Home smart home: making your home more efficient at the flick of a switch.

IT'S 6 A.M. AND AS YOU LIE IN BED, THE COFFEE begins to brew, the thermostat raises the heat and the fights slowly come on in the bedroom. Or, as you pull into your driveway, a click of a remote control raises your garage door, turns on both the inside and outside lights, clicks on the TV and adjusts the heat.

This may sound like scenes from a futuristic movie but it's only one part of the novel technology unfolding in home computing. A number of independent software developers, such as Savoy Automation, along with the major computer manufacturers (like IBM) are now introducing home automation products. With this technology, you can control one or more household subsystems with your computer, including fighting and appliances, security, heating, ventilation and cooling systems and home entertainment.

The concept of home automation is nothing new. The National Association of Home Builders officially initiated the project in 1984. Viewed from an historical perspective, it has evolved from products that plug into outlets @televisions and radio-alarm clocks that use certain adapters) to ones that require new wiring (lights that use special on/off switches) to the complete rewiring of the home so that a single line can carry power, voice, audio, video and data transmission. Today, if you want your entire home automated like the Jetson's, it could cost $10,000 or more.

Automation is at the high end of the home computing spectrum. At a lower end, most manufacturers, including IBM, Acer America, Compaq Computer and Toshiba America Information Systems, have added sophisticated multimedia and communications programs to their PCs, which can range in price from $1,500-$3,000. These newer models have some enhanced telephony capabilities, integrating in a speakerphone, voice mail, fax and answering machine with two or more mailboxes

This is just the beginning. PC manufacturers are steadily trying to market products that cater to a family's lifestyle. "What we are seeing are companies now suggesting additional ways you can use your computer," says James Staten, industry analyst with Dataquest Corp., a San Mateo, California, market research firm.

There's no doubt that technology is adding value to the lives of many families. An example is Edward and Martina Harris of San Jose, California, who have four computers in their home. The Harrises have his and her PCs, while their three children -- 12, nine and three years old -- share a desktop and laptop.

A personal financial planner who works out of his home, Edward Harris' computer is dedicated to paying household bills and to his three-year-old business. For the past two years, he has been paying all of the household bills online. "I spend a great deal of my day using America Online and the Internet to do research related to my business [i.e., securing annual reports and other company financial documents), Harris says.

In addition to keeping records of his business receipts and expenditures, Edward Harris uses Intuit's Quicken personal finance software for electronic banking. His computer is loaded with software programs like Microsoft Office Suite, FaxWorks, Sidekick (a personal information manager for scheduling), Netscape Navigator and several investment management software titles.

"My computer is actually my virtual office because I telecommute and travel a lot," says his wife, Martina, an international relationship manager with Hewlett-Packard. Her primary computer has a host of software applications, including Lotus Suite and Microsoft Office and some proprietary HP software. In addition, HP has provided an ISDN link allowing her to access all servers in the office. She can also receive messages through a personal 800 number tied to her cellular phone, pager and PC.

The two older children, Dominique and Alexandria, use their computer to do homework and play video games, although their mother is looking into a musical instrument software program. "It wouldn't replace the violin and saxophone lessons they take, but it would enhance the practice and make it more interesting," she says. Meanwhile, three-year old Chelsea is learning her ABCs, numbers, colors and shapes from a JumpStart preschool program.

All of this new and improved functionality only further signals that the computer is becoming an unmatched productivity tool for the home. Like many techno-savvy individuals, the Harrises are considering automating their house for increased security and energy conservation.

MORE FEATURES FOR

THE DOLLAR

If you are a first-time computer buyer or looking to buy a second PC, you'll find that you can now get a lot of features for a few thousand dollars. Even if you aren't in the market for a new computer, you can upgrade your PC with the right software and modules. New high-end features will provide you with a new level of usage, convenience and time and energy savings.

Manufacturers have responded to market demand, and most of the new generation of computers include easy, quick Internet access and Web browsers, such as Netscape Navigator. And they are bundled with a host of software programs for business, personal money management, educational and entertainment uses.

One of the biggest trends right now is Dual Simultaneous Voice/Data (DSVD). A 28.8Kbps (upgradeable to 33.6Kbps) voice/data/fax modem and communications software that controls integrated telephone/answering machine, e-mail, fax and paging functions has been added.

"If all you want is an answering machine, it's much easier to walk over to the phone and press a button to get your messages," says Elaine Lack, director of marketing operations and services for IBM's Consumer Division. "But if you use a pager, e-mail and fax and want multiple mailboxes -- one for every member of the family -- it will be easier and more appealing to have it all in a single device. That's where the enhanced productivity comes from." IBM's Ringcentral software ties in all communications functions, offering such features as "speechmail," which enables the computer to read your e-mails back to you over the phone.

Another prime example is Toshiba's Infinia line with its built-in FM stereo and CD player and speakers, as well as video card (offered by other manufacturers in the past) to allow you to watch television on your computer.

Last year, Compaq began offering a digital camera and videophone-send software as an upgrade for its Pressario 4000 Series ($1,699-$2,799, plus $399-$749 for the monitor). This would give you videoconferencing capability so that you can actually see whom you're talking to via the computer.

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Perhaps one of the more innovative products on the market is IBM's Home Director, a program that comes with the IBM Aptiva S computer ($2,499-$3,099; monitors range from $499-$799). The program replaces old-fashioned timers, allowing homeowners to use their PCs to manage lights and appliances. A combination of CD-installable software and adapters work with Aptiva S series computers to control lights and appliances.

Home Director uses X-10, a power-line technology that works with the home's existing electrical wiring. A signal is sent to lights and appliances plugged into a module that is connected to existing outlets. The modules give signal addresses that enable the Aptiva to identify a certain lamp, ceiling fan or television set, for example.

"No one is going to buy a PC just to be able to turn lights on and off," notes IBM's Elaine Lack. "How-ever, if you have a computer in your home, why not make it more valuable by having it take over certain types of tasks and daily routines?"

With IBM's Home Director, you can vary when lights and appliances are turned on or off. Scheduling such activity can help make the home look lived-in when you are on vacation. "Lighting control, including do-it-yourself switches, has been the most widespread application implemented over the last couple of years," says John Galante, director of integrated home systems for the Consumer Electronics Manufacturers Association. "I suspect there will be more work done to offer this type of functionality, where you can call your system from work if you forget to set back the thermostat. By retrofitting conservation capabilities such as these onto the home, the consumer can save as much as 30% off of an energy bill," he adds.

Most people, of course, are interested in energy conservation, security and convenience, but several industry insiders claim that right now IBM is selling more convenience in its systems. Later this year, Com- paq is expected to introduce home automation to its Pressario line with CEBus (Consumer Electronics Bus), a protocol developed by Intellon Corp. More encompassing than X-10, CEBus can integrate other utilities such as cable and gas while providing lifestyle improvements in security and energy conservation. Other vendors are eyeing Lon Works, a computer chip-based automation technology from Echelon Corp.

For existing PCs, there are a few software programs for automation the entire home -- lighting, heating/cooling, security, entertainment and communications systems. Two Windows-based packages are CyberHouse from Savoy Automation in Westboro, Massachusetts, and HAL 2000 from Home Automated Living in Burtonsville, Maryland. Sold at electronics and computer retail outlets, CyberHouse (prices start at $199) requires 8 MB RAM and a 10 MB drive, while HAL 2000 ($499) needs 16 MB RAM and 40 MB hard drive disk space.

"Our software lets you connect the World Wide Web and household web [interconnection of the home subsystems]," says Dennis Ford, Savoy's president and CEO. "Let's say someone enters your home and trips the security alarm, the computer -- which is attached to a set-top camera -- could snap a picture of that person and send a digitized image to your computer at work and dial-up the police department. We can give the homeowner a virtual presence, no matter where he or she is, across town or around the world."

The HAL (Home Automated Living) 2000 has a sligthly different feature: state-of-the-art voice recognition software lets you activate nearly everything in your home by simply speaking normally into the telephone. You can dial up your computer from anywhere outside your house to control your heating and cooling and lighting systems. You may require adaptors that can be bought at hardware stores; appliance adaptors may cost a few dollars and those for thermostats may cost approximately $200. HAL also enables you to monitor home security; retrieve voice and e-mail messages; start your car remotely; and receive news, sports and stock market information via the Internet. If you're not a do-it-your-selfer, you can pay a professional.

John Galante advises that one should take precautionary measures to make sure that the signals from the PC are not going out into a neighbor's home. There are low-cost devices you can put on the power line, he says, including signal blockers and filtering couplers that can be bought at Radio Shack or other neighborhood electronics outlets. "Also, you will need proper surge protection and battery backup devices for natural conditions such as thunderstorms and tornadoes that can impair signal transmissions," he notes.

All in all, the common theme among families like the Harrises and the efforts of industry gurus is the way that the computer is playing a growing and diversified role in the home. As the convergence of various leading-edge technologies continues, the PC will become the centerpiece in how we interact in the world.