Few had plumbing pipes running through walls and between floors. Similarly, those homes had no wires for electricity or telephones, much less radios, televisions, home theaters with surround sound or computers. However, over the years, building homes that include wiring and plumbing became commonplace. The number of electrical outlets have grown from none, to one per room, then one per wall, and now it s one at least every six feet within each room. Telephones too have proliferated from zero to one per home, then to two or three.
Today there is at least one, and in many homes, two lines in almost every room.
The newest trend in building design and construction is to include wiring for future technologies, connecting rooms with PVC conduit to accommodate developing needs, and even including wiring chases like one finds in commercial buildings. According Michael Murdock of Time Direct, LLC, and his partner Yolanda Hoff, pre-wiring new homes for current and future home automation will provide for a comfortable environment based on the needs and lifestyle of homeowners. It is projected that, within the next few years, new buyers will restrict their home search to only those that are pre-wired for automation and advanced communications. Murdock, who does most of the field work along with technicians he has worked with for years, describes home automation as taking an action one does normally and extends it logically to do more. For instance, turning off your alarm clock in the morning can start your coffee maker in the kitchen so, by the time you re out of the bathroom, your first cup of java is waiting for you.