Smart Homes Buying Guide

Think of a smart home and a feverish mind will likely conjure up an image of a futuristic dwelling kitted out with the latest acoustically transparent screen, digital surround sound system and Robo dog. These days however, it’s not just millionaire’s pads getting the sci-fi makeover. With design sensitivity and techno know-how evolving at a rapid rate, the converging realities of consumer electronics, broadband networks, digital entertainment and security systems are delivering a mainstream smart-home revolution that was unimaginable a decade ago. A raft of high-tech features, from remote controlled white goods to multi-home entertainment systems are giving homeowners total control of their living space. Many home installations are being creatively ‘retrofitted’ (using existing cabling), but the bedrock of the ‘smart’ revolution is in new-build construction, where architects, developers and owners co-plan a customised fit for a truly integrated easy-to-use system.

What exactly is a smart home?

The mistake many people make is to assume ‘smart’ means lots of gizmos and gadgets. In its simplest form, a smart home has had its key systems and devices networked. A central control structure enables the homeowner to communicate with those systems and devices with just the touch of a button, hence maintaining an optimum living environment, from controlling the lights and cranking up the heating, to playing music and activating the spa bath.

Next: What are the key elements of SHT? >>