Please note: the JRF no longer conducts any research into this area of work. The information provided in this section is kept here for historical purposes.
Frequently asked questions
In showing people around the smart homes, JRF staff have been asked a number of common questions. Many of these are covered in the earlier sections of this guide. Others are answered below.
What happens when something breaks down?
The smart home uses a distributed control system so, if one part of the house stops working, the rest of the house will still be able to operate as usual. If something does stop working, you will need to contact your installation company who will either be able the fix the problem over the telephone or will come out to repair the device.
What happens in a power cut?
The smart home system is designed to keep you and your house safe in any circumstances. In the case of power failure, all the devices in the house will revert to a safe mode. So, for example, you will still be able to unlock doors. In the same way as in a normal house, some of the systems like the central heating will not work without power. Most of the special devices in the home have a battery back-up so they can be used in a power cut, though they may need to be operated by their switches rather than a remote control.
How much of this do I have to have?
The smart home is designed so that it can be customised to suit the needs of the people living in it. As a minimum heating, lighting and security controls would normally be installed. If there are devices that you think you would not use, these need not be installed. If you have any specific needs, additional equipment can usually be installed.
How can I change the way things work?
If you find that the way the house responds to certain commands is not ideal for you, the smart home can be reprogrammed to work differently. This can usually be done by the installation company from their offices and generally will not involve a visit to the house.