3 tips to automate your life

We may not be quite at the stage where our homes clean themselves, hang out the washing and cook us three-course dinners upon our arrival, but they can definitely do some pretty impressive things under the control of some home automation gadgets! Whether you are looking for a smart solution for your home’s lighting, security, sound and entertainment or water systems, there are a variety of products on the market to ensure you get exactly what you need.  

Super security and remote control

If you have a problem with unwanted visitors, or just feel the need for some increased security for your home, an automated security system is right up your alley. This door phone from Envious Technology with four bells and multiple handsets means you can speak to the person at your front door with a mobile handset and buzz them in without actually going to the front door. The range is 150 metres, allowing you to grant guests access even from your back garden, the garage, or in the top floor bathroom, wherever you happen to be when they arrive! The system offers an added bonus with the handsets – these can be also used as intercoms between themselves as well as the front door! So by placing these in various spots around your home, not only will you be able to communicate with guests at the front door and let them in remotely, you will also be able to let others in the house know who has arrived! Alternatively, incorporate motion sensors and system alerts sent straight to your smartphone with this system from Chaungo.    

Entertainment at its best

Imagine experiencing the complete movie experience in your own living room –controlled lighting, temperature, surround sound, HD screen projection and seamless streaming. Sounds to good to be true, but it is actually well within the realms of possibility if you have an automated home theatre system from Integrated Technologies Australia. You can even connect your curtains to this system so you can close all blinds immediately after selecting your movie! For the ultimate entertainment system throughout your entire home, you can combine the home theatre system with ITA’s Multiroom Music installation. Using wireless technology, control the volume level and type of music played in each room of the house from a central device – perfect for entertaining, or for keeping all members of the family happy! Check out both of these systems here.    

Light up your world

No more telling teenagers to "turn off the hallway light" when they arrive home! With an automated lighting system, you wont have to rely on the memory of your family members or houseguests.Connect all of the lights in your home to a central control board, and/or to your smartphone or tablet with this Connect all of the lights in your home to a central control board, and/or to your smartphone or tablet with this Danish-designed system.The system offers you the chance to set "lighting scenes" for each space, enabling you to easily adjust the atmosphere of your living room, bedroom or bathroom with the touch of a finger. The system offers you the chance to set "lighting scenes" for each space, enabling you to easily adjust the atmosphere of your living room, bedroom or bathroom with the touch of a finger. Conson’s automation system works to reduce your energy input by reducing the maximum wattage output without affecting the perceived level of lighting output. It also includes an "all lights out" feature so that you can be sure that every single light in your home has been turned off before you go to bed or leave home for the day. Alternatively, keep things even simpler by connecting your outdoor lights to motion sensors so they're never left on all night. You can also attach timers to lights so they turn on and off at certain times of the day or night.