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I hope your tour is informative, enjoyable, and maybe even a little humorous.

I have automated just about everything in the home and yard to make living easier. I use X10 devices to control almost every electrical device in the house. X10 devices use the normal 110 power line wires to communicate ON, OFF, and DIM commands. No additional wiring is required. Each X10 unit in the house has a specific "address" just like your home address is unique to your town. This way I can enter an ON command for "A1" and any device set to that address will turn on. It is acceptable to have multiple devices set to the same address so that they are all controlled by one command. In addition, many of the X10 devices provide dimming for lights and ceiling fans.

I have a computer program that also interfaces with the power line wires so that I can use the computer to control everything. The program that I use is HAL2000 from Home Automated Living. In addition to being able to use the mouse to turn on/off any device, the program includes voice recognition that will recognize voice commands. This lets you to just talk and have the computer perform the function that you want. HAL2000 also has the ability to automatically dial into the Internet, check for Email, get the listings for all TV programs on the networks and cable/satellite for your area, local weather, selected traffic conditions, the stock market, and sport scores from all over the country.

Traffic conditions are currently limited to 4 or 5 cities but is expected to be expanded to include other cities.

I have named my computer JEANNIE after the I DREAM OF JEANNIE show staring Barbara Eden, that was popular a number of years ago. To have the computer perform a function I just say "JEANNIE" then say what I want to be performed.

My home is:

Þ A Geodesic style home with about 2300-sq. ft. living area located on about 5 acres, 20 miles south of Louisville, KY. Þ In a mostly wooded area up on a hill about 900' high and 250' above all the neighbors.

Some of the automation contained in the house:

Þ Any light in the home can be controlled from any room. Þ Many of the room lights turn on when entering and off after leaving.

Þ Rex, an X10 automated electronic German Shepherd that barks when someone approaches the house, protects the home.

Þ After dusk, automated lighting makes approaching the home much safer.

Þ The 55' Amateur Radio tower automatically retracts to 23' if the wind should ever exceed 25 mph. (NOTE 2)

Þ When the water supply tank reaches a certain level, the water delivery company is automatically called and requested to make a delivery at the next convenient day. (NOTE 3)

Þ JEANNIE, the HAL2000 voice recognition computer program, controls the entire home. Just by talking in any room, or calling on the phone from anywhere, I am able to control lights, heating, air conditioning, audio system, TV, and VCR. Anything that I have connected through a X10 device can be remotely controlled. Þ To turn on the TV, I just say "JEANIE, TURN ON TV TO CHANNEL 6 AT 8pm". At 8, the TV is turned on and I am ready to watch the program. Recording a program on the VCR is just as simple. "JEANNIE, RECORD CHANNEL 28 AT 8PM FOR 2 HOURS". It's just that simple.

Þ JEANNIE can also tell me the weather forecast for the current and next five days, advise me if I have E-mail or Fax messages, and tell me what is on TV for any time that day. I do not currently use the feature but you could have the system call a pager and send a specific code to indicate that you have E-mail messages. Þ By adding a list of my stock holdings, I could ask JEANNIE anytime for the value of any stock or the entire portfolio. Þ Through voice commands, JEANNIE will keep a list of items that I need to purchase at the store. All I do is say, JEANNIE OPEN SHOPPING LIST, I NEED MILK, BREAD, BUTTER, PAPER TOWELS. Just before leaving for the store, I just say JEANNIE PRINT SHOPPING LIST, and a list of all the items added since the last time is printed. No more looking for paper and pencil or trying to remember where I put the list.

Þ Calling any of my friends or family is as simple as saying JEANNIE, Call LYNN at home, or Call LYNN on her cell phone. The call is placed and I don't even have to lift a finger to dial. Þ I can leave special messages on the answer machine for specific callers. Caller-ID recognizes who is calling and plays back a specific message only to the person that it is meant for. Þ Caller-ID also is used to announce the caller's name over the audio speakers before I answer. JEANNIE also keeps a log of all callers even if they did not leave a message. The log keeps the phone number, date, and time for every incoming call. Þ I am able to create a list of phone numbers that will get a special message that I do not accept calls from them and then hangs up automatically. Þ When I have guests, I just tell JEANNIE, I HAVE A GUEST, and she turns on the music, dims the lights, and turns off Rex.

Þ When anyone drives or walks up the driveway, JEANNIE announces, WE HAVE COMPANY, MASTER. After dark, JEANNIE also turns on the yard and walk lights, wakes up REX who then starts barking. After about 20 minutes, the lights are turned off. Þ When anyone comes up the driveway, a VCR is started that records sequentially from a number of color video cameras placed around the grounds. That way I can see who visited the house while I was absent. (NOTE 1)

HAL2000 software allows me to just say "JEANNIE, TURN ON THE LIVINGROOM LIGHTS AT 8PM FOR 3 HOURS EVERY MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, AND FRIDAY". From then on, the lights will operate automatically as requested.

I have a full size cutout of Barbara Eden in her I DREAM OF JEANNIE costume set along side of the computer that adds to the effect. For many of the audio responses, I use sound clips from the TV series so that the reply is in Barbara Eden's voice.

These are just a few things you can do with HAL2000 and X10. It is really a unique and fun way to operate and control just about anything in the house.

X10 devices are reasonably priced and you can add devices as you need them. They are available from many sources by mail order or even Radio Shack. Almost everything around the home can be easily automated. Using X10, you do not have to add any additional wiring. Anywhere there is an outlet or switch, you can add or replace it with an X10 device.

For more information on home automation, check out these sites on the Internet or do a search on X10+home+automation.

WWW.hometoys.com  (great ideas and links)

WWW.automatedliving.com   (home site of HAL2000)

NOTE 1 Winner HOMETOYS Tips & Tricks Contest, April 98

NOTE 2 Entry in HOMETOYS Tips & Tricks Contest , June 98

NOTE 3 Winner HOMETOYS Tips & Tricks Contest, August 98

The automation devices in the home consist of: