The PC controls each of these according to its programming or commands you feed it via mouse or keyboard. That, in a nutshell, is home automation. When you hook up a computer to your home systems, all kinds of wonderful things become possible. This kind of convenience may seem a trivial return on what can be an expensive investment. Even for those of us who grew up in the pre-remote era, it now seems unbearable to watch television without one.
Convenience is compelling and addictive, especially given our ever-increasing pace of life.
While an automated system may be a luxury for an abled-bodied person, it could be a necessity or even lifesaver for a person with disabilities. Almost anything that can reduce the number of unnecessary footsteps an elderly, frail person who is unsteady on his or her feet needs to take, is a worthwhile investment. And people suffering from paralysis or motor impairments often find that an automated system spells the difference between a life of independence and one of dependence. Home automation also provides a different kind of safety by making sure that appliances such as irons are not left running all day. It saves money.