AUTOMATION
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Sick of housekeeping and home maintenance? Worry not. These home automation products do it all for you—no kidding!
Tool or toy? For the do-it-yourself, that line is always gray. Browse ten fun and practical holiday gifts for the gadget-crazy handyperson in your life.
Whole-home wiring systems, or “smart home” systems, have been around for decades, but it’s only since wireless commun...
Light switches are a problem in our home. Every single light switch is in the wrong place—or at least it always seems...
The key to selecting the right approach to home automation is to understand what you want it to do, how it can be wired, and how much you can spend.
Technology is permeating our domestic lives and "smart homes" are at the apex of this movement. Communications giant ...
Are you ready for structured wiring to bring your home into the digital age?
Bob Vila Radio is a newly launched daily radio spot carried on more than 60 stations around the country (and growing)...
When we were weighing options for our home, a new construction, I was almost certain we wouldn’t elect to put in a ce...
Focus on features, capacity, energy efficiency, and cost when selecting appliances.
Control sound, heating, cooling, and lighting systems using the Internet
Bob checks out a Sears garage door opener-- at 3/4 horsepower, it's among the strongest on the market.
Brent Thompson (from IceBox) joins Bob in the kitchen to talk about a new Internet appliance.
Bob and Tim Woods (of Internet Home Alliance) discuss the basics of structured wiring and connectivity in the basement of the Vermont farmhouse.
Bob meets up with Tim Woods (of the Internet Home Alliance) in the basement of the Quechee home to hear about the progress made integrating the connected home tec...
Bob checks email from his truck using GM OnStar's Virtual Advisor functionality. He then meets with Tim Woods (from the Internet Home Alliance) to check out the P...
Bob explains how the Kinetico water purification system works and reviews the A.O. Smith ProMax 75 gas-fired water heater.
Bob experiences the Panasonic Replay TV with the show-stopper feature and he tours the master bedroom suite, admiring the space, scope, and the view.
Bob joins Tim Woods (from Internet Home Alliance) in the basement to look over the network connection center, the area responsible for the homeowners' internet, t...
Bob looks at the beech flooring in the key hall, before moving to the media room to discuss the carpeting with Gary Johnston (from DuPont) and the electronic comp...
Bob visits the Global Solar factory in Tucson, AZ to see how they company manufactures its unique solar-electric (photovoltaic) devices.
Bob Ryley meets with Ken Frankel (from Lucent Technologies) to discuss the new HomeStar wiring system.
Bob meets with Tom Morgan (from Home Automation) to view and discuss the "brain" of the home automation system. Next, Bob checks in with the wiring contractor to ...
Bob inspects the remote device, controlling the PA system, HVAC, lighting, and entertainment systems. In the basement, Bob Ryley is exploring the wires and cables...
Bob meets with James Gilmore, the governor of Virginia at the time of the executive mansion's restoration. Gilmore stresses the practical and symbolic importance ...
Carpenter Bob Ryley works on the mahogany deck, while new kitchen appliances are installed and the lighting and cabinets undergo examination.
The garage door openers are installed on the automotive end of the garage. Bob reviews the brackets and beams used to mount the opener's drive, as well as the cha...
Bob helps contractor Bob Ryley install a Craftsman garage door opener.
