Cisco Systems (my former employer) and my many friends are to blame for this. At my friends urging and Cisco igniting, I have entered in to the world of communicating more than a dream, actually a reality. The home is smart. It is connected. It does things for you. It talks to you. It keeps you informed. It makes you think, but it lets you relax as well. This is our world of home automation and the connected home. Like many others (or so I thought) this home is part of a growing trend to build intelligence into the home and allow everything that can be connected to be so, IF it makes sense and serves a purpose. I thought this was what tons of people were doing. But, according to the managers at Cisco, I scored the top-dog prize for the most-connected and automated home for all 57,000 Cisco employees. 
There were some other awesome ideas, its just that I got a little more invested in connecting everything that moved me to the top of that list. So, at the urging of many friends and acquaintances, I think I will share some perspectives and experiences and hope that you too, will enter into this great world of the connected home.
Click HERE to see the full Network Diagram Or Click HERE to see a PDF of the Network Diagram.
Read the full story of the Best Home Network contest at Cisco’s web site.
One of Cisco’s FIRST multi-point telepresence conferences with active participants in Sydney, Europe, North Carolina and San Jose (Andrew is on the far right of the picture, next to Cisco’s VP of the IT dept.)
Each of us presented our network and discussed its technical features.
No Comments? Hey! I got something to say! Er… I mean write! It has been my privaledge to take a tour thru Andrew Wards’ home. Even greater to know Andrew Ward. He is not only a wonderful individal ,but shows true compassion to help others in their needs . I gues you could also say he is “Mr Gadget” I should know,cuz I too am intrigued by electronic marvels! I would pray that his achievements should set a pace for others to strive for…even excel.
I was looking for examples of network diagrams on google and I found your site and I must say, WOW! This is some serious Geek stuff.
cool. I like it 🙂
Love it. I am at this moment, just looking round the net for some ideas for setting up my own smart-home and this site of yours is fitting in nicely. Once I get my home setup I’ll get a realy good idea of what can be done to assist the handicapped. A very good friend of mine is a severe quadraplegic, so a automated home makes sense. I do know others in his position as well, and I often thought that some “simple” technology could be applied to help these people that can only talk or maybe press a button.
Congratulations and keep up the good work Andrew.