Smart House: Proper wiring can make home office buzz Stunningly solid

Of all the rooms in the so-called "smart house," the home office is in many ways at the head of the class. Thanks to high-speed Internet connections, wireless technologies and a host of gadgets, the virtual home office connects workers and students to the outside world at blazing speed.

In the past, homes might include small sewing rooms or studies or basement workshops as extra work spaces. But the in-demand extra room in new homes today is the home office.
Social trends and forces are at play here. There are many kinds of home office users. There are telecommuters who maintain a second office at home or use the home office as their sole work space. In either case, they need a dependable connection to their employer. Many professionals, like physicians and lawyers, maintain a second office at home. Others, including consultants, freelancers and home-based business owners, need a dedicated room to serve as their place of business. And with computers in so many homes, a home office area, however small, is becoming a necessity for everyday household activities like paying bills, tracking finances, doing homework and surfing the net.

Michael Sklack works more than a typical eight-hour day, and having a state-of-the-art wired home office makes his job easier, and more successful, he says.

"With a home office, if it's wired properly, you can conduct your business better. I can answer questions at night."

Thanks to a wireless connection, his kids can also tie into the system from their laptop computers.

Sklack had structured wiring installed while the house was being built, which is the most cost-effective way. The office has the required hook-ups for high-speed and wireless Internet connections to run a business, and is also ready to add surround-sound and cable TV.

Even people who don't work at home are finding that a dedicated "smart" office can be one of the busiest rooms in the house. High-speed Internet connections are reshaping the way people not only work, but also the ways they learn and play.

People with school-age kids know what an important link a computer is in the education process, for homework, research and an at-home connection to the school system. Families are finding that the single PC is multiplying into several throughout the house.