Home Automation in a Nutshell... or Just Plain Nuts? You decide.... |
Certified Mobotix Partner |
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When you hear the term "Home Automation," what comes to your mind? "Yes Dave, what would you like Dave"
Although Automation has existed since the industrial Revolution and the invention of the Cotton Jin, Home Automation, as such, was not officially in the picture until the early 1930's when the concept of the "Electrified Home" began to make appearances at a number of world fairs. Home Automation has changed substantially Since the early days, of relay and vaccum tube based electronic control and mechanical timers. 1951 saw the introduction of the first Vacuum tube based computer, the Manchester Mark I, when the term "Electronic Brain" conjored up debates over the validity of a true decision making machine came to light. To this day, true logic and decision making is still the domain of the bilogical brain.
So how
does this relate to Home Automation, you ask. My point is, Home
Automation and what it entails, is really up to the user as well as the
creativity and knowledge of the System's integrator. Some of the
mainstream volume based security alarm companies consider the
controlling of lights on a fancy overpriced touchscreen keypad, as home
automation. Although there are some security advantages to automated
lighting control, Touch screen and smart phone Lighting and appliance
control only scrape the surface of what KeepSafe Systems can make Home
Automation do for you. More recently, lock manufacturers have "consumerized" their door access systems to accomodate the "Quick and easy" simplified excuse for access control. Although wireless lock control does have some definate advantages, the time tested hardwired Electronic Door Strike and Electric Mortise locks provide a much more economical and longer lasting electronic access control options for the access control portion of your Security and or Home Automation system. In fact, one of the major wireless "security" communication formats was recently cracked by some hobby hackers who discovered a way to unlock the wifi based lock with the use of a simple wifi enabled computer. For the security of the clients of my competitors, as well as my personal honour, I will not mention any names. Even with the addition of Lock control, this only scratches the surface of what I consider Home Automation and true Systems Integration. Many of you may be familiar with those DIY timer based Thermostats, you know the battery operated standalone units you can purchase from any hardware store for the price of a couple of Latte's at the local fancy a$$ed coffee shop. Well, most Home Automation controllers, even the ones offered by the fast and furious "next number please" Security Alarm Installation companies, have the ability to control your the temperature set-backs of your home HVAC system / Heat Pump based on the current armed status of your security alarm. With this type of addition to your Home Automation System, there is no need to get up to a cold house or have your HVAC system wastefully running at full power when you are at work and your home is empty. Unlike most Security Alarm company's, KeepSafe Systems will also look at the comfort needs of your four legged or winged family members when designing your Customized Home Automation and Control System, after all, they too contribute to the happiness and comfort of your life :). This tends to be where most "wham bam thank you maam" security alarm companies leave the Home Automation bus. Although there are some who may delve into Home Theatre and Audio Distribution, there is much more to the True Automation of your home and improvement to your lifestyle and quality of life then spending inane amounts of money of silly little gadgets simply designed to save you from pressing a button. In fact, some of these companies will even charge their monitored clients an extra monthly fee for the "Privilege" of "pressing" that button from anywhere in the world (with Internet service, why do they leave that out :) At
KeepSafe Systems, we take a more logical approach to Home Automation
and the Security and enjoyment of your life and home, since we are
dealing with Logic control, this only makes sense. Beyond the simple
gizmo's and gadgets designed to increase the numbers within the numbers
of numbers based Mega Corp Security Alarm companies, KeepSafe Systems
logic based, PEOPLE 1st approach to YOUR security and Home
Automation system, is designed to ensure we look at your lifestyle and
your needs when designing and programming your Home Automation system.
From the moment we are invited into your home, your security, lifestyle
and comfort requirements are our primary concern. We will NEVER insult
your intelligence or limit your freedom of choice and lifestyle control
by pushing some pre-packaged corporate numbers based quasi Security /
Home Automation system on you. KeepSafe
Systems Home Automation / Security Integration systems are designed to
improve your lifestyle, not make it a technological nightmare of
battery operated lifetime limited electronic pieces of plastic
controlling how you can turn on your lights and how much it will cost
you to replace an outdated system or its' components 2 years down the
road. Quality and longevity are the ultimate decision making factor
when looking at the System's we provide to our valued friends /
clients. People first, profit second (Although we do need to eat, after
all the brain has a tendency to shut down with mal-nutrition)
Some of the Systems we have integrated include: - Paradox EVO / SPECTRA Series of Security Control panels (Made in Canada) - Mobotix IP Surveillance and logic control camera's (Designed & Manufactured in Germany) - Home Automation Security Control Systems by HAI / Leviton - Elk Security & Home Automation Control Systems - Security alarm Systems by DSC, Ademco/Honeywell, Silent Knight. CADDX/General Electric, Bosch, ASAP Apex, Napco, FBI (aka FBII), C&K Systems, Moose, Optex and many many more. If it is an electronic security alarm or controller of some sort, even if we have never seen it before, WE CAN MAKE IT WORK FOR YOU. Our electronic design and automation integration ability is only limited by the laws of logic and technological availability, which with a little creativity & imagination, even some of those hurdles can be overcome. I hope by several hundred words helped you out. Here is a few little tidbist of information I wanted to include, but could not make fit. When I first decided to take the Security Alarm Installation course at BCIT back in.... it was on the reverse side of a Robotics brochure I was looking at (I wasn't interested until my Brother pointed it out to me.) I have always been interested in Electronics and how things work. For this, I thank my Dad who let me take over the workbench with my many projects & experiments, my Mom for teaching me imagination has no bounds and my brother, Tom, for paving the way to an increased level of patience (or resignation) within my Dad and the common "Rules of the Garage" which were often ignored as Hurricane Heinz ran rampant through the drawers of various parts to find just the right piece to finish whatever I was working on at that moment. Have a great Day Heinz Owner - KeepSafe Systems
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Here is an older article on Home Automation which I wrote awhile back.
Simply put, Home Automation is about convenience and simplifying your life through the automation of mundane daily tasks. Yes, I know, this was the selling feature for cell phones, computers and the internet... unfortunately those technological advancements have made it near impossible for many of us to escape work to relax. In this age where computers seem to be controlling our lives, it is nice to see a technological option actually designed with human comfort in mind. The concept of Home Automation is simple, it is all about convenience. Say for example, you are on your way home from a long day at the office and you want to come home to a warmed up hot tub and a cooled down bedroom and your favorite CD playing in the background... Home Automation can assist you with that. Maybe you are working late and you don't want to come home to a dark home.. KeepSafe Systems can configure your Convenience system to turn your house lights on as soon as you drive into the driveway after dark. What if you are on your way to the cottage for the weekend and you forgot to turn your heat down... Not a problem, simply call up your house and set back the temperature or, even better, KeepSafe Systems can program your Home Automation system to automatically turn down the thermostats when your system is armed to Vacation Mode. What if the temperature drops suddenly, while you are away. This could result in frozen pipes. No worries, your KeepSafe Systems Home Convenience System can automatically adjust for that. Speaking of water, KeepSafe Systems can also connect water sensors to the security portion of your Home Convenience System which will notify you if your hot water tank starts to leak. Honestly, I could go on for hours with the potential features and benefits of a KeepSafe Systems Home Automation System, the thing is, Home Automation is about you and your needs. For that reason, no two Home Convenience Systems are ever alike, it is all about customization and the limits of your imagination. If you live in the KeepSafe Systems service area and would like to talk to me about your Home Security and convenience needs, please feel free to contact me at 604-874-8772. KeepSafe Systems Electronic Security Alarm Systems for Home and Business NOTE: An Automated home designed by KeepSafe Systems is on the market in Vancouver British Columbia. For more information on this one of a kind opportunity click HERE
The KeepSafe Systems service area includes but is not limited to North Vancouver, West Vancouver, Richmond, Delta, Tsawassen, Ladner, Surrey, Cloverdale, Abbotsford, Mission, Aldergrove, Maple Ridge, Haney, Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam, Port Moody, Burnaby, New Westminster, Kamloops, Kelowna, Courtney, Comox, Nanaimo, Lions Bay, Squamish and pretty much everywhere in between.
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