To fully enjoy the many benefits and features provided by the use of "smart" home technologies, the homeowner should understand what is available. Even homeowners that have some experience in this area are not fully versed in all the technology, what it can provide for, and how it's integrated into a user-friendly, easy to upgrade automation package that will accommodate future system growth and personal requirements.

The first step?
Select a good systems integrator with experience; one that fully believes in customer satisfaction as a number one priority.

Why is selecting an integrator so important?
You'll be meshing a number of "smart" home technologies such as the cabling infrastructure, video distribution, audio source selection, scene lighting, interior/exterior video monitoring, control functions and other system capabilities into an easy-to-use, user-friendly solution that will be based on your "lifestyle". There are many sources today that can and will provide pieces of technology, but not the whole offering. The best advice- avoid this situation. Having one provider will make the design/planning process clean and smooth, giving you one point of contact for any issues that may arise.

How do you choose an integrator?
Probably one of the best ways is to visit the websites of several prominent home automation associations such as HANA (Home Automation & Networking Association) ( www.HANAonline.org ) or CEDIA (Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association) ( www.cedia.org ) and review their local member directory for your area. Also look around locally and interview several companies until you feel comfortable. Make sure whoever you select has cabling experience, data networking background and specific system certifications.

The Planning Process
Once you've made your systems integrator selection, the actual planning/design should center around your family "lifestyle" which can only be arrived at by an interview process with both you and the systems integrator. Generally the first session, lasting about an hour, will give good direction as to what you're looking for. More importantly, you'll get a good insight into what technology is available that you hadn't thought about or were unaware of. It's also important to know that with proper design of the cabling infrastructure many "smart" home technologies can be added at a future date as you become more comfortable with your system and see the need for additional capabilities.

The "lifestyle" you want to enjoy as a family on a daily basis is the very reason to consider a "smart" house. Imagine the enhanced comfort, added convenience and improved security provided by integrating a variety of home automation technologies into a personalized system designed by you, for your needs. You select the specific technologies that provide for the new family "lifestyle" you desire.

Sound simple?
Actually, it is, but the key or heart of your home automation system is the cabling infrastructure. This is the information highway that all of the various voice, video, data, control and other communications signals travel on. The cabling design, arrived at by interacting with the homeowner, provides that each room in the new home will have a number of high-speed telephone/data cables (CAT5E) and high-bandwidth quad shielded coaxial video cable (RG-6) runs. Separate Siamese cables (CAT5E/4x#16) should also be incorporated for audio selection/control of the whole-house stereo audio system, along with additional CAT5E runs for lighting and environmental control. Additional cabling also handles the security system and may include the use of some of the RG-6 for video surveillance and room monitoring. Imagine dialing into your home automation system via the Internet and being able to view the yard, a room or even the pool area. Something to remember is that cable is very inexpensive and easy to install in new construction, adding resale value to your home, while being very hard and expensive to install in a retrofit situation.

All cables should be terminated in a dedicated room, closet or Network Distribution Cabinet (NDC) and "homerun" to the various room wall plates. Generally the availability of a room or closet is very limited so the use of a custom cabinet offers a viable solution and it can also be the residence for many of your automation system electronic components. Installation following the Telecommunications Industry Association, TIA-570-A Residential Standard will give you a robust, very scalable cabling infrastructure, allowing for future growth and change. Once installed you should expect all cabling to be tested and carry some form of performance warranty.

What can we do?
The list of "lifestyle" enhancements you can enjoy with home automation is quite extensive, but the two most prominent are some form of home theater and home computer networking. More than 50% of today's homes have more than one computer and very few are interconnected for simultaneous use with high-speed Internet access. All that is changing due to demand. Now working at home can be as convenient and as effective as being in the office. A home computer network enables the telecommuter to seamlessly conduct company business from the comfort of their home while other family members are accessing information on the Internet, doing homework or playing interactive games. Include wireless high-speed Internet connectivity and enjoy the freedom to take your laptop, along with a cup of coffee on to the deck or sit on your porch.

Today, more and more people don't want the hassle of going to a movie theater, the cost of tickets, having to buy food, then listening to someone take a cell phone call, disrupting the movie. Not to mention that at home you can conveniently stop the show for a break and then pick up where you left off-a great feature. Design considerations include numerous areas; will it be in a dedicated room or a multipurpose one, room size (you don't want a square room), room preparation, projection system-CRT, DLP, rear projection TV, viewing surface, audio components, and other special items such as seating, lighting, window treatments and system control and hey, maybe a popcorn machine. You can see this is actually a very complex arena and requires far more space and detail than we have room for here.

As to the other "smart" home technologies to look into and consider; Lighting-offering scenes and moods which, can be activated from various parts of the home, from your car prior to entry or by telephone or Internet connection (remote access).

Appliance Control - Internet enabled for automatic control, setting cooking durations, determining food ordering, and scheduling of repair service.

Environmental Control - automated/remote access control capabilities of heating and cooling systems based on weather, occupancy, times of day or zones within the home.

Security - intrusion protection, water, heat, smoke, major temperature change detection, and video surveillance locally or remotely.

Whole House Audio - Nothing is more a part of our "lifestyle" than music. Its sets moods, provides entertainment and adds to our overall relaxation. Stereo speakers can be located in individual rooms, including some areas you may not think of like the master bath, garage, laundry room, etc. Individual room controls allow for independent audio source selection and volume control by room (satellite, CD, AM/FM, digital hard drive), type of music, etc. Generally these same control pads integrate control of the other automation systems also.

Video Distribution - Easily select and transport TV, satellite, cable, DVD jukebox, digital video hard drive, and other video signals to the rooms of your choice.

Bi-directional Satellite - this type of dish can be used for high-speed Internet access for the home network when cable or DSL connections are not available. Include a TV LNB and receive TV programming off the same dish also.

Standby Power - An auxiliary power unit running off natural gas or propane that automatically senses a pending power failure, starts up transferring various loads to the unit with complete electrical safety. Restored power shuts the unit down. Weekly auto self-startup and run test assures system operation.

Total Home Automation Systems Control - the control solution that integrates the various automation packages that you've decided on into an easy to use, user friendly one, using strategically placed key pads, hand held remotes or portable touch screen units. Now you can manage your electronic environment, enjoy the benefits of arranging complex choices into natural, practical terms and take advantage of the power of the Internet. The heart of this solution is in the design and programming which is very time intensive, uniting the sub-systems into one that is easy to use. Generally after several months of use you'll probably want to make numerous system adjustments to suit your needs.

By now you should have a good idea on the technology, how to select it, and integrate it into a customized automation solution fitting your "lifestyle", allowing you to experience the features and benefits of today's "smart" home. Enjoy!