This article was produced by Tom Phillips, Director of Wavefront Solutions www.wavefrontsolutions.com.au
The key to any connected or “Smart” home starts with the network. With the reliance now on Netflix, Spotify and other bandwidth intensive services, a Bigpond modem stuck in a corner really doesn’t cut it; therefore, my number one technology in any new home should be a rock-solid network. This includes good quality cabling along with a series of high quality, preferably ceiling mounted wireless access points (generally 1-2 per floor depending on the construction type), a good switch and high-quality router.
The next item is security – this starts from when you first come to the door, so any smart home should have an intercom that’s linked to the automation, security and CCTV systems making sure that you know who’s been to the door regardless of it you are home or not. This could mean sending an email if the bells were rung and no one answers, diverting the call to your mobile, or being able to let someone in remotely without giving out the key. The security system should be integrated too to firstly cut down on the number of things on the wall to a single screen, and to allow the security system to interface with the homes lighting system.
Having a series of “Smart” devices all together is useless without a brain, so a well thought out and programmed control system is then the key to bring all of this together. In the last 12 months, a company called Control4 has launched into Australia. They offer a comprehensive product range including intercoms, touch screens, processors and multi-room audio as well as interfacing all the other third-party items. This is what allows you to have a single, beautifully designed touch screen in a kitchen for example that controls the lights, blinds, air-conditioning, intercom, security, CCTV and even pool equipment.
Voice control is also a huge topic now with Amazon Alexa, Siri and now Google Home. For example, right now we have 6 Amazon Alexa devices around the home, so in any room, you can simply ask to turn on or dim the lights, and nearly instantaneously you hear “OK” spoken back to you and the lights switching on. This all talks back into the Control4 system.
I’ve mentioned lights a few times. The control of power and light is really the key to a connected home, and what a DIY solution will never offer properly. Unfortunately, over the last 10 years, automation has probably lost more ground than its gained because of, poorly implemented Clipsal CBUS systems sold at great expense as “automation systems”, when really, they just replaced a traditional light switch with an electronic version that did the same thing.
See links below to automation articles:
Human Centric Lighting – Simon Lakey – http://simonlakey.com/human-centric-lighting
Smarter Front Doors – Simon Lakey – http://simonlakey.com/smart-front-door
Ditch the Switch – Simon Lakey – http://simonlakey.com/ditch-the-switch
Comfort and Convenience – Control4 – https://www.control4.com/solutions/comfort-and-convenience
