I've been recently talking to a friend of mine, who has been an advocate of getting into home automation. It's a very interesting area given the development of a combination of most devices having an IP and being able to route signals via custom controllers, which in itself play nicely with smartphone and tablet apps. To be honest, without the motivation of a major purchase, it's been a case of getting a handle of where it may add value in my set up.
I have two areas of keen interest:
In order to generate focused interest, I identified I wanted to get the following outcomes of these interest areas:
Device, energy monitoring and control
The Vesternet guide to home automation is a reasonable starting point to get a handle on the range of wireless technologies involved in terms of their history, functionality and implementation in products you can buy and install at home on a DIY basis. Z-Wave seems to be the front runner, in terms of easy buy and plug-in products around the home. It also seems the more flexible, future proofed and integrable of platforms with the other area of interest (such as budget range the MiCasaVerde products.)
Using the interactive home planner on the site, and focused on the device energy management goals, it's gonna cost be £1.1k to be able to fit out a master controller and 20 sockets around the home. From a software standpoint to configure and manage the devices, group them in into zones and generate scripts/schedules to automate stuff, the Fibaro Home Centre 2 has Mac client and an iPhone app.
An achievable project, this would allow me to realise the management of all plugged in devices around the home. It's also easily extendible to light switches and motion detectors around the home. Not sure I like the fact that home security is vulnerable to remote access and hacking exploits.
As a probabe small footprint Linux OS PC with Atom processor and custom GUI, it's full featured in terms of a range of devices you could add, configure and ultimately control and automate. Their product video demonstrates this. However, a key requirement was to be able to report on the cost of each zone or separate device via Z-wave devices. Perhaps a module they will add, assuming there is a real roadmap on this niche European created platform.
Of course, early adoption in an evolving market carries a degree of risk, but in terms of deploying an easy to self-manage solution this has some nice design touches which may warrant a closer look.
I have two areas of keen interest:
- Controlling devices connected to electrical outlets around the home
- Centralising AV entertainment around the home
In order to generate focused interest, I identified I wanted to get the following outcomes of these interest areas:
- Monitor and control my assigned devices/electrical points around the house. Turn them off and on, automate basic functions and see how much they cost in energy terms
- Watch Blu-rays, HD media streamers in the lounge, or den (home office) and the bedroom. Easily add more displays as needed. In fact, watch one source to multiple sources where needed
Device, energy monitoring and control
The Vesternet guide to home automation is a reasonable starting point to get a handle on the range of wireless technologies involved in terms of their history, functionality and implementation in products you can buy and install at home on a DIY basis. Z-Wave seems to be the front runner, in terms of easy buy and plug-in products around the home. It also seems the more flexible, future proofed and integrable of platforms with the other area of interest (such as budget range the MiCasaVerde products.)
Using the interactive home planner on the site, and focused on the device energy management goals, it's gonna cost be £1.1k to be able to fit out a master controller and 20 sockets around the home. From a software standpoint to configure and manage the devices, group them in into zones and generate scripts/schedules to automate stuff, the Fibaro Home Centre 2 has Mac client and an iPhone app.
An achievable project, this would allow me to realise the management of all plugged in devices around the home. It's also easily extendible to light switches and motion detectors around the home. Not sure I like the fact that home security is vulnerable to remote access and hacking exploits.
As a probabe small footprint Linux OS PC with Atom processor and custom GUI, it's full featured in terms of a range of devices you could add, configure and ultimately control and automate. Their product video demonstrates this. However, a key requirement was to be able to report on the cost of each zone or separate device via Z-wave devices. Perhaps a module they will add, assuming there is a real roadmap on this niche European created platform.
Of course, early adoption in an evolving market carries a degree of risk, but in terms of deploying an easy to self-manage solution this has some nice design touches which may warrant a closer look.
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