Author: Dr Leslie Haddon School of Cultural and Community Studies University of Sussex Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QN UK In essence intelligent homes offer new ways of controlling appliances. This may be in the form of remote control from within or from outside the home or through enhanced programmability where several devices could operate in conjunction . An example would be where a system remembers previous patterns of appliance usage and can turn lights on and off, draw curtains and even turn TVs and radios on and off to convey the impression that somebody is home . Other examples include monitoring and controlling appliances via the phone, lights which are programmed to come on if intruders or smoke are detected, or washing machines which can start up when electricity tariffs are low. In practice the option of remotely controlling and programming appliances have been achievable for some decades provided enough electronics and later computer power were utilised. But unti...