| Last year I authored an article entitled,
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| | any number of devices in your house, and
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| "Log home automation? Excuse me?". ( The
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| | is quite robust, yet easy to use. Set-up
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| article was picked up by scores of blogs
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| | of the hardware components is a breeze.
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| and syndicated services and since then
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| | Outfit lamps or appliances that you want
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| I've received tons of email asking
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| | to control with small inexpensive modules
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| questions about home automation and the
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| | that allow the ActiveHome Pro computer
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| company whose products I mentioned, X-10
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| | interface to communicate via signals that
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| (see:
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| | are broadcast across your home's
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| First, I will discuss the company; X-10
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| | electrical wires.
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| was a pioneer of online 'in-your-face'
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| | You can even program the system to do
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| marketing. Anyone who was aware of X-10
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| | tricks using the ActiveHome Pro software.
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| in the early days of the Internet can
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| | A download plug-in is available from X10
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| remember the mind-numbing garish ads this
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| | (for $50) that allows modules to be
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| company seemed to have pinned to every
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| | controlled on an "if-then" basis. For
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| website in the universe. Heaven forbid if
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| | example: If it's past dusk and the motion
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| you opted in to any of their newsletter
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| | sensor module detects movement in the
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| or advertising solicitations, as you
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| | living room, then turn on the lights. Or,
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| would get blasted daily with offers and
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| | if you have some programming experience,
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| eleventh-hour deals.
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| | you can download a free software
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| That company, and the vast majority of
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| | development kit and write a control
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| regular Internet users learned the hard
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| | program that interfaces with your e-mail.
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| way how NOT to get involved with such
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| | Your imagination is the only limitation
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| marketing techniques. Companies who
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| | with this home automation system. You can
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| practiced these tactics eventually lost
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| | create the mood you want with a push of a
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| the support of their customers, and
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| | button. Produce a romantic atmosphere
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| prospective clients learned to avoid
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| | with dimmed lights, soft music and your
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| these businesses. I don't blame X-10 for
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| | aroma lamp, and make it a night to
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| their unconventional approach to
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| | remember. When you come home after dark
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| marketing. When the Internet was first
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| | the system will automatically turn on
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| made available to business, no one knew
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| | your lights providing you a safe and
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| what would work or what was needed to
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| | visible entry. Ensure a fun and worry
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| attract customers. That was the 'Wild
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| | free vacation by turning lights on and
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| West" of online marketing. Good companies
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| | off at different times, making your house
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| made some bad mistakes, but eventually
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| | look occupied. When it comes to peace of
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| most learned that good products promoted
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| | mind, convenience and comfort are
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| properly will yield positive results.
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| | paramount.
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| X-10 is a survivor of the "dot-com
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| | Home Automation is 'Green'
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| meltdown" and the early marketing
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| | Now you can control your home, get
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| blunders of online promotion. Today, they
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| | control over your expenses and conserve
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| are a 30+ year-old company offering
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| | energy. With a home automation system you
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| quality products, with excellent
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| | can manage countless small tasks that
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| warranties and free shipping to USA
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| | will add up to huge savings of both money
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| addresses (orders over $50). Today they
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| | and energy. Your smart home can be
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| are one of the world's leading Web
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| | programmed to turn lights off with the
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| retailers and a manufacturer for several
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| | dawning of the day, your television to
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| lines of best-selling consumer
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| | shut off at night after you fall asleep
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| electronics products.
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| | and your furnace to power down at night
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| Revisiting Log Home Automation
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| | or when you are away at work. Managing
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| Home automation is about making things
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| | lighting, heating and air conditioning
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| easier and improving convenience; it is
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| | components and appliances can make a
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| about what you want - and when you want
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| | significant impact on your household
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| it to happen. Home automation is 'green'
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| | expenses and contribute to fuel
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| and good for global warming.
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| | conservation.
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| Although my primary focus is log homes,
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| | Will home automation solve the "global
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| what follows pertains to all houses
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| | warming" problem? Doubtfully, but any
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| whether they are constructed of log,
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| | measures we take to reduce energy
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| brick or even manufactured. Home
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| | consumption is good for everyone who
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| automation is about making things easier
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| | inhabits this planet whether they live in
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| and improving convenience; it is about
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| | a log home or a straw hut. Imagine the
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| what you want and when you want it to
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| | impact if fifty-million homes in America
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| happen. With X-10's ActiveHome Pro, your
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| | turned off their furnace and a couple
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| imagination is all that is needed to make
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| | lights for a few hours every day.
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| your home "your automated castle." Using
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| | In summary, home automation is not just a
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| this system you can program your
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| | toy for affluent geeks, but a reasonable
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| thermostat to turn on or off to suit your
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| | consideration for anyone who owns a home
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| schedule and wake up to a hot pot of
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| | and wants convenience, increased security
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| coffee, and have your lights turn on or
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| | and to save money and energy. If you are
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| off at preset times.
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| | contemplating home automation or security
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| This electronic brain for your home is
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| | improvements, I recommend you investigate
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| managed by a system-control package for
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| | X-10's ActiveHome Pro system. A starter
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| Windows PCs, but your computer does not
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| | kit with the software, interface and
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| need to stay connected for the system to
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| | several modules, remote controls and
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| work after it has been programmed. Once
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| | sensors costs just $100. Additional
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| you download your behaviors into the
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| | modules cost between $15 and $50 from X10
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| computer interface, you can plug it into
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| | and other vendors. ActiveHome Pro was
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| almost any electrical outlet in the house
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| | selected as the Editors' Choice by PC
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| and it will run unassisted. The software
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| | Magazine making it their top pick among
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| permits you to program the behavior of
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| | all home automation systems!
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