We have
all heard about the smart house and running our homes with a computer.
We are right on the edge of a future where all appliances with power
cords can be networked using universal
plug and play including:
computers
telephones
stereos
even
refrigerators
Soon our computers will be able to switch on your web-enabled
dishwasher. A household
network using powerline communications modems connecting
Internet appliances will make that possible and without
rewiring your home.
Smart
Home technology already exists for connecting Internet enabled
devices including:
music
systems
Internet
enabled Televisions
gaming
systems
and
more.
Electrolux Screenfridge
In
the Smart Homes you could:
check
your fridge to see if you need milk
start
your lawn watering system from across the country
tell
your digital recorder to start recording from the office
check
to see if you forgot to turn off the iron
start
preheating your oven so as soon as you get home, you can pop in tonight's
dinner
all
through your cell phone, PDA or computer. How
would that work? Each electronic device in your home will have an IP address
on your powerline network.
You can access any appliance using that IP address just like you can send
messages to an individual computer.
Here is an excellent article
on Smart Homes written by Marcus Pickett:
A Smart Home is a regular
house that has the electrical system connected to a computer system. With
home automation, you'll no longer be depending on switches or other forms
of manual activation. Instead, every light bulb, every TV, and even the
thermostat are controlled remotely from a computer database. It sounds
like something from Star Trek, but it's actually becoming a popular practice
in house design.
What's
the Point?
Absolute convenience. Everything in the residence can be maintained with
a remote control or a laptop. It's like living in James Bond's house,
which is not only cool, but creates a lot of practical benefits. Your
smart appliances will know when to turn on and off, how much energy is
required of them, and how to maintain themselves. This is not only a handy
timesaver; it is also energy efficient, which is friendly to both the
environment and your utility bills. Plus, a computerized house can adapt
to the way you live: it knows the time you turn the lights on in the morning,
it knows what temperature you like your house to stay at, and it even
knows when to open the garage door.
What
are Smart Appliances?
Smart home appliances are specialized equipment programmed to run from
a central system. Any domestic device can be a smart appliance, and though
they're not cheap, many times they can be leased instead of bought in
order to cut down on the price. Plus, they are sometimes hooked up to
the manufacturer as well, so when the oven goes on the fritz you can get
an immediate notice of the problem and estimate of the repair. The real
beauty is that you gain more control but giving up control. In other words,
this technology is convenient because smart homes think for themselves.
What Can Smart Home Appliance Do?
They can sense an electrical surge and can shut off their own power. The
can sense a water failure and turn off the mains. They know when they
need defrosting, they know how long to cook your meals (some microwaves
can read scan-bars on food items and set their own timers), and some can
even keep track of expiration dates or can create recipes based on the
ingredients in the cupboard. Your house will know when it's raining and
close the windows for you, even while you're away. But the most fascinating
aspect of smart homes is that the possibilities are completely limitless
because you can now actually communicate with your house.
Why
Talk to Your House?
Think about the options you now have at your command. With the touch of
a button or by the register of your voice, you can tell your house exactly
what to do for you. The real convenience, though, is the peace of mind
this provides. What if you could monitor your house from afar? Did you
leave that burner on? Check the internet once you get to work and tell
the stove to turn itself off. Or monitor the temperature from the office;
then on your way home, e-mail or text message your house to turn on the
furnace. If you're out of town, you can even turn your lights on and off
to ward off prowlers, or arm your burglar alarm from across the country.
Or set up some cameras and watch your house at any computer terminal.
Home automation is
growing more and more common everyday. And though it sounds intimidating,
this wave of the future is quickly becoming the custom of today. So you'll
definitely want to start thinking about converting your house, a little
at a time. Buy that automatic coffee maker or computerized sound system.
You don't have to go crazy and buy every gizmo and gadget on the market,
but by slowly building up your house's technology, you avoid being left
behind in the inconvenience of the past.
