Automating Easy - Page 4 - Home Automation Blog from uk-automation.co.uk

Smart Bluetooth

Marmitek BoomBoom 75 Bluetooth Music Receiver

Bluetooth-enabled wireless audio is expected to grow to more than 250 million units by 2018 according to forecasts from ABI Research. But what does that actually mean, and what is Bluetooth? Essentially, Bluetooth is a way of connecting devices and people wirelessly, via headsets and speakers and consequently other devices, notably in-car equipment.

Then in 2010, new low-energy technology called Bluetooth Smart was introduced creating new markets, such as consumer electronics, fitness and leisure and medical. Using Bluetooth Smart, manufacturers can create sensor devices with the ability to operate on small batteries for as long as a few years. Now, Bluetooth Smart has been recognised as a “key enabler in the Internet of Everything” with ABI Research forecasting over 3 billion Bluetooth-enabled devices in 2014, and by 2018, over 10 billion such devices in the market.

Smart Bluetooth for the Home

Wireless Speaker for iPhone iPad or Bluetooth device

Now that’s a lot of billions so how does this equate to the home automation market? Well, this technology will affect the management of lighting, security and energy management over the next few years. Bluetooth Smart-enabled sensor devices such as locks, lighting systems, thermostats and related stuff, are already available with applications stored directly on Bluetooth-enabled smartphones or tablets, and also in the cloud so that they can be used remotely. So far, it is really concentrated on the functional abilities, for example, locking/unlocking doors, turning lights on and off etc. The fine tuning of Bluetooth Smart however, can enable homeowners to use compatible devices to adjust heating and air-conditioning, take charge of their energy consumption and appliance energy usage.

New Initiatives

And according to reports, some TVs and stationary media streaming appliances, (keep an eye out for Apple TV and Amazon’s new Fire TV and read about the pros and cons of both here http://thefusejoplin.com/2014/06/amazon-fire-tv-apple-tv-comparing-features-specs-price/ ) are geared up for home automation in the same way that mobiles and tablets work with Bluetooth Smart sensor devices, meaning that TVs and other entertainment consoles will be able to serve as the connectivity centre.

However there is one main drawback in Bluetooth Smart is its limitation in Android devices: although it supports all Apple iOS devices, smartphones and tablets operating on a version of Android before 4.3 may not support Bluetooth Smart device.

So keep your eyes open for Bluetooth Smart updates. Yet again, here is another innovation, or rather a progression, which is expected to affect the home automation market significantly. Managing home energy, lighting, security, audio or anything that can be remotely operated will be easier, cheaper and faster when Bluetooth Smart technology evolves in home automation.

3D Audio, Whatever Next?

Russound 4 Source 4 Zone Multiroom Audio System

We’ve heard of 3D TV and 3D printing (I still can’t comprehend how that works) but now there’s 3D sound. Yep, for all those of an auditory bent, it has arrived. One of the first demonstrations of 3D sound was held in the UK at Genesis Technologies headquarters. The aim behind the technology is to make the viewing experience even more scintillating.
If you have experienced the new Spiderman movie at the IMAX in London, you will know what the technology is capable of doing, even though it is currently pretty much in its formative years. But it is spreading, with a number of new games being encoded with the new format and indications that the BBC is investing some serious research and development into the concept.

3D Technology

Now here’s the techie bit: 3D audio relies on three layers of speakers: the lower layer, the traditional ear-height surround speakers; the height layer, placed at 40 degrees above the listener; and the top layer located at 90 degrees to the listener. Apparently these degree coordinates are quite important, with none of this “up and bit, right a bit, move it left” guesswork.

According to an article in Hidden Wires, http://hiddenwires.co.uk/2014/technology-3d-audio/ “new codecs provide both encoding and decoding for the new format, and these are capable of up-mixing non 3D sound. The DataSat RS20i processor for example, was used in the Auro-3D demonstration, and this offers backwards compatibility with existing 5.1 and stereo setups.” So now you know.

Interior Domain

Interestingly for those who fancy installing this technology in the home, once it becomes more established on the market, it is a matter of interior design and acoustic arrangements. If you want a home cinema atmosphere, there are many ways to customise your home, from acoustic wall panels to surround sound speakers. In anticipation of the 3D audio revolution, there are now 3D soundbars, which are speakers double-mounted in a single column.

Keep your eyes (or maybe ears would be more appropriate), for Dolby Atmos http://www.dolby.com/us/en/consumer/technology/movie/dolby-atmos.html. This is a new cinema technology which was first used for Disney’s Brave. Instead of using channels, Atmos uses object-based sound design, via a process of audio production becoming a 3D map of sound objects moving through space. The company has also developed a tablet version of Atmos which is so new that it doesn’t even have a name yet. However, if it’s been invented, it’s sure to come to the market in the future and into the home!

Wearable Technology? What’s That?

Google Glass

It appears that wearable technology is the new buzzword. Although in its infancy (which is probably why not many people have come across the term), this is supposed to be the biggest new thing to emerge in the personal technology market since Sonic. Indeed some have gone so far as to class this new technology, the ‘wearable web’ as it is also known, as the catalyst towards a trillion-dollar global industry.

A recent report from Generator Research http://www.generatorresearch.com/report/wearable-technology-2014/ has targeted the importance and potential of this new market. 225 pages long, a must-read for the avid techno fan, the report explains everything you need to know about the wearable technology market and who the key players are. And here we are talking major organisations from Apple and Google to Garmin and Nike and a whole host more.

Potential for Industry

So what do they know that we don’t? According to the report, the “wearable web will be the fuel that will power the mobile communications and mobile internet markets for decades to come.” Maybe an ambitious statement but currently the concept embraces smart watches and smart glasses . . . the potential, however, covers a myriad industry sectors, including body sensors and fitness equipment. The report says: “we project that the markets for smart watches, smart glasses and personal health and fitness products will be worth USD 8.0 billion in 2014 and USD 101.2 billion in 2018.”

Big Players

The fact that the big players are investing should be a sign. Intel has just bought the Basis Science company for ‘immediate entry’ into the wearable technology market. The merger is with Intel’s New Devices Group, which focuses on wearable computing and connected devices.

In a statement Mike Bell, Intel vice president for the New Devices Group said: “The acquisition of Basis Science provides immediate entry into the market with a leader in health tracking for wearable devices. As we accelerate our position in wearables, we will build upon this foundation to deliver products that bring people greater utility and value.”
And just in time for the tennis season, tennis players can now link up to Smash, http://www.gizmag.com/smash-wearable-tennis/32293/ a new device that monitors the consistency of players wearing it. Although in prototype mode, this is a lightweight wristband and application that allows tracking of statistics, such as number and type of shots, racket head speed, racket head momentum, amount of spin, wrist rotation, stroke trajectory, impact point consistency, and technique consistency.

Last week, Samsung unveiled Simband, http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2458663,00.asp a prototype wearable health and wellness tracker capable of measuring a wearer’s heart rate, blood pressure, and more on a 24/7 basis. For the technophobes, Simband is an “open-platform, hardware reference design that, along with a cloud-based open software platform called the Samsung Architecture for Multimodal Interactions (SAMI).”

The value of the wearable technology market passed $4bn http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-26743537 last year, and is expected to more than double by 2018. On your marks, get set…

Beat the Energy Drain in Your Own Home

We have long lived with the mantra, Save Energy and Save the Planet, and with January’s declaration that Europe is not only to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 40% over 1990 levels, but will also produce 27% of its energy from renewable by 2030, people in power seem to be taking it very seriously.

Paris in 2015 will play host to world governments to decide a global framework for avoiding dangerous levels of global warming but on the energy efficiency front, there seems to have been a glaring omission in targets set for the next 16 years. Indeed, it appears criticism has been quite vocal with Harry Verhaar, in a Green Wise Business article, head of global public and government affairs at Philips, saying: “The omission of a binding energy efficiency target is particularly disappointing. European policy-makers must realise that Europe will never lead on cheap energy and must lead on least consumed energy – energy efficiency is a key driver in making Europe more competitive and energy-independent.”

Matter in Hand

Salus Wireless Room Thermostat with Receiver ST320RF

So what can we, as consumers do? One way is to ensure that your home is as energy efficient as possible, and this can be done for far less than you would imagine. Heating and ventilation are the key problems, both in terms of domestic global emissions and cost. And cost is the issue. We don’t like paying too much for energy. Energy prices are rising disproportionately to income it seems. So smart systems that can save us money, as a no-brainer.

New technologies in heating and ventilation systems will allow compressors to operate more efficiently, and these systems will therefore be more complex. For the home owner, devices controlling these home automation systems must be even more intuitive with the ability to control systems remotely from a smartphone or a web application from a remote location, via simple physical alterations in the home that will not cost the earth.

The good news is that you don’t need an expensive and extensive network of home automation systems to take advantage of energy efficient systems. Look at the Google Nest Thermostat launched this month in the UK as an all-in-one energy saving programmer and thermostat device. This shows that there is a market for such smart devices (which Google has foreseen!)

A report published on 30th April 2014 has a stark warning: “energy bills are likely to rise twice as fast as the government forecasts this decade because households are not buying new efficient appliances that are supposed to save them money.”

Companies like UK-Automation feature energy saving devices that can easily be installed in the home. Get smart and check out an innovative generation of smart thermostat control equipment and systems that are being constantly developed with the latest technological advances and innovations.

Link to UK Automation’s ‘Energy Saving’ products

Digital Home Automation In the Ascendancy

According to a recent report from BCC Research, the global digital home entertainment systems market was valued at $150.9 billion in 2013 with a projection for the market to grow to $176.3 billion by 2018. The reasons for this are manifold: there has been a shift from analogue to digital and from modem to broadband access. Technological developments such as new storage and output technologies, more powerful chips and new platforms give the consumer much more choice in their entertainment mediums, as well as more devices to run them including PCs, gaming stations and mobile devices.

Coupled this with declining costs and a less complex set of home entertainment products and home entertainment is affordable for not just the eager and affluent enthusiast. In particular, standards-based wireless technologies allow home entertainment devices to integrate seamlessly.

UK Market

And although the report was broad in nature, covering America, Europe and Asian markets, closer to home there are signs that the home entertainment market is attracting some major players. Admittedly, 2013 didn’t start off particularly well: particularly for the video and gaming industry with long-term giants, HMV and Blockbuster both going into administration. Would this mean tumbleweed a’blowing through British high streets with the demise of specialist video outlets? Well, apparently not.

In a deal allegedly worth £50m, Hilco has bought HMV from administrators Deloitte, in a deal believed to be worth £50m. Only a month ago, investment company Gordon Brothers Europe bought 264 Blockbuster stores. WHSmith has announced a return to the CD and DVD market and UK video games retailer GAME is believed to be upping its commitment to film, particularly Blu-Ray. And UK supermarkets’ volume share of the video market has grown to over 40% in the past five years. From being supplementary to the grocery shopping, home entertainment is now a very key part of what they do.

Online Facilitated

And they are now concentrating heavily on the online market. Tesco owns video on demand Blinkbox and has recently introduced the online service Clubcard TV. Sainsbury’s in league with Rovi has set up its own movie and TV streaming service.

A spokesperson the Ultraviolet Consortium (the licensing system that allows owners of home entertainment to download it on multiple platforms) said: “In terms of streaming video, I can tell you that Sainsbury’s Entertainment will soon offer film fans in the UK the chance to download or stream their favourite movies. Initially available on PC and Mac, the service will expand to a range of internet connected devices including Smart TVs, Blu-ray Disc players, handheld devices, and game consoles.”

So how can the customer benefit? By making sure that all media platforms that constitute their home entertainment systems are compatible and up-to-date. This includes wiring, multi room audio accessories, audio-visual equipment, speakers and anything else that is necessary. Check out the products on the UK-Automation website for every requirement and accessory to make a home entertainment system well worth having in your own home. Do check out our new products and clearance items.

I Know Your Face! Facial Recognition, One Step Closer

It may sound like Series 9 of 24, but it appears that facial recognition technology is getting closer and closer to implementation. And before you scoff, Facebook’s recent unveiling of its DeepFace research has revealed an algorithm using 3D analysis of human faces to identify them. It has a success rate of 97.25%: impressive when you learn that the human brain has a 97.5% success rate.

Intrusion Alert

The general consensus is that although it can be used in law enforcement and military applications, it may be best to leave it out of the consumer market, even though in certain cases it is already being used, for example, face unlocking Android phones.

In a consumer market, can this technology, and future advances in the field, become commonplace in the home and what are the implications for our civil liberties? (http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/178777-facebooks-facial-recognition-software-is-now-as-accurate-as-the-human-brain-but-what-now.) “Our biggest concern is that this can be used as the next mass surveillance tool. For all the good uses this may have, if it supercharges video surveillance at a biometric level then it could have a profound impact,” says Jay Stanley, Senior Policy Analyst in the American Civil Liberties Union’s Speech, Privacy and Technology Project.”Potentially, it is yet another source of personal information that’s valuable and vulnerable.”

Home Alone

But. And there is a but. Imagine how useful it could be in a home automation scenario? Face recognition at the door, on computers, on security cameras? If you think about it, the options are not as Big Brother as they may first appear. Take smart doorbells, which are popping up regularly and which work in conjunction with smartphones and/or tablets to send out alerts. 214 Technologies is now adding facial recognition with its Chui product. (http://www.electronichouse.com/article/chui_smart_doorbell_uses_facial_recognition_to_identify_visitors/.) This combines Wi-Fi, a camera, and facial recognition technology.

Volvo has revealed it is using face recognition technology to let a car know when the driver is tired or inattentive. “Since the car is able to detect if a driver is not paying attention, safety systems can be adapted more effectively. For example, the car’s support systems can be activated later on if the driver is focused, and earlier if the driver’s attention is directed elsewhere,” says Per Landfors, engineer at Volvo Cars and project leader for driver support functions.

Driver State Estimation (http://www.gizmag.com/volvo-automated-driver-monitoring/31257/) consists of small LED lamps that shine infrared light onto the driver’s face. Sensors then uses face recognition technology to determine the state of the driver.

They may not be so futuristic, but our range of Z Wave and Insteon products will help you implement the home automation you need.

It’s All in the Timing

Photocell Switch with Timer

If you really want your home automation systems to work effectively, using a timer is one of the best ways to trigger them off. Home automation is constantly becoming more sophisticated with a plethora of new products flooding the market designed to save us time and energy, but all need to be configured correctly in order to give the maximum benefit. Timers come in many shapes and sizes but the idea is to invest in a quality product that is reliable and tested. Just imagine, you’re looking forward to your boeuf bourgignon waiting for you when you get home, only to discover that the timer on the oven failed?

Timer Importance

Why are timers important and what exactly can they do? These little devices are built in to an automation engine and linked to various elements within a home. It really is a simple procedure but the benefits are legion. The most popular ways to utilise the power of a timer are to control lighting, heating, cooking and security.

Home Easy Remote Control Timer

Lighting can be controlled remotely easily. Turn on the lights when the kids come home from school, or in the morning when you blearily head to the bathroom. Obviously this equates to money and energy saving, as you control when they go on and off.

As far as heating is concerned, there can’t be many homes that don’t have some kind of thermostat. And if you manage to negotiate through the maze of understanding the symbols to programme your heating to do what you want, then more power to your elbow. Or simply use your mobile phone, iPad, or preferred interface to control it and just as importantly, to reconfigure any settings.

Secure Timers

Security and surveillance are on the increase and monitoring your property can be easily done via a timer. Set the timer for surveillance cameras, for when the kids are home alone, or you are having tradespeople round. There’s no harm in being cautious. By the same token, arrange for when your gates and doors and windows are locked. Be the baddie of the family and arrange a cut-off for the various and many devices that the kids are constantly plugged into!

It’s not rocket science but a timer can not only make life a lot simpler but it can also provide peace of mind when you are away from your home. Make sure you choose to install a reliable model: UK-Automation supplies the X10 modules, a proven and recognised brand that provides excellent performance and superb reliability.

Our full range of security devices

Home Automation and the Internet of Things

Z Wave Zipabox Starter Kit

The Internet of Things or IOT is a clumsy phrase but one that will be soon be as familiar as “I’m lovin’ it!” Did anyone seriously believe that would catch on? In its basic form, the IOT means that your devices within your home or workplace are connected via the internet, either directly via a router or connected via the cloud. What’s the benefit? By having the IOT devices in your home, you will have control over your home systems. So if you want to turn on the oven for the roast chicken an hour before you arrive home using your smartphone, then this is possible. However, this is not necessarily new: what is new is the concept of interconnectivity between devices.

Total Control?

There are myriad possibilities for home owners to take advantage of the new technology and there is an increasing amount of evidence that proves that the big players in the marketplace are very serious about the IOT. Google recently acquired Nest, best known for creating smart thermostats and smoke detectors for the consumer market. It is generally believed that Android and iOS device users will have significantly increased access to the IOT of home automation within a few years.

Increased Interconnectivity

VeraLite Z Wave Controller with Internet Access

Connecting between digital devices and virtually anything that electronically is able to be monitored or controlled, (eg, garage doors, lighting, heating and ventilation systems, kitchen appliances), the IOT has a great potential for making homes smarter. The key is increased interconnectivity with the emphasis firmly on home technologies working together through WiFi, Bluetooth, or any other communication method. Singularly functioning devices become part of an entire ecosystem over which we have much more control.

A single app from your smartphone will enable you to programme devices to perform a function that is linked to another device. For example, opening the garage door on your way home (wherever you are) can disarm the security system and turn on the TV.

Be Prepared

So what does this mean for you? Statistically, it is forecast that there will be nearly 26 billion devices on the Internet of Things by 2020 with over 30 billion devices wirelessly connected to the IOT by the same year. Pre-empt the rush and prepare your home by installingwhat you need for a smart home. UK-Automation is one of the leading suppliers of multi-room audio and video (AV) solutions, energy saving devices, wireless sockets, lighting controls and home security systems, which are affordable and easy to install. The innovation behind the Internet of Things is not new home technologies, it’s home technologies working together instead of being separate entities. So be prepared for when the Internet of Things takes off and becomes a household phrase!

UK Automation has a range of Z Wave internet enabled products

No More Stumbling Around in the Dark

Green-i PIR Energy Saving Movement Sensor Switch

Dreams are amazing phenomena. How many times have we woken up in the night from a deep and disturbing dream, which leaves us disoriented, in need of the toilet or a glass of water? And how many times have we gazed blearily into the darkness, a little unsure of the direction of the facility you need. You need light. Not the glaring 100 watt light bulb in the hallway that make you wince at the best of times, but a subtle LED illumination.

Subtle and Soft

Well, it’s here. Motion sensing LED track lights are now available for those occasions when a bright light is just not suitable. These lights enable indirect lighting that provide very soft and unobtrusive lighting, perfect if you don’t want to wake the person next to you or on route to your midnight destination. The LEDs are located on strips, with 12 LEDS to each foot. They can be situated anywhere: under the bed, inside a wardrobe and when night time motion is detected, the LEDS are instantly activated. 2700k of warm, soft lighting is then provided for your comfort.

Control Light Time

X10 Mini Timer MT12

It’s up to you how long they stay on, between 30 seconds and ten minutes and they come in different versions to suit your requirements. The single sensor version is perfect for single bed or by a child’s cot, the dual sensor version is suitable for larger beds and the wardrobe version comes with mounting equipment.

Of course LED motion sensing products are not new but these are in handy form and are perfect for any room in the house, and are especially useful for those hard-to-light areas. Make use of the space in your home to install extra new sockets in order to make every room accessible. UK-Automation has a range of PIR switches that can save both energy and cost, including a ceiling PIR light switch for bathrooms. These can easily be mounted in plasterboard and suspended ceilings and is resistant to splashes and moisture. Green-i manufactures a flush mounted movement sensor which is low profile and ideal for areas not easily accessible to other lighting schematics. The value of these products is that they can simply be fitted into a home with minimal effort, and once fitted, they can accommodate the LED motion sensing track lights.

Source: http://www.sharperimage.com/si/view/product/Motion-Sensing-LED-Track-Lights/202355

Our full range of energy saving devices

True multi-room audio in minutes

Multi-Room Audio Systems at Prices You Can Afford

It’s always impressive when you walk into a house and music is playing softly in all the rooms. Your host reaches for his mobile phone and with a few swipes the music changes. Not many years ago, the technology to achieve true multi-room audio was not only expensive, but complicated to set up. But now, thanks to the latest streaming technology, it is literally just plug and go.

There are some pre-requisites. Firstly you need a wireless (or wired) network; you need a source where your music files are stored (this can be your PC or Mac or a smart phone) and you need a streaming device at each point where you want your music.

There are some amazing products out there today – especially from the high-end, esoteric hi-fi makers, which can deliver the most amazing sound quality – if you are prepared to pay a knee-buckling price.

Stunning

But there is a newcomer on the scene, a stunning little product from those clever guys at QED who’ve built something of a reputation for developing extraordinary audio products at very ordinary prices.

QED’s starting point was to strip their design right back to the basics. They realised that today’s smart phones could actually take over most of the data processing, control and display functions, freeing them up to focus on sound quality. They have achieved this by using a high quality Wolfson DAC which supports music files up to and including 24bit/96kHz (CD music files are 16bit/44kHz.).

The end result is the QED uPlay Stream, a tiny 4.5” x 3.7” x 1” (111.8mm x 94.3mm x 25.5mm) unit shaped a bit like a glossy black scallop shell, and completely devoid of any knobs. Its job is to sit on the network (wireless or Ethernet) and stream the chosen files to your standard audio amplifiers. And it does this for less than £150.

Cloud

Your music can be streamed from an iPad, iPhone or Android device; from the hard disk of your PC or Mac or any DLNA or UPnP-compatible media servers including NAS drives. You can also stream from the cloud via DropBox or Microsoft’s SkyDrive. And all the control is handled using free apps available for iOS and Android.

So, to create your perfect multi-room music system, all you need is one uPlay Stream in each room where you want the music, up to a maximum of eight. Each uPlay unit must be connected to the network via Wi-Fi or Ethernet and to an amplifier and speakers (via a standard 3.5mm stereo audio output jack). This could be your main hi-fi system in the lounge or a simple active speaker system in the bedroom.

Simple

Setting up is simple and accomplished via the app on your phone or iPad in a matter of minutes. Once all the uPlays are connected, you will have complete control of music in your home – and you can even adjust the volume independently for each room. So, if the kids don’t fancy an afternoon with the cascading strings of Mantovani, they can connect their own phone to the system and independently select their favourite drum and bass tracks for their bedrooms.