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| EMagazine Volume 4 Issue 4 August 1999 |
Features
Interviews
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Interview - August99 - [HTI Home Page] |
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WHOLE HOUSE SYSTEMS INTERVIEW While much of the technology that IBM is offering in Home Director is not bleeding edge, this is the first time that a major technology company has stepped in to the home networking arena to offer a completely integrated home networking solution. In doing this, IBM has gone beyond delivering just a hardware solution, but has developed the delivery channel that makes home networking accessible to average consumers. |
QUESTION 1 - New House Construction. What is the process for including your home automation system in my design and construction process? Who should I talk to first ... when should I start ... what do I need to know ahead of time etc.
The best way to start the process of getting an IBM Home Director system installed in your home is to contact IBM to find the name and location of the nearest IBM Authorized Home Systems Integrator (AHSI). The local AHSI has been trained and certified by IBM to install, service and support the IBM system as well as provide information on upgrades and other options that can further enhance the home network. The best time to start the process is when you are designing your home. The AHSI will work with your architect and builder to determine the optimal timing and design for the system.
QUESTION 2 - Old House Renovation. What is
the process for adding your home automation system to my old house? Do I need to tear out
walls etc.? Who should I talk to first ... what do I need to know ahead of time etc.
QUESTION 3 - What systems can I automate using your equipment? (i.e. Lighting / Entertainment / Security / Other) What is the most popular system to automate in the home ? What is the most cost effective system to automate? What is the most fun to automate?
The IBM Home Director System is designed as a component system. The key component, The IBM Home Network Connection Center, acts as the foundation of the home network and provides data, telephone and video distribution along with in-home security cameras. The primary home automation option is the IBM Home Network Controller. With this option you are able to automate lighting and heating and air conditioning while coordinating with the security system for routines. All of this utilizes the capabilities of the home network to make the home more efficient. In addition to these two components, IBM also offers Internet sharing with its WebPoint Internet Distribution Center.
As for the most cost effective, the foundation provides a great deal of capability for as little as a thousand dollars. With the addition of the Home Network Controller, and the upgraded network it utilizes, the cost can range to more than $10,000 depending on the size of the home, the amount of automation to be done and the level of integration with other systems. All of this can be determined by the integrator working in conjunction with the homeowner.
QUESTION 4 - How will I interface and control the system once it's installed? Do I need to call the dealer to make changes to schedules and modes etc.? How are software changes made (PC / Controller / Other)?
The IBM Home Director System can be interfaced in a number of ways. The two most common are through the TV client and via pre-programmed switches that set-off routines. The system can also be accessed through any PC on the network and remotely via a dial-up connection.
The TV client is a very simple graphical interface that is accessed through any television in the home. It uses a special remote control to allow the user to move a cursor around the screen and control various preprogrammed devices or routines in the system. The homeowner is able to change basic settings in the system such as thermostat control or lighting brightness. An IBM Authorized Home Systems Integrator generally works with the homeowner to program routines. The integrator works with the Homeowner to determine what is optimal to meet the families needs, and is also responsible for any system or software upgrades.
QUESTION 5 - What features set your system apart from the others? How can I compare the features and prices of the various systems offered?
While much of the technology that IBM is offering in Home Director is not bleeding edge, this is the first time that a major technology company has stepped in to the home networking arena to offer a completely integrated home networking solution. In doing this, IBM has gone beyond delivering just a hardware solution, but has developed the delivery channel that makes home networking accessible to average consumers. The key to this has been the development of the IBM Authorized Home Systems Integrator program. These are companies and individuals who have been trained and certified by IBM to install and service IBM Home Director systems.
In addition, IBM has development and research resources at it's disposal that are unmatched in the industry. By leveraging the heritage that it has in enterprise networking and its reach throughout the technology community, IBM is uniquely positioned to deliver a complete home networking solution to consumers.
QUESTION 6 - Is your system expandable and upgradable? How do I go about expanding? How do I go about upgrading?
Yes, the IBM Home Director system is both expandable and upgradeable. The IBM Home Network Connection Center has a modular design that allows homeowners to choose from several levels of functionality, each of which is upgradeable to the next. When a new feature or option is available for the system, or the homeowner feels the need to expand, the local IBM Authorized Home Systems Integrator is available to provide this service.
In addition to the modular design of the Connection Center, the IBM Home Network Controller is designed to allow both hardware and software upgrades that can enhance the capability of the system in the future.
QUESTION 7 - Is your system compatible with other equipment and systems available? Which systems and how do they interface?
Yes. The IBM Home Director system has been designed with the flexibility to work with just about any of the current and emerging standards and systems for home networking. IBM is a member of many of the leading standards boards including Home RF, Home PNA, Universal Plug and Play, CEBUS, Bluetooth and Open Systems Gateway to name a few. One of the goals when developing the Home Director System was to make sure that the technology that gets installed in a home today will still be useful and compatible for the forseeable future.
QUESTION 8 - Home Networking of systems and appliances is the buzz these days. How will your system integrate with the future home network which includes data, communication, information etc. as well as automation, security and entertainment?
Actually the system that we deliver today has the capability of integrating most of the systems in a modern home. With the combination of the IBM Home Network Connection Center and the IBM Home Network Controller a homeowner is capable of integrating all of the above systems as part of an overall Home Management system. The Connection Center provides the connectivity for the various media that get distributed throughout the home including data, voice and video, while the Controller integrates the information from the security system, lighting system, video, heating and air conditioning and data to allow the homeowner to manage the activities of these systems either independently or in concert. While entertainment is not included as part of the current Home Director System, many of the IBM Authorized Home Systems Integrators are capable of providing this integration.QUESTION 9 - For a new house of 3000 sq. ft. / 3 brms what would an "Entry Level" automation system cost (ballpark range)? Assume we want to automate the lighting, 2 room entertainment system (Adults and Kids) and security system.
Any questions about pricing of a system in a home is always a difficult one to answer due to all of the variables that come into play. In many instances where the IBM Home Director system is being considered, the foundation based on the IBM Home Network Connection Center is a standard component that is already included with the price of the home. The addition of the Home Network Controller, which adds Home Management features, can add $7,500 to $10,000 to the price. That said there are other factors including location, type of home construction, level of integration, etc. that can make this figure higher or lower. Consulting a local IBM Home Systems Integrator can easily help determine the final cost.
QUESTION 10 - Look into your crystal ball and tell us about the future of home automation. The technologies ... the marketplace ... the cost ... the availability and just the plain old fun we can look forward to.
The category of Home Automation is being transformed by technology into Home Networking. As the devices and appliances on the network gain a greater degree of intelligence their ability to communicate with each other and the world around is going to fundamentally change the way people live in their homes. Many of the mundane tasks that we may take for granted are going to be managed by the system and it will even be possible for the system to automatically receive and respond to information from outside sources.
Here are two examples of how this type of home network might work. A simple one, that is available today, is the task of turning off lights in empty rooms. Using motion detectors connected to the security system it will be possible for the network to recognize when a room has been vacant for a certain period of time and turn off the lights. Sounds simple, but in a large house with a number of children in the family this can provide substantial savings. Another example is the ability for the system to receive weather information from the Internet and determine the most cost effective settings for the thermostats to keep the home at a comfortable, energy saving temperature and turn on/off the lawn sprinklers when appropriate.
In many cases these technologies will be embedded in the systems in the home so the homeowner will not have to be a networking wiz to make the action a possibility. There will still be the need to have the basic networking infrastructure installed and serviced by a professional, but it will most likely be similar to what we see in air conditioning today where people sign up for an annual maintenance contract.
Regarding costs, once the network infrastructure is established in the home many of the costs associated with getting various devices to talk with one another will be included with the price of the appliance. Getting your refrigerator to be able to tell the service center when it needs repairs may be as easy as plugging it in.
QUESTION 11 - Where can I learn more about your system and how do I find a dealer in my area? (include links, addresses, tel, fax, contact names etc.).
For more information on IBM Home Director or other IBM home networking products as well as the nearest IBM Authorized Home Systems Integrator please visit our web site at www.ibm.com/homedirector or call toll free 800-426-7144.