UNIT 4
HOME AUTOMATION
Prof. Rodgers
Home Automation Prof. Rodgers
Pre-Viewing
As part of their work engineers often write technical definitions and instructions.
Write a technical definition of an automated or digital home.
First viewing
-Having watched the video would you change your definition of a digital home in any way? How?
Write down your changes.
Second viewing
What, if you could ________ and _________ your home’s _____________ devices and amenities
all from the palm of your __________ from just about ____________ in the ___________?
Well, _______ ___________ allows for just that. It’s _________ _______ ____________ and it
turns any home into a ________ ________.
With home automation certain lights _______ _______ and _________ when you _______ into a
_______
The jacuzzi __________ you that it has __________ the ___________ you have ___________ on
your smart ________
And your home’s front ________ is set to automatically ___________ itself __________ after
entering into the driveway.
With such ________ household related items seemingly come to __________ ready to take your
_________at a ______________ notice
And that puts you into a _________ of bliss with the __________ you call __________.
Sentence Completion
Now, without the text and with reference only to the 5 images from the videos, complete the
sentences below.
Discussion
First Reading
1.Lights.2.Drapes.3.Jacuzzi.4.Doors
The video gives these 4 examples of things that Home Automation can control.
1. A German in Bonn turns off the light in his Italy and Spain are considering or testing
bathroom. Nothing strange about that, except similar technology. "There are three benefits
that his home is in Berlin. In fact, he is using for the user from eHome services: energy
a new system devised by the German savings, security and the convenience that
electricity group RWE, which lets customers once you push a button everything will be
control lighting, heating and household managed in your home," says Jens-Michael
appliances while they are away from home. Peters, who heads RWE's eHome activities.
2. To use the service, (Example) known as 5. The company also has plans to offer a
eHome, customers need to (1)_______ a security service whereby sensors are set up
gateway - a more intelligent version around the house to alert users on their mobile
(2)_______ a modem - which links into a phones if there is a burglary. An entertainment
(3)_______ automation system. They can then service is another possibility and the company
dim (4)_______, perhaps to suggest to has already launched an internet access
potential burglars (5)_______ there is business using the electricity power lines
someone dozing in front of (6)_______ instead of phone lines. "Once you have the
television set, and adjust the heating intelligent box in the home, you might run
(7)_______ warm the house in preparation for any service," says Mr Peters.
their (8)_______. Surprisingly, no extra 6. Roger Marshall, an industry consultant,
connections are needed: the home automation believes such services have a future, though
system controls the household appliances and he has some reservations: "Expectations are
switches by using the conventional electricity quite high. In my view, it's only a matter of
wiring in the house. time. You have to look at economics because
3. Customers use a Wap-enabled mobile technically it can be done. The question is
phone or just a standard telephone to issue how you package it." Mr Marshall points out
RWE's eHome platform with commands for that there is a stronger political impetus for
their homes. Or they can set up a personalised RWE to launch a service that enables
internet portal to control the heating or customers to exert control over electrical
lighting via a personal computer or laptop. consumption in Germany than elsewhere in
Transmission is via ISDN, DSL, standard Europe: "Energy conservation is a much
telephone line, or even over RWE's local bigger issue in Germany. The green lobby is
electricity network. more powerful." Cost savings with heating
4. RWE launched its service last year and has can be particularly attractive for customers, he
been gradually offering it to an increasing says.
number of local electrical customers. So far 7. Not everyone is enthusiastic. Rival German
1,500 homes have signed up and by the end of electricity company Eon announced at the end
the first quarter of next year eHome services of November that it was dropping its
could be available to up to 30 per cent of powerline development. The company said it
German households. RWE claims to be the still had "various projects about e-home
first company to offer a such a service applications", which can be delivered over
commercially, although other leading telecommunications infrastructure as well as
electricity companies in Germany, France,
the electricity networks, but would not give
any more details.
VOCABULARY
Complete paragraphs 2 in the text with the appropriate words from the box below.
Example: known
1. __________________
2. __________________
3. __________________
4. __________________
5. __________________
6. __________________
7. __________________
8. __________________
II. HEADINGS
Choose the best heading from the list below for each of the indicated paragraphs from the
text.
Example: Paragraph 2 ___F_
. Paragraph 1 _____
Paragraph 3 ____
Paragraph 4 _____
Paragraph 5 _____
A. How instructions are given
B. History and advantages of the service
C. An expert’s view of RWE’s services
D. Example of long distance control
E. A less optimistic company
F. Necessities for the eHome system
G. Additional RWE service possibilities
III. REFERENCE
What do the underlined words in the sentence refer to?
turns off the light in his bedroom(paragraph 1)
-Roger Marshall and Jens-Mitchell Peters agree on one benefit of Home Automation
Word Order
1.The following sentences on the digital home are not in order. Number the words to indicate
the correct order. In each sentence the first word is given.
1.difficult/instructions/for/are/technological/homes/to/digital/understand
Instructions
2.afford/ a majority/digital/cannot/people/of/a/home
A majority
3.for/home/price/digital/is/explanation/the/the/the/failure/of
Price
4.technology companies/ difficulties /have/ selling/digital/homes/idea/the/of
Technology companies
5.devices/home/home/digital/a digital/just/not/with/is/devices
A digital
6.formed/division/a/new/focus/Intel/in/January/home/on/the/to/digital
Intel
7.consumers/have/enthusiastic/homes/so/far/not/been/digital/about
Consumers
8.succeed/home/can/with/promotion/good/and/advertising/the digital
The digital