8. You’ve got mail
When the great room PIR goes off and we’ve just arrived home and there’s a new message on the HomeLogic [home automation] box, the system annunciates [in my voice] that there’s new voice mail. - Tom Ardolf, Cybermation, Waite Park, Minn.

9. You’ve got company
If the house is in “Vacation” mode and someone comes down our driveway, the vehicle/driveway sensor calls my cell so I can see who’s there. If it’s in “Away” mode, then it just emails me, as I’m more than likely just at the office, and I can just maximize my Homelogic screen interface. - Ardolf

10. Extra fire protection
If smoke/heat detectors go off, all types of events are initiated—basic things like turning off the HVAC system, and more advanced activities like calling, emailing and flashing the lights. – Ardolf

11. Hello, cleaning lady
When the security system is disarmed by the cleaning lady’s security code – she only comes on Wednesdays – the system waits until she enters the house (judging by the door sensor), she is greeted by my voice and whole-house music … until she leaves the house. - Ardolf

CE PRO FAVORITE
12. Go away, deer
I don’t get unwanted visitors in my back yard, so I tied my security system into the paging output of my Niles distributed audio/video system. When the outdoor motion sensors are tripped, the alarm system’s contact closure activates the Niles system, and a 12-second recorded message blasts through two zones (four rock speakers) at 50 percent volume. The message? My dogs barking. - Shawn Kelly Stermer, Niles Audio

13. Alert the neighbors
If an alarm triggers, then all outside lights start flashing to alert neighbors. – Kelly Driscoll, Audio Design Innovations, Stillwater, Minn.

14. Kids home safe
One customer wanted to know when his kids got home everyday so we setup the system to send him an email when the front door opens or when the alarm was armed or disarmed. – Driscoll

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Julie Jacobson - Editor, Electronic House; Editor-at-large, CE Pro

Julie Jacobson is editor of Electronic House and editor-at-large for CE Pro magazine, the trade magazine for home technology. She co-founded parent company EH Publishing in 1994.