SmartHome Controls
automating the infrastructure of the home
User interfaces and integration
Keep it simple and elegant.
The user interface for any home automation system is the most important part. Get it wrong and the house will be difficult to live in, the walls will look a mess and the homeowner is likely to be significantly unimpressed.
smartkontrols offers a wide range of different options, to suit different types of property, application and interior design tastes.
Remember when specifying an interface that different systems require different attributes; for lighting, an easy-to-remember and consistent allocation of buttons is essential. For HVAC, there is no natural visual or audible feedback from the controlled system to identify what is happening - so the user interface must provide feedback.
On-the-wall interfaces
Temperature sensors
- two choices; thimble sensor or wallplate. Thimble sensors can be mounted
without a backbox. Wallplate sensors mount on a single gang box or integrate
with lighting/hvac plates. Both types have a wide variety of finishes to match your decor.
The smart Zone Controller
Available for HVAC control only, this compact, light-switch sized unit features an embedded temperature sensor, or can be connected to a remote sensor. It offers good visual information through an LCD display of current temperature, and allows easy adjustment of both temperature and time functions. These controllers are available in a white or graphite plastic finish, and can be concealed within smartbox modules out of sight, if required.
smart Wallplate
These flush-mounted plates are available in a variety of finishes and versions with a range of buttons, sliders and knobs. Link to Wallplate summary and gallery
They can be double ganged in combined lighting and HVAC control plates, or with audio and access control systems. LED buttons indicates operation of the HVAC scene, however, HVAC time functions must be set elsewhere.
smart Touchscreen
All aspects the heating controls can be set using a smart Touchscreen. From the display the temperatures and times throughout the property can be set in a very user friendly way
3rd Party Touchscreens (AMX, Crestron etc)
These touchscreens available from manufacturers, such as, AMX, Crestron and others, feature standard software drivers for smartkontrols systems.
A comprehensive range of drivers for other systems (audio, video, security etc) allow multiple system integration and operation from a single interface. A range of different sizes and touchscreen styles are available.
These pages can be drawn to suit the particular requirements of the property. They can include, for example heating, lighting, audio and security can all be combined on a display to allow the user to interact with all the automation systems in the property.
Wireless Interfaces
Infrared Handset
These simple to use, remote control devices are available to control smartkontrols lighting systems only.
Universal Infrared Handset
These more advanced remote control units can combine lighting and other functions (e.g. home cinema blind or curtain control)
Whole-House Controls
smartServer This embedded hardware-based webserver, serves up HTML pages onto ethernet LAN. It can use any standard browser to view the pages (e.g. PC, PDA, wireless web tablet) and is capable of managing the whole house Lighting, HVAC times and temperatures, holidays from any PC in the house. It also works across the internet if desired, allowing the homeowner to control operation of these systems from anywhere in the world.
3rd Party Touchscreens (AMX, Crestron etc) Please see entry above.
Remote Control
smartServer Please see entry above.
SMS Text Messaging from mobile phone
The smartEText Module works with our GSM Modem to access a cellular phone network. It can use any standard cellphone to “text” the house (but only the homeowner’s nominated phones will work. The messaging features allow all lights to be turned on or off, and set holiday mode for the HVAC system. The house then texts you back to tell you what it is going to do.
Integration with other technologies in the house
With so many different electronic systems now being installed in the typical house, getting the user interface right is crucial.
Although not specialists in Audio, Video, Security systems ourselves, we are very used to working alongside other specialists and dedicated custom installation companies to ensure an integrated approach to the way the house eventually works for the homeowner.
Often, these companies are (like ourselves) members of CEDIA (the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association) which works to uphold high standards in the supply and installation of electronic systems of all types in homes.
Some tips for success in the specification of intelligent systems for the home: - Contact CEDIA for a list of other specialists in your area, or alternatively ask smartkontrols for recommendations - Consider all electronic systems which are likely to be installed in the building as early as possible. - Consider carefully what each internal wall elevation will look like, to avoid the risk of “wall acne” with multiple wall interfaces. - Don’t dismiss integrated wallplates and touchscreens as “too complex” - the alternative may be a rash of dissimilar plates on the wall, and a pyramid of remote controls !