Home Automation For Dummies Paperback – February 13, 2015

I'm planning to build a home in the next year or so, and pretty sure I'd like a Nest thermostat...but beyond that, what's a good idea?It's been a while since I've read a Dummies guide; they are better than ever! This one includes outstanding basic information about Home Automation for those who are wondering whether this might be a great idea or an expensive boondoggle.Pick up this book first and get a real feel for some of the systems and options out there. Get your newbie questions answered before you start installing. As always, hundreds of photos, diagrams, tips, and sources.

I must admit that I was disappointed in this book, but it is my own fault really. I've been reading online for almost a year about Smart Homes, and listen to multiple podcast. I'm not sure why I thought a book "for Dummies" would offer me anything new. That being said, for a beginner it probably would be a great way to learn the terminology and technology of the Smart Home. But I'll warn you, ,the industry is moving so fast that some devices or concepts here may be on their way out before your read it. I would suggest that maybe listening to one of the many really good Home Automation or Smart Home podcast might give you a bit more insight into what is currently going on

Good basic overview. For those who really want to get into diy home automation, you can get by with this intro book, but would benefit from more in depth information.

This was a good intro book, expanding on products and capabilities of home automation. I'm not sure why there were setup instructions for many of these products; it's pointless if you don't buy it and I would defer to the product manual anyway. There are two things I thought were missing. 1) Home Automation for the Disabled and 2) a complete lack of addressing the Amazon Echo. The latter has been available for years and adds voice capabilities to home automation. It's not new enough to have been missed in this book and voice automation is kind of a big key to addressing the former (disability automation).

Had to learn it somewhere,,,,, Very simple and clear

More of an overview than a guide to how actually implement and accomplish something with the many systems out there.

Unfortunately, this is a topic that changes so quickly that the a paper book doesn't cut it. It has to be so general, it's of limited use.I'd appreciate a SmartThings for Dummies, Wink, Iris for Dummies.However, if it's 2015 and you're in the initial planning stages of your home automation system, this might be a good start.It's great they updated this title because I think the previous edition came out in 2006.

I have to admit I am becoming more of a Luddite. Does anyone ever want to talk fact to face anymore? Is it actually easier to get out an automatic brush or cleaner, charge it, use it, clean it, than use a washcloth or mop or rag? These are the things I ask myself, as my children encourage me to text, tweet and twitter.So with disquiet in my heart I requested this book.It does explain things well to this Luddite- yes I still use a flip phone - it works why not? So much of what is in here I cannot use since I have not graduated beyond that, but the nice thing is that I am beginning to at least understand the workings of these mysteries. The security possibilities are something I will look into, including monitoring water leaks.However, my experience with motion activated lights still has not had the question answered...what happens when you are sitting still watching a movie or has happened to me- the lights turn off in the bathroom while you are in the tub?This is not a book for the technologically aware who know the intricacies of wireless and we mo and all sorts of platforms. It is a help to those of us just striving to keep up in a more technical world.