The ON/OFF power control that plugs into an electrical outlet

This is useful for electronics that only use ON/OFF. (e.g. coffee maker and lighting) There is also a product that can record electricity consumption.

• WeMo Home Automation | Belkin USA Site
• SmartThings Shop

A device that reads infrared remote controls

This device controls electronics operated by infrared remote control. So, it is very versatile. It can be programmed to several different devices to send out the infrared signal of each appliance from one location. Air conditioner can be operated is great advantage!

The freely controled light bulb!

“LIFX” is a light bulb that can be controlled on the Wi-Fi network. It became a reality through the donation of 1,314,542 dollars on “Kick Starter” (Cloud Funding Site). Philips had launched the first “Hue”. In 2012, a standard of communication for LED lighting called “ZigBee Light Link” and as it started develop, it seems to have circulated more and more in the market.

Electronics with built-in remotes and home automation products

has a feature that uses Wi-Fi and Felica(NFC) built into the electronics. The app can be used to control the air conditioning while away from home, AV equipment, and to record blood pressure and body weight. This may be the smartest way if your favorite products is in the line-up.

URC : Whole House Control : What’s Home Control
This is integration home automation products. I think it can be remote controlled because it can be operated with the iPad.
This is a quick way to build a system using these products by specialized companies if you have the money.

Fire alarm and controller attached in the middle of an air-conditioner

A device for operating appliances away from home

All these products can also be operated from smart phones since the equipment is controlled by home appliances and consumer electronics though a network. In addition, there are also products that are able to be operated away from home easily. How do you do it? By interacting with the appliances over a server that has been set as in the image above(1). ※1 Products can also be controlled even if you do not have a mechanism like this one. It is possible to reproduce the same network when you are in a home network(LAN) by using a connection to a Virtual Private Network(VPN).(2) So you can operate the equipment. ※2 (You must prepare a router that corresponds to the VPN connection.)
※1 The detailed mechanism and method of registration will vary depending on the product.
※2 I haven’t tried it though, so I don’t know if it works for sure!

Designing your own?

heimcontrol.js – Home automation in Node.js with Raspberry PI and Arduino
This video is about remote control tests for lighting using a smart phone to build a system using a small computer called Raspberry PI and Arduino. The program is open and if you how to program and do electronic work, you can add various operations on their own.