A home automation system isn’t about the home; it’s about the homeowner. The homeowner who can stand back and watch the home automation system work has little wheels turning in his head at the same time. He is thinking about all the other things he can be doing while the mundane tasks at home are being done by the System. These homeowners are achievers—even overachievers. They get up early to see how much they can accomplish in one day by themselves. Not having to worry about the timing of dinner in the oven or turning off the TV at midnight is a welcome drop-off from their To-Do list.
Benefits of Home Automation
Multi-tasking
Though many System owners could be men, likely the System appeals to women, especially mothers, who have learned to capitalize on those rare minutes when they have two free hands with which to climb their daily mountain of chores. Ask any mother with a new baby and several young kids in tow: How do you get it all done during the day? The great secret is “overlapping.” It’s doing multiple things at once, like having a clone, and both the original and the clone are busy, but the original gets the credit for a job well done. It’s like having a personal servant who will do your chores and can read your mind, too, while you are away doing something else.
Women know that current automation like washers and dryers will get the laundry done while Mom is busy mopping the floor, changing a dirty diaper or shopping for groceries. Having a System to turn the oven off and on, water the lawn, answer the phone, turn off unused lights, lock the door and decrease the TV volume is a giant step to more freedom . . . and getting more done. Watching a child’s soccer game becomes less stressful when Mom and Dad know that dinner will cook and stay warm until the final slap on the back and the teams head home. Not only will a meal be ready, but the home will remain secure, and the homeowners can turn on the AC or heat when they leave the field so the house will be comfortable when the family arrives. Now if only Mom could get the System to set the table for dinner . . . .
Control and Comfort
Having a home automation system helps the homeowner to anticipate the family’s needs and meet them. This homeowner likes to be organized and prepared. Parents can disable TVs, radios and other devices when it’s homework time, or fill every room with special music. A home theater system can link to the lights, appropriately dimming or brightening with the movie’s beginning, a popcorn break, and the final credits.
Security
Home security is high in any homeowner’s priorities. A home automation system protects the property with entry alarms, cameras and special locks, so the homeowner can rest assured that the house is safe whether or not any family members are there. If the garage door has been left open or if a son is late for curfew, the System can alert the homeowner.
Convenience
Home automation is the new definition for convenience, which the reason for the invention of dishwashers and TV remotes. It’s as if the homeowner can be two places at once: perhaps bowling with friends or enjoying a concert, or even in another room pursuing a favorite hobby without being interrupted.
Efficiency
As the System turns off unneeded lights and unused appliances, it helps the home run more efficiently. The wise, practical homeowner will enjoy having control over the home’s functions and appreciate a new peace of mind and reduced stress. That’s a great return for an investment in an automated home system.
About the Author: Rick Delgado is a freelance writer who specializes in the latest social and technology trends, more specifically involving home automation. He is currently acting as a consultant to Vivint.
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