What is Home Automation?

["solentelectricalservices" <paul@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

This is something I often get asked and to be really honest I never
seem to be able to answer. The very definition of automation is
automatic, so why do I need a GUI, why do I need a button? why do I
need touch panels and so on........

We seem to jump at every new idea and every new piece of software
and load our houses with more and more Cat5 but I don't think any of
us really know what the hell we are doing, or do we?

I think everyone is missing the point here. Has anyone really done
anything that has "the wow factor"? I have never seen, talked
too,
read about anyone who has really got there house working anywhere
near what I would call "automated" We seem to have thousands of
products to choose from and still none of us have it right. I so
often see this petty "SWMBO" crap appear often as the controller
of
money or how small and discrete things should be but has anyone ever
stopped and thought maybe she is right? Maybe it should be EASY!
maybe we dont need that many buttons?why does the pc have to stay
running? why dont the lights work when I press the button you told
me too? why cant I switch on the TV?

Why not rather than looking at all these new devices dont we all
DIFINE home automation and what it really is, write the instruction
book, then decide how to do it. Maybe that's standardisation but
lets face it, it works! no matter how flash your car is its still
pistons after all doing the same thing in every car, ok lots of
other shit happens but its still pistons and it works.

I guess this is when the divide between installer and hobbyist
splits us into different groups. Those that want to make a
difference, those that want to see a difference then grizzle at the
cost of it, those who dont really care as they can write, compile
then produce there own equipment, those who keep phoning me up and
wasting my time picking my brain trying to get something for
nothing,those who have the money but just dont understand what they
are really getting for that and unfortunately from an installer
point those who take the piss when it comes to quoting for a job and
making as much money as they can and giving the client nothing other
than flash crap that never quiet seems to work then charging them to
extra to give them what they really wanted then disappearing never
to be seen again.

So guys my point? What are we trying to do? What is home automation?
And what group do you belong too? Please add to my groups if I have
missed any. Maybe this is the next pole?