metaruss

While X10 devices are completely self-sufficient (you can buy timer, etc to improve automation), in my mind the next level of home automation is to put it under intelligent computer control.  X10 (the company) offers several “ActiveHome” kits that are great to get started in this area.  The software that comes with ActiveHome leaves a few things to be desired, however (more on this later).  With a computer at the center, you can configure it to do intelligent things based on the time of day, whether it’s light or raining outside, activity within the home, etc.  The possibilities are endless.

There are devices that you can connect only to a computer to improve flexibility and performance.  You can also extend the automation systems further with multi-I/O units that can interface with the world outside of X10, giving you control of doors, sprinklers, etc and allowing other types of sensor inputs (rain gauges, temperature, etc).