Unit 5: Smart house

Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

Arthur C. Clarke

WARM-UP

1. Look at the pictures and define what they are (choose the definition).

1. Well and Booster Pump Automation.

2. A homemade Internet-enabled cat feeder.

3. A typical domestic patch panel.

4. The Most Advanced Remote Control Dimmer Available

2. Work in pairs.

1. Make a list of:

• all modern conveniences that can make our life comfortable and pleasant;

• things you want to have in the house if you design your own one;

• domestic electric appliances.

2. Compare your list of things with your partner’s. Whose one is the longest?

Who has made less mistakes in spelling?

3. Give a full answer or discuss the following questions:

1. What does the word “home” mean to you?

2. What kind of house do you live in?

3. What house would you like to live in? Talk about your ideal house.

4. How can you imagine “the house of future”?

5. If we compare the home of past and future what has changed most of all?

6. What does highly advanced automatic system (or systems) mean?

7. Is smart home technology expensive?

4. Look at the statements below. Express your idea on the point.

1. A home is more than a roof and four walls.

2. At home you usually feel safe and relaxed.

3. Laziness pushes a man to invent devices to make his life easier.

READING

5. You are going to read the text about a smart house. Try to be attentive to answer the questions in full.

1. How can we call a “smart house” in another way?

2. What does a ”smart house” mean in the whole?

3. What does HVAC stand for?

4. What can computer systems monitor?

5. When did the term “smart house” appear first?

6. Underline the stressed sound in each word as in the example. Practise reading.

Automatic, system, highly, advanced, conveniences, content, appliances, intelligent, household, comfort, monitor, sophisticated, independently, conditioning, modern, domestic.

7. Read the text “A smart house” and be ready to do exercises with words and expressions from the text. Take part in discussion on the topic.

A Smart House

A smart house or digital home or intelligent building is a house that has highly advanced automatic systems for centralized lighting, multi-media, security, window and door operations, temperature control or HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), appliances, and other systems and many other functions to provide improved convenience, comfort, efficiency.

In other words, home automation (also called domotics) is the residential extension of "building automation". It is automation of the home, housework or household activity.

A smart home appears "intelligent" because its computer systems can monitor so many aspects of daily living. For example, the refrigerator may be able to inventory its contents, suggest menus, recommend healthy alternatives, and order groceries. The smart home systems might even take care of cleaning the cat's litter box and watering the plants.

The idea of a smart home may sound like something out of Hollywood. A 1999 movie titled Smart House presents the comical antics of an American family that wins a "house of the future" with an android maid who causes havoc. Other films show a sci-fi vision of smart home technology that seems.

However, smart home technology is real, and it's becoming increasingly sophisticated. Coded signals are sent through the home's wiring to switches and outlets that are programmed to operate appliances and electronic devices in every part of the house. Home automation can be especially useful for elderly and disabled persons who wish to live independently providing increased quality of life for them.

The popularity of home automation has been increasing greatly in recent years due to much higher affordability and simplicity though smartphone and tablet connectivity. The concept of the “Internet of Things” has tied in closely with the popularization of home automation.