HOME AUTOMATION
Image by Control4
Living with AI
Home automation has evolved and it’s smarter than ever, writes Anél Lewis
The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionised home automation, offering home owners an unprecedented level of convenience, security and energy efficiency, says Mauricio Tavares, managing director of Cinema Architects.
EFFORTLESS LIVING
Today’s smart homes function as “digital ecosystems”, explains Gareth Payne, managing director of Bang & Olufsen South Africa, seamlessly integrating technology into daily life. Warren Husband, solutions architect and client liaison at Homemation, differentiates between smart products and a truly smart home. While standalone smart devices offer basic automation, professional systems like Homemation’s Control4 incorporate these apps into a single home operating system, offering a “unified user experience”.
“AI-driven automation is now capable of learning routines, anticipating needs and offering proactive suggestions,” says Tavares. Voice-controlled assistants such as Amazon, Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple’s Siri offer predictive automation and seamless integration with other devices. “When integrated with professional systems such as Nice, Creston and SAVANT, among others, these can be very powerful tools in smart home automation.” The trick, he adds, is to make sure they are integrated correctly for a seamless experience.
Bang & Olufsen’s Beoliving Intelligence, an innovative smart hub that connects easily to the home network, feels less like a device and more like an “invisible extension of your lifestyle”, explains Payne. “While the device itself is discreet, it enables home owners to curate every room in a way that feels intentional, aesthetic and intelligent.”
HOME MANAGEMENT
AI-powered security systems have redefined home protection. Tavares notes that advanced security cameras now offer facial recognition, motion detection alerts and real-time
Bluesound distributed by Cinema Architects offers an immersive home theatre experience.
A professionally installed home automation system offers a unified user experience, Homemation. Beoliving Intelligence is an innovative smart home hub from Bang & Olufsen that allows for intuitive control of the home.
monitoring. Companies like Control4 incorporate AI analytics to differentiate between people, vehicles and animals, providing tailored alerts for enhanced safety, says Husband.
Energy efficiency is another game-changer in modern homes. AI-driven appliances such as Samsung Electronics South Africa’s smart refrigerators and wind-free air conditioners adapt to user preferences to optimise energy use. Innovations like Sensor Networks’ AI-powered energy management and Plentify’s HotBot geyser controller intelligently regulate power consumption, making sustainable living effortless. Used in tandem with the SolarBot, an intelligent controller for a solar and battery system, the value of Plentify’s energy solutions is maximised, says Plentify CEO and co-founder Jon Kornik.
PERSONALISED HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Performance entertainment spaces have become sought-after features in new homes, “much like the tennis court or swimming pool of yesteryear”, says Husband. Home entertainment is about
immersive, high-tech experiences that blend convenience, quality and innovation, adds Tavares.
An immersive experience demands crystal-clear sound, and Sonos, Bang & Olufsen and Bluesound offer wireless surround sound setups to make high-fidelity sound more accessible and aesthetically sleek. Intelligent audio solutions from Bang & Olufsen include the Beosound A9, a speaker designed for multiroom use with voice control, and the Beolab 28, a wireless speaker that adapts its sound profile to the environment.
No longer the exclusive pastime of teenagers, gaming has become more integrated into the home entertainment experience. “We are building and integrating more gaming rooms into homes so that the experience is completely optimised and fit for purpose,” says Tavares.
With thanks to Bang & Olufsen, Cinema Architects, Homemation (Control4), Plentify, Samsung Electronics South Africa, and Sensor Networks
Smart home control at the touch of a button from Nice Smart Systems, Cinema Architects.
Used together, the HotBot and SolarBot from Plentify will make energy efficiency even easier.
The future of elegant living
Brendon
Petersen explores how smart homes are redefi ning
luxury
Smart technology is no longer a novelty. It is an essential element of modern home design. South African home owners are embracing automation that seamlessly integrates security, entertainment and energy management.
SEAMLESS INTEGRATION FOR EFFORTLESS CONTROL
Planetworld, the exclusive distributor of Savant in South Africa, curates bespoke smart home solutions that elevate both form and function. “One of the biggest challenges in home automation is ensuring different devices work together flawlessly,” says Matthew Kelly, home sales representative at Planetworld. “We prioritise seamless integration, ensuring home owners can control everything from lighting to climate settings with effortless precision.”
ADVANCED SECURITY FOR PEACE OF MIND
Security remains a primary concern, and Warren Husband, solutions architect and client liaison for Homemation, highlights AI-driven protection. “AI-powered security cameras and video doorbells can now distinguish between
family members, delivery drivers and potential intruders with remarkable accuracy,” he notes. Additionally, smart security systems integrate with distributed video and audio, providing real-time footage on TVs and audio alerts throughout the home.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN A POWER-CONSCIOUS WORLD
With rising electricity costs and load shedding, energy efficiency is more relevant than ever. “Smart automation technology helps home owners optimise energy use, from intelligent lighting schedules to real-time monitoring,” says Kelly. “Our systems integrate with Victron and Sunsynk
LOCAL DESIGN CHALLENGES
“There are no specifically unique challenges South Africa faces compared to the rest of the world, other than the size of the homes and the space inside, however, when the system is designed by a certified smart home professional these challenges are easily overcome.” – Warren Husband, Homemation (Control4)
Discover cutting-edge smart home solutions with Homemation. Scan the QR code to learn more.
Professional Perspective
HOMEMATION’S SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT AND CLIENT LIAISON
WARREN HUSBAND
DISCUSSES HOME AUTOMATION AND THE ROLE IT PLAYS IN SOUTH AFRICAN HOMES
HA REAL INVESTMENT
ome automation is a term we have all heard, even if we are unsure what it’s all about. Most South African home owners associate home automation with luxury living, which only a select few can afford. The truth is that with so many cost-effective products entering the market, creating a smart home is more within reach than ever before.
While luxury living is certainly a part of what home automation brings to the table, home automation offers so much more. Increased comfort is always nice to have, but when a home automation system is implemented correctly, it’s the increased level of security that makes this a true investment in the home.
WHY HOME AUTOMATION IS AN ESSENTIAL
By integrating solutions such as distributed audio and video, smart lighting, cameras and alarm systems, a home automation system like Control4 can use these devices to increase the level of security and awareness in the home, both in terms of watching over your family daily and protecting them in a worstcase scenario.
By using an integrated camera system offering advanced analytics, it’s possible for Control4 to alert the family if a child accidentally falls in the pool by sending notifications to smartphones, playing an announcement through the sound system distributed around the home and showing the camera that picked this up on the TVs within the home, giving you every precious moment to respond.
Similarly, if an alarm system detects motion in the front garden, based on what the camera determines the threat to be (animal or
person detection), the Control4 home automation system could chase the animal away with a spray of water from the irrigation system. However, if a person is detected by the camera system, additional action could be taken. Flashing security lights to attract attention to the home, activating lighting inside to create the impression that the home is occupied (even if you are on holiday), playing dog barking sounds from the sound system in the living room to deter intruders from entering the home, playing an audio announcement to inform the family of where the alarm was triggered and displaying the camera watching over the zone that triggered onto all TVs and automation touchscreens.
THE TRUE VALUE
The true value of a home automation system is found when the technology installed in the home improves lifestyle and meets the needs of the family. When the right products are selected and correctly deployed by a smart home professional, luxury living and added value can be achieved.
www.homemation.co.za
Press ‘Goodnight’ – lights o , doors locked. Control4 makes bedtime seamless.
Control4 powers your entire home, lighting, audio, security and more.
One remote, total home control for the perfect movie night.
EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC FIRSTHAND
You need to experience an orchestrated smart home to understand how the technology can fit into your life. Visit our Control4 Experience Centre to see firsthand how we blend home technologies to work in unison, creating experiences that will make your life more enjoyable, convenient, comfortable, and safe.
You'll be able to converse with some of the best smart home professionals in the industry to customise your unique smart home experience - experiences that no DIY device can begin to replicate.
