If you have been wanting to automate your home, but didn’t know where to start, look no further. Here is your guide to what you need to know about creating a truly Smart House.
A brand new home automation era is emerging based on low cost control systems, new display and sound technology, and new content streams delivered over a broadband network.
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| Architects’ impression of the Balmoral home |
I raise this issue because at the end of the day it is vital that my wife is able to use the control system to manage not only the entertainment systems but the security system, the heating system and the lighting system which is going into the house. I on the other hand need to manage back-end services such as storage, my wireless network for various devices and my general home office network.
And in today’s eco world the best form of conservation is the on/off switch, which if implemented properly into the control system allows total control of power and heating usage both internally in the home, and externally when I am at work, or via a mobile phone. Another key issue is to avoid redundancy as this will allow me to expand the system as new technology comes along.
By using IP based technology rather than proprietary automation technology I am able to integrate cost effectively a new generation of technology into the base system which talks to other technology linked to the master automation system.
A classic example is the new Linksys 1 VoIP phone system. The handsets for this system come with built-in cameras, so by linking the handsets with the security system, I am able to see into rooms where the phone handsets are located. I am also able to set motion sensors in the handset to alert me by email or SMS if that device picks up an intrusion.
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So the Linksys 1 system allows us to not only reduce costs by running our phone communication over a data network, but also link each VoIP handset into the home security system. The cost of four handsets is less than $1,200; however one does need a control management system which comes in at around $1,000.
In taking on this project I had the advantage of having built a similar house eight years ago, so I was aware of the pitfalls. My prior experience at automation was a total stuff up. For example, I went with a Bose Home Theatre System, which was my first mistake – I also used a specialist company which outsourced the work to an installer who operated out of the back of a van. Another big mistake!
If you are building a new house, the first tip I can give you is to find an architect, not a builder, that understands technology and has a relationship with a certified and skilled organisation that can actually design and manage the automation process in partnership with the architect.
The second tip is that you demand the architect build a floor to ceiling riser in the house so that at every level the cables and the technology can be easily distributed and accessed.
My third tip is that you ensure the architect allows for the building of a control room where all the automation and computer gear can be installed. It does not have to be a big area but it does need to be a dry area that is also cool, as a great deal of heat can be generated by the likes of routers and switches.
I am working with Sydney based James Billington of Smart Home Solutions whose primary objective in the early stages was to identify the technology that needed to be implemented into the home so that the various trades working on the site could install the structure that all the cables will run through. From a cabling prospective there are four core cables that need to be installed: power, data, voice and audio.
For many, the dream of an intelligent home that automatically controls the living environment and responds to individual preferences has been around for years. But high cost, reliability issues, limited capability, and a lack of standards have imposed major constraints on the market in the past. However this is changing with new players emerging and new relationships being formed.
There is no better example of this than the forging of a relationship between Microsoft which developed Media Center, and Creston which has been a long time player in the high end automation control system market. Together, the two companies have developed a brand new Creston/Microsoft home automation solution, which combines the Microsoft software with the reliability of a Crestron Touchpanel.
Also contributing to the lowering of automation costs while expanding the capabilities of what one can do in a home is the advent of new wireless technologies and the emergence of home-networking standards.
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The technology
What I have done is break down my needs into four core pillars: display, sound, automation and networking & content. This allows me to selectively choose based on budget the best of breed in each category.
Under the automation category will be lighting management, distributed sound, security and communication.
Dynalite technology will be implemented for lighting control, while for sound management and distribution we have chosen the New Zealand developed Axium solution. For general management of the entire network we are using the Australian developed Digital Homeware technology.
Content is king
A key part of the system will be a data/content management server linked to fast throughput routers and a four terabyte storage farm.
My strategy in implementing this configuration is that during the next few years we will see an explosion in fast broadband which will result in content being streamed directly into a home over an IP based network.
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One will be able to download not only music and TV stations but 1080p HD movies as well as a host of other services. It also allows for my home office which is built around two power users being linked to a network where we can access such capabilities as setting a Foxtel record via a notebook, mobile phone or PC.
Another key component to consider is wireless networking. I am having the electricians run a power point to every key room on its own unique circuit. By then plugging in a Netgear Powerline module wherever a power point is located, I can turn an electrical outlet into a home network connection and a shared broadband Internet connection. The cost is around $100 for a four port connector.
Right now there is a lot of debate about home automation and since I first started publishing SmartHouse in 2002, a lot has changed. IP technology has made systems more affordable, and it is now something that we don’t just have to aspire to, but can make a reality in our homes.
Stay tuned for Part Two where we outline the major players in the home automation space as well as some of the products.
