Smart Homes for Dummies is the essential guide those of you who want your home equiped for 21st century technology. The book tells you what ou need to know about networking your house for audio/video entertainment, telephone, computer & security systems, & making them all work together.

Planning for the new home and remodeling options are covered. Practical tips tell you exactly what components are needed for various levels of automation, including what it will cost and how to stretch your budget.

The book also offers a glimpse of technology to come, how to prepare for it now and what is worth waiting for. Specific brand name products now on the market are analyzed with warnings about conflicting standards. For those who want to find out about specific topics, the book provides lists of web resources and print publications.

Who needs this book? Anyone considering installing their own home security system, whole-house audio or video system, household LAN, or even those that want a professional to do it.

It gives you a good idea about what's going on, as well as meaning to those funny buzzwords that home contractors use. It's also useful for those who are interested in getting the most out of their home office or existing automation equipment. Finally, professionals who have most of their expertise in one discipline may find this helpful to learn the basics of the rest of what's out there.

Voice-activated remote controls all your equipment—with just the sound of your voice. Instruct your TV, VCR, DVD, cable and satellite with up to 25 voice commands. Preprogrammed with four voice commands—“Power,“ “Channel Up/Down“ and “Previous.“ And its new learning feature makes key-to-key programming easy, too. Recognizes all voices for the most used functions—for use right out of the box. Includes charging base and batteries.

Beyond the control of lighting, heating and security is a whole other dimension of home automation - no remotes needed! These computer products help you do anything from pre-scheduling the actions of your lights and appliances to having them respond to your voice commands! If taking control of your home sounds appealing, sit back and let your computer do all the work. world's largest home automation retailer, Smarthome is a single, easy-to-use source for over 5,000 affordable lighting, security, and home entertainment products that the average do-it-yourselfer can safely install.

Remember the first time you experienced the simple thrill of making something happen by remote control? Well, get prepared to feel that again on a grand scale. With the NEW ActiveHome Professional, its never been more easy or affordable to put home automation to work for you. It's the rebirth of cool!