Electrical Contracting News (ECN) Home Automation & Intelligent Buildings March 2017 | Page 24

LEGRAND

LEGRAND

LIVE LIFE BETTER , EVERY DAY

As our yearning for new technology grows , our understanding of its potential also continues to rise . But , what does that mean for our future homes and what is its relevance each and every day ? Richard Hayward , lead marketing manager for Legrand ’ s wiring devices business unit , explains .

First and foremost it is important to identify the core attributes of a smart or connected home . With so much chatter in the media about smart devices , understanding what one is can be hard to decipher . Just because you can control your heating , lighting or fridge from your smartphone or tablet , doesn ’ t actually make it smart – it is simply connected .

Where the crucial difference between smart devices and connected ones lies , is that to be smart there needs to be a level of intelligence built-in and more importantly , the technology needs to be interoperable with other technologies . If you consider the commercial built environment , there are many systems and solutions that we use every time we visit a hotel , such as the door entry , lighting and heating – all of which are controlled by a single system and then connected to a building management system ( BMS ).
These connected devices ensure that when we enter our hotel rooms the lighting , temperature , curtains and even the music are in perfect harmony with one another and the wider hotel .
If we transfer the same example into a smart home ; the lighting , temperature , curtains and music can all be controlled via a single panel or an App , but it ’ s not simply a case of switching things on or off . Where the key difference is , is the fact that the smart home is also intelligent , and connected via a robust electrical backbone . In reality , this could mean that your home opens the curtains at a certain time of day and dims the lights , that when you close the door , it automatically locks and the security system is enabled . A smart home should really help to look after the people that live in it .
Put simply , much of the technology that we have been using over the last few decades is relatively dumb . From turning on the heating to switching on the lights – we are required to perform an action , whether that ’ s flicking a switch or remotely accessing the system via a mobile phone . Each socket and system works in isolation ie . each has a single
purpose , but is connected to a bigger electrical network . Internet enabled devices offer a fairly simplistic level of control , enabling people to turn things on and off remotely , but still require an individual to perform an act .
Truly smart technology is functional and robust , built upon an electrical backbone that enables technology to be interoperable , or in other words talk to one another , and then adjust or adapt to a requirement . Built around a solid foundation , an electrical backbone can not only deliver power , but is also a conduit for data and information and can help to revolutionise our homes . The simple addition of Internet enabled devices doesn ’ t make a home smart , but it is fun and a step in the right direction toward a smart existence .
This can take the form of any number of technology solutions , from smart products to whole house automation . Placed into the wider context of our changing demographic , it ’ s easy to see how and where demand is rising but equally how it has the potential to improve lives every day . Whatever the driver for customers to invest in home automation might be , there are options available to enable increased control and peace of mind for the homeowner .
Security is a prime example here , with potential options including access control , security lighting and cameras , or perhaps occupancy sensors within the home . Its role is to provide comfort , wellbeing and convenience to the customer and can be controlled via a smart App or control panel , and whether the consumer is home or away . Take , for example , the new Classe 300X connected video internal unit , which thanks to integrated Wi-Fi connectivity and a simple 2-wire installation , offers a secure door entry unit that can be up and running quickly and easily . The customer can answer the door via the unit ’ s 7in touch screen or via a dedicated App on their smartphone or tablet – enabling homeowners to keep in constant contact with their home and give them reassurance whilst they are away .
Door entry systems and the wider security functions available can be of
‘ Much of the technology that we have been using over the last few decades is relatively dumb .’
benefit across a broad spectrum of ages and situations . In a family home , the system can be used to check that everyone is home or that the house is secure while on holiday . For assisted living properties , or for those perhaps with mobility issues , the advantage of being able to open the door at the swipe of a finger can be life changing . Technology also enables people to control door entry remotely , whether that ’ s to let the postman drop off a parcel into the porch , to enable a neighbour to water your plants while away , or perhaps even to provide remote access to a nurse or carer .
Right now , there ’ s a lot of talk about connected devices , but when this technology is deployed correctly and in the right application , it has the potential to help improve people ’ s lives . Whether that improvement is the ability to check that your children have got home safely while you ’ re away , or to turn the heating on and ensure your entertainment system is running through your favourite playlist as you get home . Just as life is individual , so too can your home learn and adapt to your needs whatever they might be and wherever you may be in the world . We must view home automation and smart technology as an enabler , helping people to live their lives better in the way they wish to live them . That ’ s the end goal .
For further information visit : www . legrand . co . uk
24 | March 2017 Home Automation & Intelligent Buildings Supplement