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HILLMA N HOMES | F E A T U R E power lines, radio waves are put to work—which is how Wi-Fi, cell phone signals and Bluetooth all operate. Two well-known examples are ZigBee and Z-Wave, both of which are mesh networks, meaning they utilize more than one route for commands. The bonus is that the fastest path is sought out, so the signal is delivered as efficiently as possible. Many Z-Wave devices work with Amazon Echo, for example…the hot product you've seen on commercials that can dim the lights, play the latest Adele single and dial the pizza man just with the sound of your voice. Alexa— essentially Echo's version of Siri—can be commanded to do all of this and more with minimal effort on your part. SMART OR JUST FANCY? But this begs the question…are some of these so-called conveniences truly necessary? While it may be pretty darn neat that Alexa acts as an automated assistant, many of her capabilities are a bit frivolous. The aim is for such devices to serve a need, not just impress—or possibly frustrate—in the form of a fancy toy. Voice-activated lights that greet you as you enter your home weighed down with heavy bags of groceries are one thing…being able to quickly transition from the top R&B hits to country favorites in the blink of an eye is another. Is the effort of clicking a button really all that burdensome, in the greater scheme of things? Yet from a very practical standpoint, an advanced security system could be put into place to not only protect your house from intruders when you're either at home or away, but in a fire emergency in the middle of the night, you could be notified to wake, doors could be unlocked for your easy exit, the fire department could be called, and a path to safety could be lit. Now that's a smart use of technology! THE BOTTOM LINE Once you decide if some of these features appeal to you, it's time to determine a budget and prioritize the functionalities you seek. The costs involved can vary— anywhere from $200 for a simple set-up to as much as $250,000 for a highly integrated system. It makes sense to start out small…perhaps with a basic lighting package that could be installed same-day, and then build from there, graduating to security measures, entertainment capabilities, etc., which may require much more complex TEACH AN OLD HOME NEW TRICKS •Warm the bedroom or bathroom about an hour before you awake so it'll be comfortably toasty by the time you're up and around. •Program the TV or other devices to establish defined limits for your kids—on either content or length of use. •Feed your pets when you can't make it home on time—a pre- determined amount of food can be dispensed remotely. 10 | Fannie Hillman + Associates

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