Home automation has typically been the domain of tech-savy homeowners who like to play with the latest gadgets, but it's increasingly becoming a part of basic home security systems because of all the advantages it offers. Examples are lights on timers and automatic window blinds that close by when it gets dark to save heat and protect the privacy of your family even if you're not thinking about it.
One recent article discusses some of the basic ways home automation is encroaching, not just in the high-end homes of tech gurus but in the homes of every day homeowners: "home automation can be as simple as having your lights turn on when you open your garage door, or as complex as having the lights in your house tied into the security system."