On the Buses: Last station still far off 3

Published:2011/8/9 22:06:00 Author:Amy From:SeekIC

David Daamen

Konnex

A full discussion of every available standard is unfortu­nately beyond the scope of this article, hence we will pick out one we think is particularly interesting. The stan­dard proposed by the European Home System Associa­tion (ESHA) is a good example of how it should be done. Apart from supplying specifications on medium and com­munication protocols, the consortium aims at furnishing a solution that’s brand-independent, auto-configuring (plug and play), modular and future-proof. The fact that ESHA, BatiBus and EIB decide to team up to form the Konnex Association (Figure 3) is sure to help achieve the origi­nal goals.



Because the standard is open and platform-independent while also supporting various real-world media, we believe it will see increasing coverage in the future.

In practice

So what does the future hold in respect of home automa­tion system? With a well-founded base approaching rap­idly, the possibilities are in principle only limited by our fantasy — or that of the manufacturers, of course. Today’s ability to control the TV or stereo rack from the comfy chair is just a harbinger of what we can expect to see in a few years time. Meanwhile we have to make do with remote control lighting systems now available from builders’ markets. However, this will not be terribly inter­esting until other systems are integrated (Figure 4). Just think of a voice-controlled computer assisting you with measurement and control functions in and around the home, or the central heating activity linked to a time pro­grammed on an alarm clock. A quarter of an hour before you get up, the domotics system provides a comfortable temperature in the bathroom! Taking this one step further, the coffee machine is switched on automatically when you leave the shower.



Home automation may also contribute significantly to security. For example, in your absence a central system may simulate activity in the home and even text you when an alarm condition arises from intruder, flood, high/low temperature or smoke detection, so you get an alert when you’ve left the oven on!


Do it yourself domotics

With consumers waiting for the industry to come up with proper and affordable systems, it is not surprising to see a flood of DIY solutions on the Internet. A couple of these will be discussed in a future installment of E-Online. Meanwhile, why not have a look at what’s brewing on the websites of ’Homeseer’ and ’Home Automated Liv­ing’, which supply examples of hardware and software that allows you to start integrating and automating your home right here and now. The relevant web links may be found below.

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