The growth in personal communications devices like laptops, tablets and smartphones means that more people are demanding the ability to control more aspects of their lives through a common interface.

At the same time, miniaturisation of electronic chip technology makes it possible for your fridge to automatically re-order your shopping when your food is close to its expiry date, or your central heating boiler to tell your windows to close when the radiators are warming up.

Indeed, there are already products being marketed to enable busy people to control their home lighting and heating remotely, while miniature cameras enable anxious pet owners to check on the wellbeing of their cat or dog while they are away.

This whitepaper examines the risks and rewards that are available to the professional security installer as home automation takes hold.