These more flexible and elaborate systems generally take one of two forms. A dedicated home controller is a piece of hardware that is designed specifically for whole-house control. Most are modular and can be upgraded to add more features as needs arise. A good security system is where most people start. Adding sensors like motion detectors, flood sensors and smoke detectors are easy upgrades to a security system.
Many systems can coordinate a number of different responses to an alarm.
For example, a flood in the basement would trigger a call to you at your office rather than the police. PC Controls Another popular option for home control and integration is a personal computer. Used for programming the system or operating it, the PC offers the most flexibility in programming options. These systems consist of a piece of hardware that acts as the computer's interface with the house and appliances, and software that contains instructions and the user interface. Some computer software is programmed with a mouse by dragging and dropping appliances around a drawing or photo of your house.