By Sungula Nkabinde
With technology advancing rapidly, it would be a good idea to be mindful of the measures that you need to take for modern technology to be seamlessly integrated into the design and construction of your home. Peter von Graszouw, CEDIA-certified systems designer from The HFX Group shares the key considerations to make in order to “future-proof” your home so that your family can enjoy the entertainment, educational, security and communication benefits of having a properly wired home.
Start from the design stage
The best time to set up a future-proof wiring infrastructure is when you are planning to build your dream home or when renovating your existing home because it is a time-consuming, costly and invasive job to integrate technology as an afterthought into a completed home. Retrofitting electrical or network points and chasing wires into brick walls can be a very messy job. It is far easier, less expensive and quicker to make allowances for this technology in the design stages of building or renovating a home.
Think of it as a precaution
If you can’t afford to install home automation technologies right away when you are building, it is still important to make allowances for it. Once the infrastructure is there, you can save and then add the technology if and when you can afford to. This will give your home the ability to adapt and grow with your lifestyle.
WiFi is not the be-all and end-all
You might think that because you have WiFi in your home, you’re sufficiently prepared for whatever technology advancements there are out there. But, as Peter explains: “WiFi is an amazingly innovative technology that allows wireless access to the Internet. However, it is important to note that WiFi offers a limited range, as it generally doesn’t operate too well through walls and over distances. There are also a host of devices working on these frequencies and it isn’t always smooth sailing. Added to this, whether or not it provides a healthy environment to live in remains questionable – most reports claim that WiFi is completely safe, but the truth is that it hasn’t been around long enough for anybody to know what the long-term effects of exposure will be.”
Stay informed
Future proofing your home requires you to think out of the box, stay abreast of technological trends and try to see beyond the present and into the future, so that you can best choose smart infrastructure and design options. Peter says that things are changing all the time. “Product trends are important to look at, as they dictate what will be required in the future. For example, today it is common to put a network outlet by every television to cater for Smart televisions. Also, the time is coming where most white appliances in your home will be networked using electrical power lines and the Internet, as such extra electrical points and provisions for Internet connectivity are being included in the kitchen.
Consult a professional
It is vital to seek out the expertise of a skilled contractor who understands the design, configuration and installation of home automation, data, audio, networking and lighting in the home, right from the beginning of the project. “Custom home networking integrators should work with the building team – as the architect, builder, interior designer and electrician won’t generally have adequate knowledge about the above mentioned systems in order to provide accurate and custom-tailored advice to the homeowner,” explains Peter.
Ideally, the relationship with your home network integrator should begin when the plans for your home are being drawn up. This partnership should continue throughout the construction phase up until when you move in and the products have been installed.
For more articles on technology and home automation, pick up the October issue of SA Home Owner, on shelves now.
With thanks to HFX Systems and Homeation.
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