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Home comforts at the touch of a button

Smart wire technology may one day become a feature in everyday households as new applications allow residents to control their homes through their smart phone and iPad.

An application called Control4 allows residents to remotely control the lighting, airconditioning, visual, audio and locking systems in their home, plus much more.

AV Domain director Steve Ford said it could take up to three days to install the smart wire systems into a home and, thanks to the new app, home owners could start controlling their homes from their mobile phones within minutes.

"Anything in the home with a piece of wire can be automated," Mr Ford said.

Costing between $3000 and $4000 to install, Mr Ford believes smart wire technology will soon become the norm for the everyday family home, and not just a priority for the rich and famous.

"People spend the same amount to have their light switches fitted," he said.

"We suggest to people to use an automated system and once they have the backbone installed they can manipulate everything from there."

Mr Ford described the popularity of smart wire homes as a change in lifestyle.

"In the old days we used to build a billiard room with a bar, now we build media rooms with automated systems," he said.

Mr Ford said the app could also measure energy consumption and efficiency.

Builder John Arbanas is currently smart wiring a home in Fig Tree Pocket with an iPad built into the wall.

He said there was an expectation among buyers in the upper end of the market for their homes to be automated.

"You can go to bed, turn off all the power and an hour before you wake up, the coffee machine will come on and warm up the boiler," he said.