Review of Smart Home Hacks: Tips & Tools for Automating Your House (Paperback)

Technical people are always looking for ways that technology can improve and enrich their lives.Smart homes-or home automation-has always seemed like something more from science fiction than science fact.However, after reading this book, the truth is that creating a smart home is easier and far less technical than most people think.This book provides the reader with 100 tips or things that can be done (some quite easy, some might take longer to complete) to automate your home.

Contrary to what you might think, much of what you can do with home automation doesn't require your home to be re-wired.Instead, much of what you might want to accomplish (like having your computer automatically turning on or off lights in the house while you're on vacation) can be done very easily through X10 modules.X10 modules are relatively inexpensive components which can send signals over power lines.Once you understand X10, many of the more straightforward hacks in this book make a lot of sense.

Other projects you'll find in this book include a home monitoring system, a smart sprinkling system, sending messages of what's happening at home to a cell phone or pager, and even controlling your home from a web browser.While some of these projects may sound a bit Orwellian, they are actually very interesting and can make your home a safer place to live.Instead of becoming a victim when a toilet or washing machine overflows, you can put preemptive measures in place to be alerted before a problem occurs.

This is a very interesting book and a must read if you've ever considered home automation.Not only will this book step you through some projects, but it will give you some excellent ideas for the future.I enjoyed reading this book and would highly recommend it.


Product Description
So much of what is commonplace today was once considered impossible, or at least wishful thinking. Laser beams in the operating room, cars with built-in guidance systems, cell phones with email access.There's just no getting around the fact that technology always has, and always will be, very cool.But technology isn't only cool; it's also very smart. That's why one of the hottest technological trends nowadays is the creation ofsmart homes. At an increasing rate, people are turning their homes into state-of-the-art machines, complete with more switches, sensors, and actuators than you can shake a stick at.Whether you want to equip your home with motion detectors for added security, install computer-controlled lights for optimum convenience, or even mount an in-home web cam or two purely for entertainment, the world is now your oyster.Ah, but like anything highly technical, creating a smart home is typically easier said than done.Thankfully, Smart Home Hacks takes the guesswork out of the process.Through a seemingly unending array of valuable tips, tools, and techniques, Smart Home Hacks explains in clear detail how to use Mac, Windows, or Linux to achieve the automated home of your dreams.In no time, you'll learn how to turn a loose collection of sensors and switches into a well-automated and well-functioning home no matter what your technical level may be.Smart Home Hacks covers a litany of stand-alone and integrated smart home solutions designed to enhance safety, comfort, and convenience in new and existing homes.Kitchens, bedrooms, home offices, living rooms, and even bathrooms are all candidates for smart automation and therefore are all addressed in Smart Home Hacks.Intelligently written by engineering guru and George Jetson wannabe, Gordon Meyer, Smart Home Hacks leaves no stone unturned.From what to purchase to how to use your remote control, it's the ultimate guide to understanding and implementing complete or partial home automation.

About the Author
With over 20 years of experience using and programming personal computers, Gordon Meyer is currently an engineering manager for Apple Computer, Inc. He specializes in onscreen help and documentation management tools, and holds three pending patents related to Internet-based help systems.Gordon is a true George Jetson wannabe. His home in Santa Clara, California is Mac OS X-based and equipped with motion detectors, computer-controlled lights, weather monitors, and web cams. Most people find this simultaneously frightening and cool, which pleases him to no end.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Smart Home Hacks: Tips & Tools for Automating Your House (Paperback)