Smart homes

As a part of my research I will be looking in similar projects that already exist such as Smart Homes. According to the site http://www.jrf.org.uk/housingandcare/smarthomes/

‘What is smart about this home?

Where the smart house really differs from other houses is that a communications infrastructure is installed that allows the various systems and devices in the home to communicate with each other. The modern home contains a variety of systems, such as central heating, fire and security alarms, and devices, such as televisions and lights that usually exist in total isolation from each other. In the smart house, these systems and devices are able to pass information and commands between them so that, for example, the security alarm can turn the lights on or off.
In developing the smart home, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation looked at how people currently use their homes and worked out how different technologies could make everyday tasks simpler or easier. Existing equipment in the home can be adapted to provide more functions; for example detectors normally used for security alarms can be used to identify if someone is in a room. New equipment can also be installed to automate tasks such as opening doors or windows.’

Picture from http://www.azalarms.net/Structure%20Wiring.htm