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Don't go with the automated shades. Use those new windows that have LCD crystals embedded in them. Flip a switch and they go from transparent to opaque.

If you are serious about doing all this automation, I STRONGLY recommend checking out http://www.CocoonTech.com, a site dedicated to the marriage of Home Automation, Home Theaters and Home Security.

Steve: Do you have a link to those new windows, I would like to take a look at them and see how expensive they are.

Automating the shades is not a bad idea, it has been done before, the problem is that these motorized units can be pretty expensive. If you find a good deal on them, post on CocoonTech, as many others are looking for an affordable solution.

Please provide a link to a vendor who's actively marketing the windows you mention Steve. I didn't know these were on the market yet, and would love to check them out (and their prices, of course).

Thanks

Ah yes, Ive seen those. Not a day goes by since then that I don't dream of owning some one day. Those things are the shiznit.

Here's the first company I found for Polymer Liquid Crystal Windows-

http://www.switchlite.com/home.html

Hope that helps

My brother-in-law is a chemical engineer for a Minnesota glass company. He is currently working on those LCD windows.

I first saw LCD windows at a trade show in California about 8 years ago. Many of the implementations I have seen actually have a dimmer on the window. I am glad do see this area making some progress, it will be interesting to see how some of these technologies end up in the next 5 or 10 years.

Many new houses are already being wired with ethernet and Broadband/home networking are starting to expand this area.

Creating access to a central data base of MP3's and/or movies from anywhere on the home network will be an important step here.

iTunes and TiVo have sort of laid the foundation in these areas.

VoIP is also recently making some progress and many people now have 2 or 3 computers. We are moving into a time where almost every home will have its own small network.

Don't forget Airport Express, a wonderful new device from Apple that has 6 or 7 functions in one cool little package. Like a lot of Apple stuff, this one seems obvious once you hear about it. I know some people will say that this is not innovative, that this functionality is already available in existing products.

I disagree, I think the innovation lays with the ease of use, the pricing (very reasonable) and the thought that has gone into its design.

http://www.apple.com/itunes/share.html

My wife & I built a new homw about 4 years ago with all the bells and whistles - Full lighting automation, video and audio server, full cat5 wiring and fiber conduits, power shutters, multizone/multiprogrammable HVAC, massively complex intrusion/fire system, etc. The basement looks like the inside of a nuclear sub.

The problem is, if anything happens to me, my wife will have to sell the house, since I am the only one who can operate it (much less know where everything is if something breaks).

You can't beat the simplicity of the old 'digital' (finger-powered) light switch.

Just something tio keep in mind..

K.I.S.S.
Making this too complicated is going to add little value but alot of grief and lost $$$.

With your idea of video surveillance, what are you actually trying to accomplish? Having alot of cameras isn't worth alot unless somebody is actually monitoring them. Having one at the driveway entry and a video intercom at the front door would suit most basic needs. Anything more is usually at a place that has security staff on-site.

As neat as the idea of remotely controlling the house via the web is, I would recommend against it as that would be an extreme vulnerability. That would be almost like leaving your house keys in the deadbolt of your front door with a banner advertising "Help Yourself".

For fire and security monitoring, it may be worth it to have the system tied to a cellular service (if a reliable one exists in your area), rather than the house phone line. That is the single weakest point in any security system, as one cut wire eliminates anybody knowing something is going on. The cellular transmitters are pretty neat and reliable. Also, have the system monitored, but also have it page you when an incident occurs.

As far as HTI+ goes, I'd hire people with proven experience. Like alot of so called "MSCE"s I've run across, the certification doesn't mean anything more than somebody knows how to pass a test. In this industry, real life experience is alot more valueable IMHO.

I wish you luck, but don't get hypnotized by all the glamourous hi-tech gadgets available nowadays. Most of it is unnecessary fluff.

The companies here in the metro who do these type of installations have a licensed electrician, audio geek, computer geek, low voltage lighting tech, and a very experienced designer/project manager handling these projects. A long shot from a couple of dudes with drills and a fish tape, or someone who passed an HTI+ cert after reading an exam cookbook.

Even in a modest sized home the complexity of cabling is absolutely mindbogling.
The last install I was involved with was filled with Speedwrap: http://www.smarthome.com/8682.html

If your building a new home; this is the only way to fly.
A single cable run can handle all of the data, voice, and video, for the entire building. All of the low voltage is ran as a single bundle also; the control wiring, alarm system, speaker cable, and low voltage lighting.
A professionally done installation is not a cheap proposition by any means, and a poorly planned installation would be an absolute disaster.

Solar and wind power were some of the first technologies that caught my eye and interest. Now that I'm into computer hardware, I see all sorts of things that "can" be done.

"Can" does not always equate to "should" be done. Sit and talk to your contractor about every aspect of the system he's setting up before anything goes in. Ask him if he thinks this system can pass strict "Emma" testing, and if he has doubts you need to go over the design again and see if it can be simplified somehow.

Strict "Emma" testing involves you being able to go on a vacation and have your "Aunt Emma" come stay at your house for a week to a month while you're gone without having to take a 3-6 week Adult Ed course just to be able to operate and/or maintain anything. Don't laugh, chances are, at some point, you will need to have someone stay at your home, or you will be too ill to perform strenuos or complicated tasks at least once in the first 5 to 8 years your in your new home.

The goal is really to separate the low voltage work from any IT work. Anything done over an IP network can work great, but can be frought with problems as described by Stephen Wardlaw above. The more plug-n-play it can be the better.

You are correct about the single bundled cable for ease of installation. Even better is doing it over a single Cat5e or Cat6 cable:

http://www.canon.com/technology/detail/software/epsilon/

My wife and I built a completely new custom house in 97-98(-99-00-...) and I have many tips to offer, but here's the most important:

X-10 signalling, even after 20+ years on the market, isn't reliable enough (IMO) for anything really critical. I've been using it for 20 years, and for the first 15 years I thought it was flakey just because of crappy old wiring, but now that I have a new house with new wiring, I still have mysterious problems -- signals that I didn't send get picked up on my X-10 monitor (and yes, I have a blocker at the service panel); some locations in the house just can't seem to get signals from some other locations; stuff like that.

I imagine that the same sorts of problems can occur with WiFi or Bluetooth. I've steered clear of wireless entirely because I know too much about radio :-).

The point is, don't control anything critical with X-10. Use something else for HVAC, window and door locks, your Grandma's iron lung, etc. You might consider RS-485 for that. Or don't automate that stuff at all! Remember, your stuff (and mine) isn't UL Approved.