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