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LIFESTYLE

Does your home have an IQ?

Yes, but you may not know what it is.

By Bjorn’s Audio, Video and Home Theater
Photography courtesy of Bjorn’s Audio, Video and Home Theater

Everyone’s talking about S mart home automation often starts your refrigerator will be controlled, even
smart homes nowadays and with a single, easy-to-understand to the point where you will be able to
if you believe what some home theater remote control that check the date on the milk or see how
companies are saying, smart replaces the usual three or four. It can also many eggs you have.
homes are going to revolu- dim the room lights and lower the shades.
tionize the way we live, solve You can even use it to lock and unlock The idea behind a smart home is to
problems we didn’t know we your doors and adjust your thermostat’s make it user friendly and as comfortable
had and even improve our temperature! as possible while being energy efficient at
love life! (No, we’re not mak- the same time.
ing that up.) It sure sounds But that’s not all a smart home can do.
wonderful. After all, who You can install cameras for monitoring Savant, Control 4 and RTI are all com-
wants to live in a dumb your home, seeing who’s at the door or panies that offer state-of-the-art smart
home? checking on the kids. While you’re at it, home systems. These systems communi-
you can teach your home to be more com- cate with nearly anything with a computer
But what exactly is a smart fortable to live in while saving lots of en- chip. They are all very similar and offer as
home and how does it work? ergy - and do it automatically whether much or as little connect and control as
Well, “smart home” is basi- you’re at home, at work or on vacation you want. Savant and Control 4 offer apps
cally a new term for some- half way around the world. that allow you to use your tablet or smart
thing that has been available phone to control your new smart home.
for decades, although not as In the not-so-distant future you will be By doing this, it allows you the ability to
wide spread. We’ve been call- able to control most electronics in your control things like door locks, lights, tem-
ing it “home automation” all home from your smart phone or tablet. perature and even music from anywhere
this time. Everything from your coffee maker to at any time.

22 San Antonio Medicine • July 2015