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One of the
earliest goals for a “smart house” was control, especially of lights and
heat. One typical home control scenario is for lights to automatically
come on in any room where motion sensors indicate that the room is
occupied. When the sensors determine that the room is empty, the lights
will be turned off. Another use is to make sure that all lights are turned
off whenever the security system is armed during the day. At night, the
system could be programmed to turn lights on and off in ways that make the
house appear to be occupied. In addition, home control can help conserve
precious natural resources by manipulating thermostat settings and lawn
sprinkling devices in ways that don’t waste energy or water.
The automated bells and whistles
implied by home control intrigue homeowners because of the possibilities for
energy efficiency and home economy. At the same time, there is an underlying
perception that so-called smart homes will ease the lives of the people who
live there.
There are three major reasons for
homeowners to consider home control applications – convenience, enhanced
safety and economy. Here are few home control examples in each of these
categories:
Convenience
- Control
all lights and appliances around the house by remote control.
- Have the
outside lights come on at sunset so your house always looks its best.
- Have
normally used lights come on each evening automatically, then turn off at
bedtime.
- All
incandescent lights in the house can be dimmers.
- True
three- and four-way dimming capabilities. Actually dim from two or three
areas, as well as remotely.
- Multiple
switching points throughout the house for any light or group of lights.
-
Automatically control electric blinds and draperies.
- Wake kids
up with one button from master bedroom.
- Time
pools, hot tubs, sprinklers, fish tanks, hot water heaters, fans, battery
chargers, air filters, humidifiers, heating/air conditioning, computers,
copiers, printers, coffee pots, security systems, door locks, engine block
heaters, space heaters, bathroom heaters, indoor plant watering, landscape
lighting, safety lights, security lights, convenience lighting, etc., all
with one smart interface.
- Turn off
kids televisions at designated times each night.
-
Automatically check garage doors to make sure they are shut.
- Turn on
bathroom light before you get out of bed.
- Remotely
switch off any equipment when left on inadvertently.
- Increase
versatility of sprinkler systems.
- Turn
on/off all your lights from your bed at night.
- Start the
coffee brewing automatically before you get out of bed (even at different
times each morning.)
- Dim the
lights, set up "mood” or "scene” lighting all automatically–create
atmosphere.
Enhanced Safety
- Have hall and stair lights
come on at sunset, then dim later to act as night-lights to enhance
safety.
- Vacation/security mode makes
the house look and sound lived in while you’re away.
- One remote in your car
controls all the garage doors, gates, interior and exterior lights.
- Turn multiple lights on
before you enter a room , off as you leave, with one button.
- When you pull into your
driveway and open the garage door, if it is after dark, several lights in
your home can come on. The garage door can close automatically. When you
leave your home and you close the garage by remote, the system can turn
your house lights off.
- Have an "indicator’ lamp in
the home stay on when the front gate or the garage door is open; off when
closed.
- Automatically close, if
open, garage door when alarm is set at bedtime.
- Turn on inside and outside
lights before you get home.
- Turn on all inside and/or
outside lights if you hear a suspicious noise.
- People with limited mobility
can use hand-held remotes to control their surroundings, and call for help
if needed.
Economy
- Turn kids lights off from
convenient locations or at a certain time.
- Time out battery chargers to
avoid overcharging and/or take advantage of the cheapest rate.
- In vacation mode,
automatically switch off water heater and any other selected function
until turned on by phone, timer or pre-programming.
- Remotely and/or
automatically turn lights on and off in separate buildings (i.e. stables,
barns, garage, office).
- Allow dryers/washers etc to
only be powered at times where cheap rates are in effect.
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