My second visit to the home automation event in Eindhoven
This time I will spend less space on my blog to it.
In contrast to the previous year, there were a lot of companies showing home automation interfaces on SmartPhones and Tablets. Together with developments like Philips leaving this market with its Pronto remotes, we can conclude that the market is moving rapidly and new market segments will get in reach. However, one of the most important things to make tablets a really interesting replacement for dedicated remotes is to improve the user interfaces. I am sorry that I have to say it, but in general they are still awful!!! Companies are often still trying to push as much as possible on a single screen or are nearly literally copying the user interfaces of there competitors because they seem to miss the initiative to do some research themselves.
There was also a lot of attention for Smart Metering. Not only companies specialized in Smart Metering could been found on the event, but also a lot of general purpose home automation systems were showing energy statistics on there touch panels, web interfaces and whatever you can think about.
The lower-end market was, just like previous year, underrepresented. There was only one company that really got my attention after speaking with them. This start-up will enter the market March next year with surprisingly low priced home automation sets. For a little bit more than 200 Euro for a starter set containing a small remote with display, internet gateway, two switches, two dimmers and two energy meters it will be still difficult to attract people who are still thinking about spending a tenner for a wireless remote set from the DIY-shop. But I am sure it will attract people that realize that a Z-Wave set is much more value for money than a set from the DIY-shop. Other people need something more.
At the end of the day I can conclude that there are a lot of opportunities for my own plans for home automation. I am nevertheless still missing something that will make home automation really attractive for the mass public. Looking at the popularity of the overpriced iPad, I am sure that this will no longer be the price. The fun-factor has become the main focus of the public and needs therefore to be taken into consideration.