BY AUSTIN LYNCH

Imagine a world where you never had to worry about leaving the lights on in your house again.

Or a world where you could dial into your house while away on holidays and turn up the heating when the weather gets colder.

Having (what is effectively) a remote control for your house may sound like the stuff of futuristic movies, but you may be surprised to learn that this technology is here, and available, now.

And what's more: we may all soon be living in what are affectionately known as, 'smart homes'.

Thanks to Smart Home Technology, developed by electronics giant, Siemens, the 'smart home' of the future is available today. With the touch of a button, it is now possible to control systems like lighting, heating, window blinds, ventilation and security / burglar alarm systems.

To showcase this technology and show how the modern home can be automated, a special Siemens/AV Acoustics event took place in Enniskillen last Wednesday and Thursday in the Killyhevlin Hotel, Enniskillen.

The aim was to allow the public to get a tour around the impressive Siemens Smart Home Technology demonstration vehicle where the public would have the opportunity to not only see this technology in action but also to meet and talk about this technology with industry specialists from Siemens and from locally based company, Forum Technik NI.

The inside of the demonstration vehicle is laid out like an ultra modern home with kitchen, study and living area. Through various control panels on the wall, the homeowner is able to control lights, turn up or down the heating, open or close the blinds and even control the entertainment system , ie select music from a number of iPods plugged in around the house, change television and radio channels and control games consoles at the touch of a button.

The system can also be linked into the home security system, and there is the provision to have a 'kill' switch so that when you leave the property, all internal devices will be switched off, blinds will come down, lights will go out and the burglar alarm will be set.

But, what Stephen Wilson from Forum Technik is keen to point out is that people can have their homes as automated as they desire, and each home will be tailor-made to the customer's individual needs and requirements.

"It's about future proofing your home", Stephen explained, adding that he anticipates all homes of the future having smart technology designed in, of some sort or other.

Stephen pointed out that in 20 years, if you were looking to buy a house and there were two identical houses for sale - except one had smart technology and the other hadn't - he would expect the 'smart home' to be chosen.

Forum Technik can create an intelligence system for specific needs and then design, install and deliver a tailor made solution while offering after sales support.

There is also an energy saving aspect to this technology. New intelligent building technology can reduce energy bills for homeowners by up to 40% across the UK.

And, this control of 'environmentally friendly; heating technology is a key factor in profitability for homeowners in that around 33% of the entire energy consumption of a residential building is used for heating.

Room temperature management is a key feature in reducing costs within the home. Siemens Intelligent Building Controls can ensure that a room's temperature is linked with windows so that the heating in the room is reduced if a window is opened. The ability to set economy heating levels for unoccupied rooms also creates big savings on a monthly bill.

Installing this type of technology is known as 'future proofing' in that you are ensuring your home will not be left behind as technology surges forward over the next few years.

The benefits of future-proofing homes are endless. Homeowners will be able to dial into their control system, using a mobile phone, to adjust heating and lighting as well as the ability to central lock and 'switch off' the house. Where this technology has an advantage is that with Siemens / KNX, only one set of cables is required and, as Stephen Wilson explained, you can even put the cabling in when the house is being built (at first fix) and then leave it in place, adding on systems and functions as and when they are required.

Once the basic system is installed, it is easy to add on functions without causing major upheaval.

While this all sounds very good, it still sounds like something only millionaires and pop stars can afford. So, what about cost and how much does this type of technology really cost?

Apparently, the technology is affordable but, as every home is different in size and requirements, Forum Technik weren't able to give us an idea of basic cost.

One thing is for sure: there was a little glimpse into the future provided by this event, and it is something anyone considering building (or refurbishing) their property, should at least consider.