Home Automation (also called Smart Home or Domotics) gives you fingertip control over your entire indoor environment (and even some stuff outdoors). Simply put, it is anything that gives you remote or automatic control of things around the home.
Remote control gives you the convenience of controlling audio, video, lighting, security systems, and appliances from wherever you happen to be: your living room, your car, even your bed. Control systems use several different technologies; ISS generally supports IR (Infrared), RF (Radio Frequency), hard-wired, and IP (Internet Protocol) over both wired and wireless networks.
Add even more convenience by making things happen on a schedule or when a particular event happens. Your lights can come on as night falls and go off at the time you've chosen. With the press of one button on your remote you'll turn on your wide screen, your audio system, and your DVD player, dim the lights, then play the DVD.
Don't just open the garage door from the car, come home to a house where the lights turn on at the same time or when you arrive. Your yard lights and first floor lights can be turned on simultaneously by a motion detector inside or out. Your security system can call you if there is a security alarm, the temperature is too high or low, or there's water in the laundry room.
Home Theater and Entertainment
Home Theater: Replace that pile of remotes with just one! To start up your entire theater just press "TV" and your control system does the rest. Click here for more.
Distributed Media: In-wall, in-ceiling, and invisible speakers provide impressive sound everywhere without using any living space. Click here for more.
Scenes
Lights: The most popular form of Home Automation, and the easiest (other than a programmable or universal remote for the TV/DVD/Tivo/Cable/DirecTV setup). Just plug a table lamp into a remotely controlled dimmer that's plugged into the wall outlet, or replace some wall switches.
Drapes & Curtains, Shades & Blinds: Motorized drapery or shades are typically controlled via a dedicated remote control. The codes can almost always be added (quite easily) to your programmable control system. The drapes will open or close on demand, or when you turn on the Family Room TV, or can be set up to close in the summer just before the afternoon sun begins to beat into the room.
Fireplace: Turn your gas or electric fireplace on and off or adjust the flame.
Environment
Remote-Control Thermostat: Use the remote to adjust the temperature from your bed; use your cell phone to turn on the A/C on your way home.
Irrigation: Don’t run your sprinklers in the rain! Adjust the timing of watering your plants without going out to that control box attached to the irrigation lines.
Phone, Networking, and Security
Phone Systems: Screen your calls; turn your phone system into a remote control. Click here for more.
Networking: Having Ethernet available all over your house not only makes it convenient to access the Internet, it also enables use of Internet Protocol (IP) to control many automation systems. Click here for more.
Security: Be your own security monitor! Use all the standard security detectors for break-in or fire. Monitor for “non-security” events like water in the basement. Click here for more.
Access Control: Unlock the front door to let in friends. Call home or use the Internet to close the garage door from your car or office. Click here for more.
Cable & Structured Wiring: prewiring for audio, video, network, and control systems any time between framing and insulation/drywall is easy and relatively inexpensive (Retrofitting is pricier). Click here for more.