I am always amazed at people's reaction (or lack thereof) to home automation. I sometimes feel like the Rodney Dangerfield of home improvement.
Today's water cooler conversation (the names have been changed to protect the un-initiated and events have been dramatized for effect):
Kathy: (looking very interested) So Mark, what project do you have lined up for this weekend?
Mark: (non-chalantly) Since it's going to rain all weekend, I'll probably upgrade the software for my home automation system.
Tom: (proudly) I installed i-Tunes on my PC last weekend. Boy, what a bear - but I got it working.
Kathy: (batting eyes) Gee, Tom you always were good with computers. I could sure use your help to get my e-mail working. (curiously) So Mark, what do you mean by a home automation system?
Mark: (enthusiastically) Well, it's basically a computer-controlled system that automates control of things like lighting, TVs, garage doors, my security system and various other things like sensors and low voltage devices. - (Seeing the blank looks, I figure I should explain what it does) - It automatically turns lights on and off depending on whether we're home or not. It announces things like weather, caller-ID and approaching visitors. It also works as a whole house music system. All these different sub-systems communicate with each other via the computer and can be controlled with touchscreens or keypads all over the house. I can even control some things just by speaking.
(Awkward silence, continued blank looks, Kathy stares into space, Tom kicks a dust bunny, Bob's eyes betray what he's thinking - "Nerd-Alert!, Nerd-Alert!")
Kathy: (politely) That's nice. So Bob, what are you doing this weekend?
Bob: I'm installing a dimmer switch for my chandelier.
Tom: (wide-eyed) Wow Bob, I'm impressed. I wouldn't even think of doing my own electrical wiring!
Kathy: (turns to mush) Say Bob, you're sure gosh-awful handy. Maybe you could come on over tonight for dinner and...
CURTAIN
I really do this home automation stuff for fun, not for attention. But what the heck???
Mark
P.S. - I'm not really interested in Kathy, but how can she not swoon over my prowess?
Today's water cooler conversation (the names have been changed to protect the un-initiated and events have been dramatized for effect):
Kathy: (looking very interested) So Mark, what project do you have lined up for this weekend?
Mark: (non-chalantly) Since it's going to rain all weekend, I'll probably upgrade the software for my home automation system.
Tom: (proudly) I installed i-Tunes on my PC last weekend. Boy, what a bear - but I got it working.
Kathy: (batting eyes) Gee, Tom you always were good with computers. I could sure use your help to get my e-mail working. (curiously) So Mark, what do you mean by a home automation system?
Mark: (enthusiastically) Well, it's basically a computer-controlled system that automates control of things like lighting, TVs, garage doors, my security system and various other things like sensors and low voltage devices. - (Seeing the blank looks, I figure I should explain what it does) - It automatically turns lights on and off depending on whether we're home or not. It announces things like weather, caller-ID and approaching visitors. It also works as a whole house music system. All these different sub-systems communicate with each other via the computer and can be controlled with touchscreens or keypads all over the house. I can even control some things just by speaking.
(Awkward silence, continued blank looks, Kathy stares into space, Tom kicks a dust bunny, Bob's eyes betray what he's thinking - "Nerd-Alert!, Nerd-Alert!")
Kathy: (politely) That's nice. So Bob, what are you doing this weekend?
Bob: I'm installing a dimmer switch for my chandelier.
Tom: (wide-eyed) Wow Bob, I'm impressed. I wouldn't even think of doing my own electrical wiring!
Kathy: (turns to mush) Say Bob, you're sure gosh-awful handy. Maybe you could come on over tonight for dinner and...
CURTAIN
I really do this home automation stuff for fun, not for attention. But what the heck???
Mark
P.S. - I'm not really interested in Kathy, but how can she not swoon over my prowess?