SmartHome Controls
automating the infrastructure of the home
User interface overview / sms text
Simple and elegant.
The User interface for any home automation system is the most important part. The User interface must fit in with the decor of the room and must be easy to use. SmartHome Controls offers a wide range of different options to suit different types of property, application and interior design tastes.
For heating adjustments, there are 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
smart Temperature sensors
At the core of any temperature control system is the measurement of the room temperature. It is important that a sensor is correctly located to be representative of the temperature that the occupant is experiencing but the sensor must must also be unobtrusive.
Shown here is an example of a sensor mounted on the wall. We have highlighted it to ensure that it can clearly be seen. Some further examples are shown here.
The Thimble sensor can be mounted directly on the wall or on a 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.
The picture here on the left gives some idea of how small these sensors are, with the nib of a fountain pen in the photo to give an idea of scale. The sensors can also be supplied with a variety of custom finishes to add further choice.
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.
The zone controller can also provide a backup means of setting the temperature and times in a room if the normal interface is not available.
smart Wallplate
These flush-mounted plates are available in a variety of finishes and versions with a range of buttons, sliders and knobs. See here for a range of wallplates
A single plate can be used for lighting, or as a heating control plate. In the lighting function the buttons can be set up to recall preset lighting scenes, or particular routes of lighting.
Where they are used to control blinds or curtains, these plates can have "open/close" buttons, or "raise/lower" buttons.
Where they control heating, they can set temperatures, select fan speed or even put the room into or out of occupation, thereby switching the heating off, and leaving it to protect the fabric of the building in the event of frost
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 your heating controls can be avialble at the touch of a finger. From here you temperatures all over the house can be adjusted or viewed and the times for each zone or room can be set.
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.
The touch screen allows information from a number of systems to be displayed on a customised screen. For example lighting and Heating temperature adjustment can be combined on a common screen
A range of different sizes and touchscreen styles are available.
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 a standard browser to view the pages on a range of hardware e.g. PC, PDA, wireless web tablet. It allows the switching of lighting, adjustment of times and temperatures as well as the setting of 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 SmartHome Controls 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 !