Re: What is Home Automation?

["darren_karp2001" <darren@xxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks Andy,

You saved me from a long winded reply!

I can assure you Paul that my house which has recently had an
extension and some HA kit installed has given my friends a BIG WOW
FACTOR and SWMBO a sense of new freedom playing music. I was talking
to an established HA/AV commercial company (friends of my parents)
with a view of a potential partnership last week and I mentioned
this forum, he hadn't heard of it so when I explained what it was
his first response was 'amateur.....' which really pissed me
off....I don't think anything I've done at my home is amateur (which
is why I'm going into this as a business). As far as my family,
parents and friends are concerned, what I've done at home is
amazing...and they are the toughest critics!

Darren


--- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, "Andy Laurence" <andy@a...> wrote:
> From: "solentelectricalservices" <paul@i...>
> > 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........
>
> Simple answer?  You don't.
>
> > 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?
>
> Perhaps some of us don't care?  In the main, people here are
gadget freaks.
> We like things because we perceive them as interesting, and not
because they
> make our lives easier or are useful.  Bear in mind
that 'interesting' can be
> done at the same time as 'useful'.
>
> > 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?
>
> Perhaps this is because things are still in development?  HA is
still a
> niche market.  As such, the price of polished working products is
out of the
> budget of most people here.  This means that we all have to tinker
with
> things to make them do what we want.  Some tinker more than others.
> Inherent in tinkering is things not working correctly.  The end
result is
> achieved when the bugs are no longer present.  That often takes a
long time
> to happen.
>
> You say you're unaware of any working automation scenarios?  I can
reel off
> a few that really work well, and have been implemented by members
of this
> group:
>
> 1. Lighting: Lights that turn on at a sensible level without the
user
> requesting.
> 2. Curtains: They close at dusk, and open at dawn.
> 3. Tivo: It knows what you like watching, and records it
automatically.
> 4. Heating: It keeps an eye on temperature to ensure your home is
heated as
> you require.
>
> That's just a quick few off the top of my head.  It's a start, not
a list,
> and certainly not comprehensive.
>
> > 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.
>
> Try comparing a Ford Cortina to a current BMW 7 Series.  They are
both cars,
> and will both get you from A to B.  The Cortina has no gadgets,
not even a
> stereo as standard.  The current 7 Series has automatic lights,
windscreen
> wipers, sat nav, parking sensors, ABS, traction control, stability
control,
> and a host of other things the Cortina does not.  Apply this to
houses.  A
> standard non-automated house is a Cortina.  An automated home is a
7 Series.
> Which would you rather drive?  Which is easier to drive?  What do
some of us
> drive?
>
> > 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?
>
> What is home automation?  I'd say it's using technology to make
your home an
> easier and more exciting place to live in.
>
> Cheers,
> Andy
> --
> http://www.andylaurence.co.uk