TaHomA’s GUI is based on “Scenes” such as Morning—the user determines what rooms will be part of the morning script, what components in those rooms will respond and at what time. For example, my Morning script might be to turn on the bathroom heat lamp, bring the kitchen lights up 50% and turn the thermostat up to 75 degrees. Maybe you live in Florida with a sunny bathroom and kitchen, so your script calls for the kitchen window treatments to open, the bathroom window treatments to close for privacy, the awning outside the bedroom windows to open and the lights to come on the hall outside the kid’s rooms. Any set of events can be programmed as a scene, and any scene can have as many rooms and components within the room or any other connected Somfy device added to the scene. Trust me, it’s a bit addictive playing around with all the options available. Industry Implications There are several very exciting possibilties to TaHomA. As mentioned, it brings window coverings to the attention of a market many in this industry have given up for lost. It makes the typical window treatment benefits mantra of “light control and privacy” interesting, exciting and cutting edge for a consumer audience who values those attributes. As mentioned, it’s user-friendly: The interface is easy to learn, simple to customize and it comes with a reasonable price tag. Estimates for a basic light/thermostat/window treatment module should come to less than $2,000, installed. Which leads to: how does the TaHomA system get installed? Even though the interface is extremely easy to use, and Z-Wave elements are readily available, given the adjustments made to coordinate Z-Wave with RTS, Somfy wants the installations and servicing in the hands of capable professionals. Starting in October, Somfy began offering regularly scheduled TaHomA training sessions at its U.S. headquarters in New Jersey, as well as Boca Raton, Fla. and Ir-
The top-level programmable unit within the TaHomA system is the Scene menu. You can create as many scenes as you like, and fill those scenes with options—lighting, interior and exterior window treatments, temperature (if they have individual thermostats), etc. Scenes can be duplicated and edited. For example, say you want one version of "Kitchen Morning" for spring and summer, and another, with some slight changes for fall and winter—easy!
vine, Calif. To participate, interested dealers and installers must already be Somfy Interior Product Experts. TaHomA national sales manager Gina Lutkus explains the reason for the pre-qualification: “We want dealers to not only be fully trained in the products they are selling for TaHomA, but the products TaHomA will be controlling.” By requiring dealers to be Interior Product Experts prior to signing up for the TaHomA Authorized Dealer program, Lutkus believes they will have a ready customer base for TaHomA that already appreciates the Somfy brand. “The motorized window coverings are already in place,” explained Lutkus. “Now new TaHomA dealers can return to their existing customers and offer them the natural next step in home automation control from a company whose products, and dealers, they already trust.” In addition to the hands-on training, those interested in becoming authorized TaHomA dealers will purchase a TaHomA point-of-sale kit, comprised WF-VISION.COM | NOV/DEC 11 | 15