Home control works best when you hardly notice it's there. Window shades rise and fall according to a set schedule. Music follows you from room to room as you walk through your home. Heat goes on and off, appliances anticipate your needs, lights dim to your exact preference. It all comes together to create total behind-the-scenes convenience.
This page offers all the information you need to create your own smart house – optimize home security with video surveillance, motion detectors, and other remote control systems. We explain and explore human machine interfaces such as voice recognition.
But this dynamic home automation magazine covers more than home security systems; we also feature how-to tutorials on wiring outdoor home entertainment, remote phone line connections throughout your smart house, and even robots and beer taps! We make setting up a remote outdoor video surveillance camera or a structured wiring system so straightforward that even non-techies can easily outfit the smart house of their dreams.
Home Control Devices & Systems
Cost Effective Security Can you put a price on safety? We do—when we take a look at what type of security you can get for $500.
Getting Wired We untangle the various strands of structured wiring -- from the types of cable to what you can do with it.
Monitor Your Home Keep your eyes on everything in and around your home, even when you're out of town.
Home Control Projects
Install Your Own Home Control You can have that control system. X10 is easy enough for anyone to install.
Audio Al Fresco The great outdoors just got better. Here's another way to get music to the outside—or anywhere else you want it.
Install a Phone Line Reach out and touch someone from wherever you want in the home.
Smart Home Profiles
Smart Storm Chaser When Kevin Haney isn't chasing storms, he's chasing his dream of the ultimate "smart" home.
Into the Great Wired With more tech products than most people could hope for over an entire lifetime (maybe even two!), Jean-Yves Archambault is one totally connected Canuck.
Dynamic Duo Rick and Dale Higgs put their heads together for a plethora of home technology.
News & Technology
Fresh Beer at Home Philips and Interbrew are stirring up the PerfectDraft.
Attack of the Hello Kitty Robot Say hello to our little friend -- Hello Kitty returns as an interactive robot.
Verizon Offers Selective Call Screening Verizon's iobi service manages calls and forwards them wherever you want.
Editor's Links
Recommended sites from the TechLiving staff
Home Toys A monthly online magazine with articles, news and reviews.
Home Automation for Beginners One man's pursuit to bring home automation to the masses.
Electronic House Not just our sister publication, but a great resource!
Make sure to revisit this page for our frequent updates and how-to guides on smart house automation and security, human-machine interfaces, motion and lighting controls, and much more.
Home Control Archives
- Wi-Fi is #1 in Networking (news)
- We said to cut the cords, and people are actually doing it...
- Set up a Hidden Security Camera
- Peek-a-boo, we see-everything. How a not-so-obvious security solution can ensure everyone stays on their best behavior.
- Nokia's Home Security and Surveillance Remote Camera
- A look at how Nokia can help with your home security needs.
- Verizon's New iobi Service Forwards Phone Calls
- Verizon’s iobi service manages calls and forwards them wherever you want.
- How To Install a Structured Wiring System
- The connected home isn’t installed overnight. How to design and implement your own wired wonderland.
- Rick and Dale Higgs Do It Your Self Home Electronics
- Rick and Dale Higgs put their heads together for a plethora of home technology.
- How To Modernize Your Home Electronics for $500
- How $500 can fill your home with a ton of high-tech control options.
- Storm Chasing Kevin Haney is Passionate About Home Automation
- When Kevin Haney isn’t chasing storms, he’s chasing his dream of the ultimate "smart" home.
- Structured Wiring Can Make Your Home More Technology Friendly
- We untangle the various strands of structured wiring -- from the types of cable to what you can do with it.
- Security Systems for $500
- Can you put a price on safety? We do—when we take a look at what type of security you can get for $500.
- How To Set Up Outdoor Security Surveillance Cameras
- Set-up guide for remote home video surveillance security systems
- How To Use Powerline Technology To Automate Your Home
- An easy way to add a system—no installers, no big budgets, no problem!
- How to Wire a New Phone Line
- Reach out and touch someone from wherever you want in the home.
- How To Run Cables Behind Your Walls
- What’s behind your walls? What you need to know before you begin drilling.
- How To Hook Up Outdoor Speakers
- The great outdoors just got better. Here's another way to get music to the outside—or anywhere else you want it.
- How to Distribute Your Audio Outdoors
- Pump music out to that heavenly haven known as your garage.
- X10 Technology Used for Affordable Home Control
- You can have that control system. X10 is easy enough for anyone to install.
- Profile of High Tech Guru Jean-Yves Archambault
- With more tech products than most people could hope for over an entire lifetime (maybe even two!), Jean-Yves Archambault is one totally connected Canuck.
- How To Install Motion Sensitive Lighting
- No more fumbling in the dark. A motion-sensitive light switch will brighten any late-night adventure.
- Create easy lighting control without running wires
- Thanks to Z-Wave, let there be inexpensive light.
Make sure to revisit this page for our frequent updates and how-to guides on smart house automation and security, human-machine interfaces, motion and lighting controls, and much more