home life easier. Smart appliances are hitting the market, albeit more slowly than expected. The problem may be how to manufacture them and still keep costs out of the stratosphere. And does anyone really want an oven mitt that indicates whether the casserole is done?

A company named Beyond is emerging with appliances that take commands from computers and wireless gadgets. The Beyond Smart Microwave, for example, lets you scan the barcode from a food package and the appliance does the rest. No pushing buttons or setting timers. If you burn the dinner, blame the appliance.

The most practical products come in handy for busy or traveling pet owners. A programmable pet feeder can dispense food at specific times through the day, while an automatic drinking fountain continuously circulates and filters water. To prevent unwanted critters or burglars, a special collar embedded with a radio or infrared transmitter will trigger an electronic pet door to open for whoever is wearing the collar. Chances are, it won't be a raccoon.

Creating quite a buzz is the home music server, which stores an entire CD library on a music hard drive (think of it as a huge iPod for the home). Songs can be sorted into categories such as techno and jazz, or into playlists. Combined with a whole-house audio and video system, it may be the coolest technology on the market.

Adapting for the Future
Some would argue that it's not the home that's smart, but rather the occupants who initiate the commands. Michael C. Mozer, associate professor at the University of Colorado, has completed extensive research on an "adaptive home" which takes the technology even further. "We have implemented a smart-home environment premised on the notion that there should be no user interface beyond the sort of controls one ordinarily finds in a home-no touch pads, no speech input, etc. The intelligence of the home arises from the home's ability to predict the behavior and needs of the inhabitants by having observed them over a period of time," Mozer explains. "Instead of being programmed to perform certain actions, the house essentially programs itself by monitoring the environment and sensing actions performed. Inhabitants are freed from manually controlling the environment."

What's next? It's anybody's guess. But builders and consumers are increasingly taking advantage of today's innovative technology. In the future, automated homes may seem ordinary, but in 2005, they're impressively smart.