India Focus: Automated homes becoming a reality today

You've had a long, tiring day at the office. It's way past your usual closing time and there's work to be done at home, too. So, as you step out of the office, look at the traffic and realise it's not too bad for the time of the day, you place a call to your home.

No, not to any loved or dear one at home, for, I'm assuming that you either live alone or there's no one at home today; neither to a Man Friday. You use your mobile and place a call that switches on your water heater, gets your air conditioner running and switches the outdoor lights so that you don't have to fumble in the dark for your keys.

Ha, you might say, that's someone like Bill Gates for you. True, but not entirely true. While the sophistication of Mr. Gates might yet be unsurpassable, automated homes are becoming more and more a reality today.

Automation might be at very basic level, at the moment, but the point is that more and more builders, especially in cities like Bangalore are including home automation technologies into their structures.

"It makes your life easier and more comfortable," says Suraj, working in a large software company and in touch with the latest in the field. "It saves a great deal of energy, provides for security and feels great," he adds.

So, what is automation and how expensive is it? Home automation usually includes energy management, HVAS control systems, home theatre and entertainment control. It usually communicates through a home network that controls information to maintain safety, energy efficiency and of course, comfort.

Home security, with or without video surveillance is possible through security systems communicating through the home network. The personal computer usually oversees the automation systems, logs and reports any problems. It can be used for access to the automation systems to monitor and control their any aspect.

The system access enables access to the whole house automation system and usually is secure from unauthorised access. Infrastructure with structured wiring or wireless systems, needless to say, ought to be compatible to the automation systems.

Then, there are the other considerations, especially for a country like India. Matters like back-up power, surge suppression and filters should be thought about in order to ensure the integrity of the power supply to the components of the home automation system.

Sounds difficult and exorbitant, doesn't it? According to some experts, it really is not as frightening as it seems to be. The cost, according to them, works out to about 10 per cent of the total cost of the house.

Obviously then, it is the high-end customer that one is looking at - people who are aware of home automation, which means mainly IT professionals, for, there are very few non-IT people who seem to have heard of these systems.

However, there are several people who are today opting for home security systems. Systems that alert the owner of all dangers, not just intrusion, but also of other possible 'accidents' like fire and gas cylinder leaks.

Programmed light and audio equipment can make an empty house look occupied. Ideally, a good security monitoring system should be able to alert a security monitoring station, maybe the nearest police station and contact the owner over the phone.

"A home like this helps us a lot," say a couple, both of who are IT professionals and travel a lot.
"Some times we spend our weekends and long holidays away and a security system gives us a lot of peace of mind," they say.

Add to that running hot water, coffee on the boil and an 'alive' house when you land on Monday morning, need you ask for more?