Selecting Home Automation Components

Some people are control enthusiasts (okay, control freaks) and have a hard time giving over the reins. If you're an enthusiast, you may wish you could control everything remotely. Of course, you can install standard remote controls for lights and other home features. But now imagine controlling your home with your voice.

If you want to bring electrical systems under voice command, as if your home were a starship zooming to distant galaxies, you're going to need some specialized equipment. Don't worry — you don't need hyperdrive modulators or dilithium crystals. All you need is the right software and hardware.

Choosing automation software

The best way to automate your home is to use a software program that runs on your personal computer. Many home automation programs are commercially available. We recommend HAL, which is short for Home Automated Living, the name of the company that produces several versions of home automation software (www.automatedliving.com). The HAL software runs on any computer running recent versions of Microsoft Windows.

Home Automated Living currently offers three versions of the HAL software:

• HALbasic: If you're on a budget, HALbasic gets you going with a limited feature set.

• HALdeluxe: Once HALbasic is up and running, upgrading to HALdeluxe is easy. It has all the basic features, plus things such as caller ID.

• HAL2000: Version 3.5.0 (or greater) provides the richest feature set, with an extensive laundry list of control devices that will work well with the software. HAL2000 should be on your purchase list (or at least be an upgrade goal).

Several add-on programs are available for the HAL programs:

• HALvoices: These add-ons are available for all versions of HAL and provide a more human voice for command responses (as opposed to the standard robotic voice). Two versions of the add-on are available:

• U.S. English with a male voice (Michael) and a female voice (Michelle).

• U.K. English with a male voice (Charles) and a female voice (Audrey).

• HALdmc: Think of HALdmc as your personal digital disc jockey. This add-on allows you to control music playback via voice commands, and you can bring up particular songs when you issue certain commands. For example, you can program a tune to play when you give a command to dim the lights.

• HALdvc: This add-on integrates HAL with your home surveillance recording system. It allows you to control recording and playback by voice or to automate recording tasks. HALdvc works with IP webcams, closed-circuit TV, and other surveillance cameras.

Selecting a computer to run HAL

Although powerful computers are attractively priced today, this isn't the best place to squeeze the budget for your automated home. Purchase modern, reliable computer equipment under extended warranty, so it can serve you reliably for many years.

To run HAL now and in the future, your computer should meet these requirements:

• Case: Tower case with at least a 500-watt power supply and four drive bays

• System board (also called the motherboard):

• PCI Express slot

• Three PCI slots

• Built-in network interface card (NIC)

• Sound card

• Operating system: Windows XP Professional (or better) is recommended, with current service packs installed. (HAL will run on Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows XP, and Windows 2000, but the higher level of security features available in Windows XP and later versions make these a better choice.)

• Processor: Any Intel Pentium or equal processor running at 2.66 GHz

• RAM: At least 1 gigabyte (and 2GB or more isn't a bad idea)

• Storage and drives:

• 250GB; 7,200RPM hard drive

• CD-RW/DVD-ROM removable media drive

• PCI card: HAL Voice Portal card

• Interfaces:

• Serial com ports 1, 2, 3, and 4. (You may need to install an additional card in an available PCI or ISA slot in your PC to gain serial com ports 3 and 4.)

• 9-in-1 card reader

• Three or more USB ports

• Parallel port

• Network interface:

• 10/100 Mbps built-in or PCI NIC

• A second 1,000 Mbps NIC

If you use your PC to play music, you may want to install a high-quality sound card such as Creative Labs' Sound Blaster card. You can't use your high-quality amplifiers and speakers to their full potential if they're attached to an inferior sound card.