1. Introduction

The term “integrated home systems” is increasingly used when referring to modern electrical installations in homes. This term also raises a few problems, however. It is a container term. Everybody has his own understanding of it. People can be at cross purposes when talking about integrated home systems, and can actually be talking about different things. A young technology needs this like a hole in the head. In order to avoid mistakes, confusion and abuse, we endeavour to define the term “integrated home systems” here. We will analyse the key words of the definition and give practical examples. We will also look at why it is now, and not 30 years ago or in 30 years’ time, that we want to use integrated home systems. We will discuss the difference between integrated home systems and building automation, and we will present the argument why we prefer not to use the term “home automation”.