By Deborah L. O'Mara

You're driving home from a tough day at the office and thinking about a long soak in the hot tub in the back yard—but you don't relish waiting for the water to heat up. Or perhaps you rushed out of the house without setting the alarm system, an omission you remember when you're already at the office. Or maybe you need to let the nanny in, so she can be ready for the children after school, but you're about to go into a meeting on the other side of the country.

The solutions to all these dilemmas could be right in your pocket or briefcase. The new genre of home automation and security products can be operated through cell phones and laptop computers. When it comes to home security and automation, convenience is king, and wireless is a close second in command. The computer-based systems are easy to install and intuitive to use.

Today, home security is at the top of the "must have" list for many homeowners. Home- buying or remodeling customers can be sold on burglar- and fire-alarm systems easily when remodelers stress the latest in emerging convenience factors. Most people love the idea of being able to use their touch-tone telephones, cell phones, laptops, PDA/handhelds or Blackberry devices to arm and disarm systems and check security status remotely — even from hundreds of miles away.

Quick and easy installation

Wireless systems, sometimes piggybacked alongside hardwired equipment, are great for remodelers who don't want to disturb their customer's residences with unnecessary drilling. Wireless connectivity has become an integral part in all types of monitoring and security applications. Alarm or system-status information can be sent directly to a cell telephone or a pager. Some systems even allow video to be viewed over hand-held units such as PDAs or other mobile devices.

"Day-to-day convenience and automatic or remote control, as well as more intuitive controls, are where the home security market is headed," says Gerald Rooks, president of X-10 (USA) Inc., based in Tampa, Fla. X-10 was a pioneer in early development of home automation, and today the company's communication protocol is widely used to relay signals to products and appliances within the home.

Gerald identifies two current trends in the residential market: the emergence of very cost-effective wireless systems, and remote control and other technologically advanced features that come from more robust panels and sensor offerings. The panels are microprocessor-controlled and can host a variety of security, lighting and other applications, making them multi-functional and multi-tasking. The newest sensors can have special "pet alleys" to accommodate cats and dogs within a home, or they can be set specifically for environmental signals such as temperature changes.

Wireless computer networking systems and CCTV (closed-circuit television) with remote viewing capabilities are also growing in popularity in the home environment. With these systems, homeowners can check in on their homes or watch caregivers or childcare providers. The latest wireless video systems now boast the ability to remotely view live, high-resolution video with audio, via the Internet.

Generally electric

A majority of new homes built in 2004 and beyond will have networks, according to Jay McLellan, president of HAI Inc., New Orleans. More and more electronics are being built into homes, he says, and now they're communicating with each other.

One of HAI's newest products, Web-Link II software, allows for access and control of systems through the Internet. Users can check and adjust the temperature, lights and security in their homes through their PCs, PDAs or Web-enabled phones

Now if only someone would invent a way to use electronics to walk the dog...