| Do you have a life style that does not fit in with the | | | | chair, knowing that your meal will be ready soon! |
| fixed heating times of your water heater? | | | | Later that evening, you have a shower before getting |
| I expect that you have controls for your heating | | | | ready for bed. You press a button by your bed and |
| system. You can change the boiler to turn on and off | | | | your TV comes on for you to watch a program that |
| at fixed times during the day. This ensures that you | | | | has been recorded for you. |
| are warm when you want to be and are saving | | | | Meanwhile, your house is closing itself down. Windows |
| money when the heating is not needed. | | | | and external doors are locked and the lights are |
| But, of course, you might come home at a different | | | | switched off one by one. |
| time every day. Maybe you don't even know yourself | | | | In the morning, your alarm wakes you and you can |
| as you leave the house in the morning, when or even | | | | take a leisurely shower while your breakfast is being |
| whether you'll be home in the evening. | | | | cooked in the kitchen. |
| What happens then? | | | | Tonight, you're having a few friends around for a meal |
| Well whatever you do, the house could well be cold | | | | and to watch some films. You press a few buttons |
| when you want it to be warm and wasting energy, | | | | and everything is set up to start preparing your meal |
| heating up the house, when you're not there. | | | | and the TV when you ring in to say you'll be arriving |
| So why not do something about that? | | | | shortly. |
| How much more convenient would it be if you could | | | | It's holiday time. |
| make one phone call from your mobile, telling your | | | | You press a few buttons before you leave. While |
| house to get ready for you when you are nearly | | | | you're away your home will appear to be lived in as |
| home. | | | | lights, TV, radio, etc. come on and are switched off in |
| The central heating or air conditioning would switch | | | | different rooms as though a family is still there. |
| itself on so that the house will be pleasantly warm | | | | You can even see what is going on in your house with |
| when you arrive. | | | | CCTV and watch it via satellite on your mobile phone. |
| Then, as you press the remote control in your car the | | | | If your teenagers have been left behind, you can see if |
| garage door opens for you to drive straight in and the | | | | they are behaving themselves...or not! |
| lights in the driveway and in certain preprogrammed | | | | Sounds futuristic? |
| rooms in the house turn on ready for you to enter | | | | Not at all. |
| safely. | | | | It can all be done today. |
| When the lights come on, the cooker switches itself on | | | | And I haven't even mentioned the alarm system, the |
| to cook the meal you prepared earlier. | | | | fire alarm system or the underfloor heating system. All |
| So you sit down and relax, reading the paper, watching | | | | controlled by the push of a few buttons. |
| the TV or listening to music, which of course can be | | | | So how do you find out what can be achieved and |
| turned on at the press of a button from your arm | | | | what will work for you? |