CURRENT AND FUTURE TRENDS IN AUTOMATION
Eduardo Yudowski, Category Manager - Wiring Devices and Automation Systems
The rise in adoption of automation technologies presents significant opportunities for the electrical industry. However, with varying levels of customer understanding, it’s challenging to determine how to capture a piece of this rapidly growing market.
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he home automation market is set to reach almost $1 billion by 2017, according to research conducted by Telsyte. Over a million Australian households are considering a home automation system and 115,000 are looking to adopt one in the next two years. These estimates are based on the growth of integrated systems, DIY devices, security systems and services in new and existing homes, reflecting a fragmented market, varied definitions of home automation and the ambiguous nature of consumer demand. Automation means different things to different people. To the electrical industry and some end users, automation is a completely tailored suite of products and systems that drive the main electronic functions of the home, from entry and lighting control, to home cinema systems, blinds and energy management. To entry-level consumers, automation may simply mean having an automatic garage door or sensor lighting, ie, home automation in its most
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basic form. To Gen Y, it may mean the ability to monitor energy use and control lights using an app.
What lies ahead? Until now, home automation has been event-driven, where you press a button to trigger an outcome. Many existing home automation configurations comprise a collection of stand-alone components, each operating independently. Some components require professional installation, while others are DIY. For example, lighting may be controlled by a wired system supported by a mobile app, and DIY security cameras may be managed via a web-based platform. The rise of the Internet of Things will see home automation systems seamlessly connect all components and control them from a central system that can be adapted to suit the demands and design of the home. These smart systems will learn residents’ liv-
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