Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, November 21, 1995 TAG: 9511210053
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DAVID BUTLER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
A: Although home automation as an industry has only been in existence since the mid-'80s, automation has been a part of our lives at home as long as we've had lamp timers, oven timers and thermostats. Before CD changers, there were record changers; before wireless remotes, there were wired on/off switches; and before touch-tone, telephones had rotary dials.
What's changed is this: In the blink of an eye, the microprocessor has forever changed the way we interact with everyday products. We've all but abandoned the familiar comfort of knobs, dials and mechanical switches for a plethora of electronic buttons, LEDs and on-screen displays.
Taken individually, today's electronic products are vastly superior to their predecessors. Few would argue that point. However, when taken in aggregate, it quickly becomes a challenge just to keep track of each product's features, let alone remember how to use them. I used my answering machine for a year before I realized it had a time-date stamp feature. (So much for reading the manual!)
As consumer products become even more complex (as they surely will), the challenge of mastering these products will reach the point that either one of two things will happen: Consumers will begin to reject technology, or product designers will find ways of harnessing technology to ease the burden of progress. This is where home automation holds its greatest promise.
In the world of personal computers, the graphical user interface has been responsible for dramatic strides in ease-of-use. Unfortunately, household products such as thermostats, answering machines and security panels can't afford the luxury of a video display. Emerging communications standards such as CEBus and LonWorks can change that.
Where home automation was once limited to central control via hardwired relays and power line carrier modules, today's automation systems are beginning to focus on the integration of otherwise independent systems such as security, climate control, and audio/video gear. This means homeowners will be able to access all home systems through shared (and more capable) user interface devices.
As for your other question, there are literally dozens of helpful resources dedicated to home automation. The following are among the best:
Electronic House - Bi-monthly consumer magazine dedicated to home automation, (800) 375-8015; other publications: annual Resource Guide; H.A. Pro (trade publication); Home Automation Guidebook.
Approaching Home Automation by Bill Berner and Craig Elliott - Simple but complete guide to using X-10 - compatible power line carrier products, (800) 356-6954.
Understanding and Installing Home Systems, 2nd Edition by David Gaddis - Covers all aspects of home control, (405) 330-0718.
Internet - http://www.hometeam.com (WEB site offers extensive home automation information including terminology, products, and mail-order sources; jumps to many other related WEB sites); ftp://ftp.scruz.net/users/cichlid/public/X10faq (download frequently asked questions about X-10)
Compuserve - Go Handyman (includes CEBus library and Home Automation Association forum), Go Consumer Electronics (includes section on home automation)
To receive a copy of my comprehensive Home Automation Resource List, please send $1.50 and a self-addressed envelope to David Butler F-539, Department TWN, 14713 Pleasant Hill Road, Charlotte, N.C. 28278-7927. The list includes books, magazines, video tapes, trade associations, conferences, mail-order suppliers, on-line sites, technical references, and professional courses.
HomeTech News: The next-generation optical disc will arrive sooner than expected. Competing proposals from Toshiba and Sony have now been reconciled into a unified digital video disc (DVD) standard. The new format stores nearly five gigabytes of data (4,700 megabytes), more than enough to hold an all-digital motion picture. The first players and discs are expected to debut in time for the '96 holiday season. DVD will eventually replace the current CD audio and CD ROM formats.
by CNB