EDITOR’S NOTE
THE A TEAM Taiwan established itself as a high-tech manufacturing powerhouse during the 1980s. You may not have heard of Quanta Computer, Compal Electronics, Pegatron, Wistron and Inventec. But in total, 90 percent of laptops sold in the world, including those sold by iconic brands such as Apple and Dell, are actually made by the afore-mentioned companies. However, as neighboring countries such as China and Vietnam become increasingly competitive, Taiwan is beginning to find her fortunes dwindle, realizing that making devices at low cost is not her future. Taiwan is seeking ways to transform herself to a high value-added manufacturing powerhouse. Take the bicycle industry for example. From a grim, struggling bicycle production hub in the early 90s, Taiwan moved up the value chain in light of a decade to becoming the world’s beacon of high-end luxury bicycles today. Hence, we are expecting similar paths taken by Taiwan’s smart home industry. When conducting the MIT feature on Page 45, we learned that the world famous Nest thermostat, Dropcam and among several other connected-home products are actually the fruits of cooperation between Taiwan’s original manufacturers and those leading brands. Indeed, makers on the island are evaluating ways to turn themselves from OEM/ODM to a broader “technology service provider” in the connected-home arena. In a bid to become the powerhouse of high-value-added manufacturing, Taiwan makers have been learning to cooperate with the world’s leading high-tech brands on product research & development. In that process, creating the product together after multiple adjustments and break-in efforts is the valued asset Taiwan has acquired. And possessing such ability is the key to becoming a real technology service provider. The general consensus is that Taiwan should not go for low-cost, labor-intensive manufacturing. The island’s strong tech manufacturing background, large talent pool, flexible service and increasingly confident and energetic creativity sector will help it to make the transition to an innovative-based economy and to promote the island as the A team for smart home brands in the world.
Until our next issue,
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ISSUE 05 NOVEMBER 2014
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4 mySMAhome.com November/December 2014
CONTENTS Issue: 5 | November/December 2014 | mysmahome.com
COVER STORY
EDITOR'S NOTE WELCOME TO A&S SMAHOME
2
THE FOCUSED ENTREPRENEUR
8
TALK QIVICON OPENS ITS DOOR TO EVERY POSSIBILITY
As a young Chinese entrepreneur at the helm of the top US home security brand, Peter Wang, CEO of Foscam is – even today – a rare breed. But with his stellar business and technology credentials, the future is bright.
42
Qivicon talks about its development, benefits for users, and market trends.
Z-WAVE: INSTALLATION AND DIY MARKETS DRIVE US SMART HOME GROWTH 70 LISTING OF Z-WAVE PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS
71
LG USA: SIMPLICITY WINS IN SMART HOME
72
REPORT
EXPLORATION
7 SCENARIOS TO WATCH IN THE 2015 SMART HOME INDUSTRY
14
SMAhome has compiled top smart home industry news and trends in 2014 for you to watch closely for in 2015.
SMART HOME IN THE US: EASIER ACCESS, TOUGHER GAME
30
The US market is booming with new entrants and more affordable solutions to reach out to the mass market.
CEDIA PRODUCTS
38
CEDIA SUPPLIERS LIST
40
ART H ART HOME OME Y YEARL E A R LY EW E W & PRE EVIEW VIEW
SCENARIOS ; '410+%# *'0 #0& '+.+ +0
COLUMN REVOLV V.S. SMARTTHINGS Two buyouts of smart home hubs--going differently
6 mySMAhome.com November/December 2014
T O W AT C H C L O S E LY I N T H E 2 0 15 SMART HOME I N D U S T RY
74
form to get 5 cost now! FREE COPY Fillissuesin theat zero
P73
FOCUS
SPOTLIGHT
PROFESSIONAL & DIY SMART HOME SYSTEMS
22
While growth is predicted for both professional & DIY smart home systems, the trend of companies moving towards the DIY market has been observed.
CLIMAX
35
PHILIO
37
SKYWATCH
57
DEXATEK
59
AIT
61
BT STAR
69
PREVIEW INTERNATIONAL CES 2015
78
As one of the largest trade events in the consumer electronics industry, CES gathered key players and 160,498 visitors this year.
PRODUCT 22 SMART HOME SYSTEMS YOU SHOULD KNOW
24
FEATURE
SMART HOME MADE IN TAIWAN
45
The popularity of smart home continues to spread like a wildfire as the end of 2014 approaches. In 2015, SMAhome expects Taiwan manufacturers to appear more conspicuous on radar and to shine under the spotlight.
HOME CAMERAS
84
ENERGY MANAGEMENT
85
GATEWAYS & INTEGRATED SYSTEMS
85
SENSORS
86
DOOR RELATED
86
NEWS WHAT HAPPENED
80
News, launches and views from the world of smart home in September and October 2014
MIT BRIGHTENS THE SMART HOME
SHOW CALENDAR 2014 AND 2015 WORLDWIDE EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS RELATED TO SMART HOME
76
FUTURE
STATS & FIGURE OFFERING COMPREHENSIVE RESEARCH AND STATISTIC CHARTS ON THE SMART HOME MARKETS, APPLICATIONS AND INDUSTRIAL OUTLOOK 88
MIT PRODUCT SHOWCASE
54
MIT SUPPLIER LIST
64
November/December 2014 mySMAhome.com 7
CO COVER EVERSPRING OVER VER ST VE STORY TO OR RY
SHENZHEN FOSCAM INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY:
THE FOCUSED
ENTREPRENEUR As a young Chinese entrepreneur at the helm of the top US home security brand, Peter Wang, CEO of Foscam is – even today – a rare breed. But with his stellar business and technology credentials, the future is bright.
8 m my myS mySMAhome.com yS SM SM MAh Ah ho home ome me me.co com No co com N Novem November/December ovem ember be b er/ /D /De D De ecem c mber ber 20 2014 2014 14
“I always forget my birthday. It’s only when my colleagues are celebrating for me that I realize it’s my birthday again.” Wang may forget his birthday, but he certainly recalls the day he set up Foscam on December 26, 2007, at the age of 30. Coming from a semiconductor background, the avid opportunist was frequently in touch with electronics and power-supply manufacturers when he served as sales person for a semiconductor company. He came to realize that the finished product was the business he wanted to devote to. In its early stages Foscam churned out series of UFO-styled IP cameras for small-scale projects in Europe. But like all rookies on a batting field, it was not always smooth sailing. One of the issues it had to encounter was wireless integration. “Foscam started out specializing in 2.4G wireless technology. It was only when a client in Europe lamented ‘no Wi-Fi, no market!’ that I decided to reconsider our priorities,” Wang said. “We eventually went into developing Wi-Fi-based cameras. It was tough at first because we encountered many stability issues with our Wi-Fi camera.” Thanks to the client and the experience, Foscam now dominates the Wi-Fi camera market in the United States. Wang further revealed his plan to launch Wi-Fi 802.11ac version cameras. “To me, designing a Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n- or Wi-Fi 802.11ac-version camera isn’t that difficult. The right question would be what the market wants.” According to Wang, 11ac is in its initial stage and as of yet is not in real demand. But when the time comes, Wang wants the Foscam team to be ready.
CAMERA MAKERS LIKE US SHOULD FOCUS ON MASTERING WHAT THE MARKET WANTS AND THEN TURN IT INTO A REAL SOLUTION.
SOLUTIONS, RATHER THAN PRODUCTS On revealing the two popular cameras in the Foscam lineup, Wang explained: “Now smart home is our main market, and it cannot be overlooked. For example, a babycam should be different from the general home camera. We did a survey and observed the demands in detail.” According to Wang, the network camera market is currently transforming the spec competition to application differentiation. Since key components such as SOCs or ISPs have been determining the performance on most cameras, “camera makers like us should focus on mastering what the market wants and then turn it into a real solution.” November/December Novembe ovv mbe ove mber/D mb r/ /Dece / ece ec embe mb ber 2 be 2014 014 014 4 m myS mySMAhome.com yS SMAh SMAh MAhom MA om om ome.co ome me.co .com cco om 9
COVER STORY
ENSURING THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE IS GREAT ACROSS EVERY BUSINESS FUNCTION.
Consumers today carry the “Olympic torch of experience,” given the need to put customers at the heart of marketing activity. In light of that, Wang prefers using ‘solution’ to describe what Foscam offers, rather than ‘product.’ User experience is of paramount importance for competitive advantage in the smart home business. Integrating software and hardware development throughout its life cycle is a basis for successful market development, thereby achieving user satisfaction and in turn successful businesses. “Ensuring the customer experience is great across every business function,” Wang said. Foscam attends no fewer than a dozen trade shows each year to study and exchange views with their customers and distributors. To date, Foscam has over 20 types in its entire lineup and has sold products to more than 60 countries. “With a multitude of products and international branch offices, we carry out our strategy of localization business around the world.”
LOCALIZATION, LOCALIZATION, LOCALIZATION “Americans are more open to the new ideas, new suppliers and new offerings. That why the smart home market there grows in a faster pace than other regions of the world,” Wang commented, adding that such beneficial market scenario, and maturity of the US smart home sector – prevalence of online shopping and higher per capita income, their DIY cameras can be sold mostly through online retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, e-Bay and the likes. Although having gained a strong foothold in the US market, “being successful now does not mean we will always be successful. As a matter of fact, we are seeing more threats and challenges coming from this end. One key threat is the saturation of the US market itself. The foreseen demand lies only in renewing markets,” Wang explained. In retrospect, Foscam sees more potential in Europe. The company currently has a strong customer base in the Netherlands with some loyal customers. “In Europe, we have been working closely with distributors in several countries to promote the Foscam brand for specialized local 10 mySMAhome.com November/December 2014
FOSBABY/P1 DIY retailers.” Wang believes offline-type retailers reflect more prospects for Foscam in Europe. “We are looking to open up our first branch office in Europe,” he said, although the actual location has yet to be disclosed. Only the locals can understand amongst themselves. Wang said personalized interactions between the consumer and the company occur on a day-to-day basis. Foscam’s 60-staff branch office in Houston was set up to primarily survey the local market, such as understanding consumer needs and applications. Similar actions are taken in Europe and Brazil.
The FosBaby and FosBaby P1 are 1.0 megapixel HD baby monitors that feature temperature, sound and motion detection, capable of sending alerts via FTP or e-mail. Both models support remote surveillance with their downloadable app for iPhone, iPad, Android devices or web browsers. With built-in microphone and speaker for two-way audio, the FosBaby model supports a wide 90-degree viewing angle. The P1 model includes an automatic remote control capable of 320-degree horizontal and 110-degree vertical view.
FOCUSING ON VIDEO According to Wang, his current focus rests mainly on the home security front with an emphasis on software development. 2/3 of R&D resources have been poured into the software part. “We want our solutions to closely bind to users’ smartphones.” However, when asked if Foscam is going to develop a full smart home lineup that includes
• Foscam Contact Tel: +86-755-26745668 Email: sales@foscam.com www.foscam.com
detectors, smart plug, and so forth, Wang quoted the meaning of “Foscam” – Focusing on camera. “In the smart home era, video is irreplaceable and a necessity. We will have to focus on playing the role of camera solution provider well.” Concerning all-in-one IP cameras (with smoke/motion/ temperature sensors embedded) that are vastly popular in the home DIY market, Foscam said it has no plans on embedding these features in their cameras. “Embedding all these functions into one single unit only defies the principle of an IP camera because its primary function still lies in the collection and retrieval of images. We aim to provide the best video professionalism in the smart home arena.” However, Wang added that developing more connections and compatibility with the sensors and other smart home devices is a must-go for Foscam. Wang is aware of the dazzling choice of wireless standards in smart home connectivity (Z-Wave, ZigBee, and so on) but plans to adopt them in the coming Foscam cameras. “Wireless transmission is an inevitable trend and will be commoditized in home cameras. Just like mobile phones, now every smart phone is Wi-Fi-enabled.” Wang further noted that Wi-Fi has its limitation on transmission distance. To achieve a practical home camera, makers should utilize different wireless November/December 2014 mySMAhome.com 11
COVER STORY
COMPANY MILESTONE
2007 2008
Launched patented model FI8908W.
2009 Launched FI8904W, FI8905W and other products.
2009 Entered the American and European markets.
2011 Established cooperative relationships with more than 30 countries and regional partners.
2013 Foscam became a member of ONVIF.
2014
Foscam formally incorporated in Shenzhen.
2008 Entered the Asian market.
2009 Certified by CE, FCC, ROHS and other international certifications.
2010 Foscam network camera sales nearly 130,000.
2012 The first self-developed FI9821W product was released.
2014 Foscam won the honor of “Chinese High-Tech Enterprise.”
Cooperating with Baidu, Foscam released China’s first cloud baby camera.
12 mySMAhome.com November/December 2014
technologies to facilitate seamless transmission. Even for an outdoor camera without the outdoor Wi-Fi router, GSM should be considered. “When you offer a real easy-to-use solution to users, you are truly accepted by the market. ‘Easyto-use’ is not equal to easy design. In fact, the most easy-to-use products require the most difficult R&D efforts behind.” Wang added that there is still lot of improvement to be done for home cameras, such as the setup issue. Wang affirmed that adding “eyes” to all home electronics such as refrigerators, water filtration units, and other home appliances will only expand the scope of smart home application. However, makers would have to factor in “simplicity and ease of use” in order to make every smart home application more attainable for the masses. Combining small-form factor and beautiful design with innovative application is the concept that smart camera makers need to seriously consider, and not just price competition.
DEFINING THE MARKET This year, Foscam has toppled RMB200 million in sales revenue. Wang projects a 30% growth next year. Putting the figures aside, Wang shared his insights to leading the company. “It is not possible for us to do everything. The challenge for me is to steer the company in the right direction because so far there are no 100% successful business models in IP cameras.” According to Wang, the home camera market goes in two directions: consumer electronics (CE) and semi-professional. The IP camera plays the role as toylike computer accessory in the CE market, while in the semi-professional market, the camera is still very easy-to-use but has more integration capabilities such as storage or connected control. “As a professional supplier and not a device manufacturer, we have to clearly define the market and set the corresponding strategy or tactics for future developments. Frankly speaking, Foscam works on both markets now. We are keeping a watchful eye on the market,” said Wang. Last but not least, Wang appreciates the teamwork at Foscam. “Like the leader guiding a flock of cranes, when it becomes tired or ill, another takes its place and continues the journey. Metaphorically speaking, I would like to see Foscam in such spirit, sharing ideas mutually and jointly pushing the business forward.”
7 EXPLORATION
ART H ART HOME OME Y YEARLY E A R LY LY EW E W & PREVIEW PREVIEW
SCENARIOS By Veronica Chen and Weili Lin
T O W AT C H C L O S E LY I N T H E 2 0 15 SMART HOME I N D U S T RY
14 1 4 m mySMAhome.com mySMAhome SMA ome ccom m N November/December ov mbe /D c mbe 2 2014 0
We are coming close to the year end. SMAhome has compiled several top smart home industry news for 2014 and we are presenting them in 7 different scenarios to watch closely for in 2015. Every year the International CES show unveils what is trendy in the consumer electronics world. While we are looking forward to the 2015 edition, this year’s show has given a noticeable scenario, the fading of “home automation” as a buzzword. The term – “connected home” became dominant. The connected home or smart home is believed to be the next big boom for industries in the next decade. Over the next five years, the growth rate of connected-home device shipments is forecast to be much faster than that of smartphone or tablet devices with a compound annual growth rate of 67% from 2014 to 2019, according to BI Intelligence. The research institute estimates the global connected-home device sales will drive over $61 billion in revenue this year, and the number is predicted to climb to $490 billion in 2019. Connected-home devices include all smart appliances, safety and security systems (internet-connected sensors, monitors, cameras, and alarm systems), and energy equipment like smart thermostats and smart lighting. Home-energy equipment and safety and security systems, including devices like connected thermostats and smoke detectors, will become popular first, leading the way to a broader consumer adoption. One key element of connected home is the cloud-based solution, which leads to the first scenario to watch in the 2015 smart home industry.
Top Smart Home News in 2014 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Google acquired Nest, Dropcam and Revolv Apple launched HomeKit Microsoft joined AllSeen Alliance Open Interconnect Consortium was established Thread: a new IP-based wireless networking protocol 6. Samsung launched its smart home service in the US and Korea 7. Xiaomi launched a smart home kit and Wi-Fi router with integrated smart home features 8. Icontrol Networks acquired Blacksumac (creator of Piper) 9. Retailers like Best Buy and Home Depot entered the market 10. Rapid market growth for cloud-based home management systems
Photo by courtesy of WINK
1. CLOUDS BRIDGE CONNECTED HOMES Cloud economy, well-facilitated by mature networking infrastructure and prevalent mobile apps, generates a new business opportunity for smart home. Makers gear up to stake a claim on this gold mine. Cloud-based home management services allow users to remotely control household features, not just turning on or off the lights or thermostats. Users can remotely adjust the temperature of the home via a smartphone, tablet or computer and receive event-triggered alerts. North America is the largest smart home and cloud service market. The service providers, device suppliers and retailers in the US take advantage of well-established web technologies to generate their revenue streams. China, which houses world-leading web giants like Alibaba, Baidu and Tencent, is considered to be the next influential smart home market in the world. These companies act as platform providers and at the same time release hardware devices to control smart homes in China. The open platform is a major strategy used to allure hardware vendors to bring their money into the evolving ecosystem. Meanwhile, Alibaba and Dahuatech are collaborating in the launch of LeChange, a cloud-based home automation and security platform. Aliyun – Alibaba's cloud computing and analytics service – is serving as a digital backend for the assorted data storage and automation needs of the LeChange platform. Eyeing on the market value worthy of billions of dollars or even more, Tencent also released its own open platform, and is planning to work with 1,000 companies over the next three years.
2. DIY SOARS IN SMART HOME An increasing number of consumers don’t rely on installers or service providers to automate their homes. They purchase so-called DIY home security and automation products to monitor their homes from retail channels. As a device supplier, to rely solely on hardware is not smart enough. The collaboration with software partners facilitate more intelligent systems. The home security camera is one of the popular smart home November/December 2014 mySMAhome.com 15
Ü
EXPLORATION
items on the market. Brands such as Dropcam, Piper and Canary are creating new market disruptions. The average consumer is unlikely to spend hundreds and thousands of dollars to purchase professional surveillance equipment. However, they are more willing to spend a little over a hundred dollars on a sleek camera to monitor their loved ones or to record precious moments. From our observation and market research, home security tops the smart home industry in terms of market value and need. As a result, the home network camera is a competitive battleground in terms of supply and price. Price competition is a major issue to cope with. To stay in the game, sustaining innovation becomes a way to increase profit and value. We are expecting more and more all-in-one, multifunctional cameras in the days to come, supporting alarm, sensing temperature and working as a mini wireless gateway. As DIY consumers prefer compact and easy-to-install solutions, a multipurpose sensor is an ideal solution for comfortable and secure living. High penetration of both broadband and smartphone devices is the major contributor behind the rapid growth of DIY home automation products and service market. “We believe that the DIY sector is currently dominating the smart home marketplace. In terms of market distribution, we believe the DIY market constitutes 60 percent of the entire U.S. market,” said Ron Zimmer, President & CEO of Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA). “The proliferation of broadband and wireless 3G and 4G cellular networks allow consumers to add home control functionality on an ad hoc basis,” he added.
3. CARRIERS ARE AMBITIOUS Smart home players are divided into seven groups – professional installation specialists, connected home specialists, security providers, telecommunication companies, retailers, utility companies, and device makers. Who is dominating the smart home market? According to IHS, security providers and telecommunications companies dominate the US market. In the Asia-Pacific region, Multi-service operators (MSO) and device suppliers take up the most market share. In the EMEA region, utility companies dominate the market. To reduce customer churn, or to increase new subscriber rates and average revenue per user (ARPU), service providers (especially telecom carriers) make aggressive moves toward the market. They provide internet access, backend, installation and customer services. The hardware devices are supplied by thirdparty vendors. According to the IHS research, service providers charge monthly fees for ongoing smart home services, or offer these services with an upfront cost only like Deutsche Telecom’s Smart Home package (using the Qivicon platform). French Telecom Orange takes the Monthly Recurring Charges (MRC) approach to charge €10/month for the home automation service, called Homelive, which enables remote control via smartphones or tablets. A T & T ’s D i g i t a l L i f e offers home security and automation services by charging $39.99 and $54.97 respectively per month, including 24/7 professional monitoring, standard professional installation, remote access from smartphones, tablets or PCs, and text and email alerts. 16 mySMAhome.com November/December 2014
4. MORE BUYOUTS ARE COMING In order to quickly grab a share of the market, acquisition is considered the only shortcut for entering the market as it drastically shortens the learning curve. This year, Google is one of the most aggressive companies to move into the smart home industry. Since Google bought Nest in January for $3.2 billion in cash, “smart home” became a buzzword in 2014. In June 2014, Google’s Nest purchased Dropcam, an internet-connected security camera, in a $555M cash deal to announce its entrance on the home security battlefield. To strengthen its product portfolio, the company acquired Revolv, a smart home hub company in October. In the meantime, Samsung grabbed the market share by acquiring SmartThings, a company that provides smart home kits. The other two leading companies, Control4 and Leviton also announced their acquisitions. Control4 announced its wholly-owned U.K. subsidiary has acquired UK-based Extra Vegetables Ltd., best known for developing integration modules and drivers for Control4 smart home systems. The acquisition accelerates development and time-to-market for the drivers that Control4 dealers need and want. Leviton acquired BitWise Controls, a leader in design and manufacture of control and monitoring solutions for residential and commercial facilities for continued innovation and strategic growth.
5. CHOOSING SIDE As smart home becomes more and more like consumer electronics, the industry will eventually enter the IoT (Internet of Things) ecosystem. The big boys are already marking their territory by forming alliances. There are currently four IoT camps, including Apple’s HomeKit, Google’s Nest, Open Interconnect Consortium (OIC), and AllSeen Alliance. They are setting up standards and forming alliances in order to build a strong ecosystem while ensuring industrial leadership. As a leader in the portable electronic devices, Apple announced HomeKit during the WWDC 2014 keynote to unify the currently fragmented smart home market. HomeKit makes it easier for users to pair and control devices made by different manufacturers, while also allowing software developers to develop hardware-agnostic home automation apps that bring together devices to form a smart home system. Furthomore, it integrates Siri to enable voice control functionality. Can Apple’s smart home be more intelligent? Apple’s iBeacon technology utilizes Bluetooth Low Energy technology, featuring location-based technology. The iBeacon technology allows mobile apps to deliver hyper-contextual content to users based on location. ABI Research estimates iBeacon/BLE beacon shipments to break 60 million by 2019. Let’s look at an example. Beecon App, an iBeacon home automation app, let users to create multiple regions and define actions that are triggered. The proximity-based design lets users to turn on smart bulbs such as Philips Hue and LIFX, or infrared appliances depending on how distant they are. If any device is not directly supported, URL actions let users to connect and control virtually anything that supports HTTP or HTTPS. Who realizes Google’s dreams of smart home? Nest is the answer in a $3.2 billion deal. Nest’s vision is to create thoughtful things that learn from users and take care of them in a smart way for comfortable, energy-efficient and safe homes and lives. Nest launched the Nest Developer Program to work with developers
6. TECH CONVERGENCE & TIGHTER COOPERATION
to build meaningful connections at home across iOS, Android and the web. It is more than just linking and remote controlling the devices in the home. The development direction of the Nest Developer Program is to anticipate people’s needs and make their lives easier. API documentation, code samples and testing tools are provided for developers along with funding programs to help entrepreneurs bring their conscious home ideas to life. OIC, founded by IT giants Atmel, Dell, Intel, Samsung Electronics and Wind River in July, aims to create a single standard to solve connectivity and interoperability challenges in order to support the billions of connected devices coming online. AllSeen Alliance supports the AllJoyn software framework, an open source software and services framework, which enables hardware manufacturers and software developers to create interoperable products that discovers, connects and communicates directly with other AllJoyn-enabled products. Peer-to-peer connectivity is enabled via its lowpowered Wi-Fi platform. Founding members of the AllSeen Alliance include consumer electronics manufacturers, home appliances manufacturers, service providers, retailers, enterprise technology companies, innovative startups, and chipset manufacturers. Microsoft launched HomeOS, an operating system to simplify the management of technology and the development of applications in the home. HomeOS is coupled with a HomeStore through which users can easily add applications that are compatible with devices in their homes, and to obtain any additional devices that are needed to enable desired applications. To device makers, they are forced to choose sides and to develop compatible products. It is noteworthy that a great part of Asian makers from Taiwan and China have been on Apple’s HomeKit and they plan to launch new products based on it.
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At present, the home automation is connected by wired and wireless technologies without universal or dominant standards. Major wireless networking standards comprise of IR, Z-Wave, ZigBee, Wi-Fi, RF 433MHz, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and Thread. The major wired networking technologies comprise of RS232, RS-485, TCP/IP and powerline. Z-Wave is one of the major wireless standards applied in the US professional installation market. 9 out of 10 leading brands like Kwikset, Fabar, Yale, Telguard and Linear adopt Z-Wave standard, according to November/December 2014 mySMAhome.com 17
EXPLORATION
compete with our partners, and partner Z-Wave Alliance. Among those DIY hubs with our competitors to leverage them in for smart home, we can witness a similar some areas,” stated Rhoades of Leviton. trend. Like Nest’s Revolv, it supports seven Google’s Nest announced its strategic wireless standards, including popular partnerships with leading wholeZ-Wave, Insteon, Wi-Fi and ZigBee. home automation system specialists Leviton is trying to be as open as Control4, Crestron, Remote Technologies possible, supporting multiple protocols Incorporated (RTI) and Universal Remote such as Z-Wave, ZigBee and KNX. It Control (URC) at CEDIA 2014. Later, allows installers to go into any scenarios, Nest also acquired home automation hub and to find the right solution. Clare Revolv in October to declare its aggressive Controls thinks multi-protocol support move towards the home automation is a must. Its systems integrate Z-Wave, market. Revolv is a rising star in the DIY smart home segment Wi-Fi and BLE antennas. Mccarthy of Clare Controls said that in that is believed to contribute the largest portion of the smart home the United States, it tends to be more Z-Wave and not so much for market. Professional installers are key market partners for Nest, ZigBee. which endeavors to make products more trust-worthy and easy to “We are trying to make things smaller and easier to use. We install in the home automation systems. design systems to give dealers and integrators a lot of flexibility The Thread Group develops Thread, the IPv6 wireless as well as to make it easy to support different technologies,” said networking protocol built on open standards for the home, was Wayne of Resolution Products. Its products can support various founded by seven companies - Google’s Nest Lab, Samsung interfaces, such as Ethernet port, Wi-Fi, Z-Wave and ZigBee. Electronics, Freescale Semiconductor, Yale Security, Silicon Labs, Wireless networking technology has its drawback when Big Ass Fans and ARM. One of the disadvantages of Thread is that considering whole-home coverage. Wired networking is believed it connects more than 250 devices to a low-powered, wireless mesh to be the most reliable way. Powerline technologies are regarded as network which also includes direct Internet and cloud access for the most promising amongst world-leading companies. every device. The standard is designed for low-powered 802.15.4 HomePlug, a powerline communications networking technology, mesh network. is quickly penetrating the smart home application field. The HomePlug Alliance showcases hybrid home networking, supporting HomePlug AV, Wi-Fi, MoCA, and Ethernet standards in order to provide Home camera, video recorder, baby monitors, burglar alarm system, smoke/co detector, PIR motion sensor, flood detector, Home security a common communication protocol door/window sensor, siren, doorlock, doorbell, intercom, home and safety nVoy to leverage the strengths of security kit the wired and wireless networking technologies prevalent in many homes Climate control, HVAC control, thermostat, energy management Energy today. kit, environmental sensor, smart plug (socket, outlet, switch) management The other major powerline standard Gateway, hub, controller, motorized window treatments, lighting Home control G.hn is promoted by HomeGrid. The control, sprinkler/irrigation systems and automation advantage of this technology requires Wearable device, air quality sensor Healthcare no network infrastructure by utilizing Home theater, entertainment, distributed audio/video Entertainment existing powerline, coax and phone <Compiled by a&s SMAhome> lines without hassle. The standard is considered as promising in China with supporters like Huawei, ZTE, China Professional instalTelecom and China Mobile. Control4, Savant Systems, Crestron, RTI, URC, ELAN, etc On the other hand, partnership lation specialists across the industry and acquisition DIY connected home Nest, SmartThings (Samsung), Insteon, Vera, D-Link, Piper, Canary, Wink, Fibaro and Aeon Labs, etc make companies more full-fledged to vendors embrace more business opportunities Security service ADT, Frontpoint Security, Verisure, etc and maintain competitiveness. providers Companies thus strengthen their system Telecommunication AT&T, Deutsche Telecom, Bouygues Telecom, Swisscom, interoperability, provide comprehensive companies SFR and Orange, etc technical support and product lines, British Gas, Essent, Eneco, Nuon, RWE, etc Utility companies and offer seamless integration. Leviton Amazon, Lowe’s, Home Depot, Staples, etc takes co-opetition (cooperative Retailers <Compiled by a&s SMAhome> competition) as its action plan. “We
5 major categories of smart home industry
6 types of smart home suppliers
18 mySMAhome.com November/December 2014
EXPLORATION
7. SPOTLIGHT ON GATEWAY/HUB The home gateway or hub is one of the most important control centers for smart home. It solves the interoperability of connected products provided by different companies and supporting different standards. To be smarter, the next-generation home gateway, also called smart gateway, has four major features, intelligent traffic management, smart bandwidth adjustment, simple GUI and cloud-based updates. The more efficient home network becomes essential when there are more than 20 connected devices linking to the home network. The smart gateway can set priority for the connected devices at home and give each device the bandwidth it actually needs to optimize network performance. For example, you don’t want to be locked out of your house just because your family members use up all the bandwidth for watching TVs or recording video clips. According to Qualcomm Atheros, the design trends of home gateways include decreased LED, elimination of switch buttons and antennas, and fanless design to build a compact gateway with small form factor. Besides supporting multiple standards and mobile app, the smart gateway integrates set-top box and ADSL modem functionality, and delivers stable RF performance and low power consumption for always-on and always-connected features. Retailers are keeping their pace in smart home by launching
Photo by courtesy of SmartThings
own-brand gateways. Lowe’s, the world’s second largest home improvement retailer, released its first smart home platform Iris two years ago. Subsequently, Staples launched its hub called Staples Connect and Amazon opened a home automation store selling smart locks, sensors, thermostats in 2013. This year, the world’s largest home improvement retailer Home Depot works with Wink to enable its connected home products from 15 vendors, including ranging from dimmers, thermostats, security cameras, light bulbs and door locks to window shades, irrigation systems, water heaters and air conditioners connected by an app called Wink. Best Buy is taking a different approach by launching home automation platform PeQ for a monthly recurring fee of $9.99. They are enlarging their ecosystem by adding hardware devices while charging a monthly fee without contract for the revenue stream.
The mobile communications revolution is driving the world's major technology breakthroughs. From wearable devices to connected cars and homes, mobile technology is at the heart of worldwide innovation. As an industry, we are connecting billions of men and women to the transformative power of the Internet and mobilising every device that we use in our daily lives. The 2015 GSMA Mobile World Congress will convene industry leaders, visionaries and innovators to explore the trends that will shape mobile in the years ahead. We’ll see you in Barcelona at The Edge of Innovation.
AN EVENT OF
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20 mySMAhome.com November/December 2014
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PROF
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OFESSIONALDIY &
SMART HOME SYSTEMS By Cindy Lin
Home automation can be seen as an extension of building automation in residential homes. By adding home appliances and connected devices to a wired or wireless network for remote control, home automation offers homeowners the opportunity to embrace a lifestyle that is smarter, safer, more comfortable, and more energy-efficient. The home automation sector can be roughly divided into project-based and DIY types. The former consists largely of construction firms that bring total home automation solutions to the homes they build, most of which are luxury homes. The latter is made up of consumers who purchase home automation products for remodeling or retrofitting their homes by themselves. Many companies in home automation are making the move from project-based to DIY markets, hoping to bring their products or services to the mass market. Some important factors to consider in making this move are the nature of products and services as well as their distribution and installation.
CONTROL PANEL AND HUB ACT AS HOME CENTER In home automation, typical applications include control of lights, indoor or outdoor environments, security and access control. For environmental control, thermostats or other sensors can be installed to monitor home temperature, humidity, and air quality. In terms of home security, wired or wireless security cameras can be installed to capture and view live or stored video streams of the location being monitored, whether it’s on a computer or a tablet. The popularity of smart doorphones and locks are also increasingly on the rise. These automated solutions have been widely adopted as access controls to allow homeowners to view and monitor incoming visitors. Security and access controls are the most basic installations in project-based markets, while other products or services may be added depending on the type of residence, such as home entertainment solutions for luxury homes. Contrary to SI projects, the DIY market allows homeowners to choose any product or service based on their needs. According to a recent survey conducted in the US by Savant, the two most important considerations for consumers when adopting home automation are cost savings (41%) followed by safety and security (35%). Many competitively-priced standalone devices or DIY kits for providing basic home security and safety have been launched. A typical home security kit includes a hub, door/window sensors and motion sensors, with increasing adoption of security cameras. To make the home not just secure but also safe, other sensors such as smoke/gas sensor, flood sensor and glassbreak sensors may be purchased. The remotes, computers, smartphones, tablets, control panels, and hubs allow homeowners to take control of all connected things at home. For simple
controls such as light or curtain control, homeowners can use a remote or their smartphones via Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connectivity. For more complicated controls, a control panel or a hub acting as the “brain” for centralized control is generally presented, wirelessly communicating with the connected devices. Major wireless standards include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Smart (BLE), Zigbee, Z-Wave, RF 433 and 868MHz, and IR control panels typically have a touchscreen for direct user control and are more often seen in the projectbased market. As control panels are only used for local in-home control, they usually come with solutions that allow users to gain remote access via internet. Hubs, on the other hand, only provide indirect user control from a computer, a smartphone or a tablet that communicates with the hub via internet. In general, for users to gain remote access to the “brain”, software, mobile app, or cloud services are necessary to serve as the user interface. November/December 2014 mySMAhome.com 23
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HASSLE-FREE SOLUTIONS TAKE THE LEAD In the project-based market, construction firms purchase home automation systems from dealers for pre-installation in the residence before occupants move in. As these systems tend to be more complex which involve integrating hardwired or wireless connections, professional installers are needed for installations. For consumers who want to turn their existing homes into an automated one, they may not go down this path as it requires a high investment and a complicated installation process. Thus, to encourage more consumers to adopt home automation, cost-saving and easy installation are critical. If adopting home automation means having to replace existing appliances with new smart products, reroute the home, and purchase other hardware, consumers may be deterred from it. Thus, the DIY market is moving towards easy-toinstall-and-use home automation products for luring consumers in. All-in-one solutions are becoming increasingly popular because they can fulfill different needs simultaneously. One example is an all-in-one sensor that can monitor temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, noise level and air quality at the same time. Furthermore, some companies are moving towards making all wireless hubs that run on batteries. For purchasing these DIY products, customers can do so by going directly to the company’s website as well as its dealers. Alternatively, consumers can buy from major retailers like Amazon, Best Buy and Home Depot.
MORE INTEGRATION, MORE OPPORTUNITIES G re a t e r i n t e g r a t i o n a n d h i g h e r compatibility between devices, services, and platforms can be expected in the future for both markets. New products will tend to integrate with the existing devices, services, and platforms that have gained weight in the market for wider acceptance. For example, the mobile applications for home automation are almost all built on Android or iOS systems. Furthermore, although the home automation market has seen a gradual shift from luxurydominated market into a mainstream one, both markets are expected to grow over the next few years. According to Transparency Market Research, they will collectively account for 71.0% of the global market by 2019, and are expected to grow at an estimated rate of 27.5% from 2012.
DIY
DIY
Skylink Home Control Starter Kit SK-200
Fibaro Home Center 2
• Arms/disarms the system and shows the sensor status with the Skylink App • Consists of an internet hub, two window/door sensors, a motion sensor, a keychain remote • Plug and play internet hub with a built-in 110dB siren • A backup battery and external telephone dialer to be used during power outage • Sends push notifications for all events• Event Log stores all recent activities • All sensors run on AA or AAA battery and can last up to 2 years • Up to 10 IP cameras and 100+ devices can be added
• Z-Wave based full feature home automation solution • Provides fine control of accessories, utilities, and appliances, and complete monitoring of conditions throughout the household and garden • Capacity to initiate scenes to any user-defined variable permits conditional programming of a household that responds to new conditions intelligently • System integrates with mobile devices for geolocalization, enabling the household to initiate scenes based on a user’s proximity to home
Skylink Group China info@skylinkhome.com
Fibar Group Poland www.fibaro.com/en
DIY
ARCHOS Smart Home Tablet DIY
Indrens Smart Home Starter Kit • Smart WiFi Socket tracks home appliances status and gives timely feedback • Smart WiFi Socket supports up to 10 scheduled tasks • Up to 150 WiFi Smart Socket can be controlled with one smartphone • Smart WiFi Remote Control supports control of RF Switch by RF module and all IR home appliances Indrens China info@kingstronic.com
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• • • • •
7-inch 1024 x 600 pixels android display (Android 4.2.2) 4GB flash and micro SD (compatible with cards up to 64GB); 1GB RAM (2x 512MB) Supports WiFi (2.4GHz), WiFi Direct and Bluetooth Starter Pack includes 2 Weather Tags, 2 Movement Tags and 2 MiniCams Sets up personalized alert notifications for certain events. Schedule, action and triggered-event settings are provided. ARCHOS France export@archos.com
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DIY
DIY
Logitech Harmony Home Hub
Lowe’s Iris Smart Hub • Controls IRIS Smart Home System devices for security, energy and temperature management • IRIS Smart Home System devices include Smart Thermostat, Digital IP Wireless Security Camera, Range Extender, Motion Sensor, Door & Window Sensor, Smart Plug, and more • Creates custom use scenarios by adding the devices • Various security kits available for different needs- Safe & Secure Kit, Comfort & Control Kit, and Smart Kit
• Combined home entertainment and automation control for connected lights, locks, thermostats, blinds, and sensors • Harmony App for iOS or Android smartphone or tablet: Simply swipe and tap to control TV channels and home automation devices such as Philips hue lights or Nest Learning Thermostat • Harmony Home Hub allows user to control devices in closed cabinets • Turns your smartphone into a universal remote control Logitech Switzerland www.logitech.com
DIY
Wink Connected Home Hub • Connects to internet via Wi-Fi • Supports Wi-Fi, ZigBee, Z-Wave, and Lutron ClearConnect • Supports remote control via the Wink app on smartphones including Android mobile, Android Wear and iOS
Lowe’s USA www.lowes.com
DIY
SmartThings Smart Home Starter Kit • Includes four components - hub, motion sensor, open/ closed sensor and presence sensor • No wiring or installation needed • The Hub connects to the router via an Ethernet cable and communicates with various ZigBee, Z-Wave and IP-compatible devices • For indoor use only SmartThings USA support@smartthings.com
DIY
Scout • Scout Hub connects to the modem or router via an Ethernet cord and communicates wirelessly with the devices controlled • Scout Hub supports battery backup as well as 3G cellular backup for keeping the system running when power or internet is down • Embedded 106dB alarm in Scout Hub for scaring burglars • Can be expanded easily to support unlimited sensors including door panels, access sensors and motion sensors as well as HD video cameras • App-based control and monitoring Scout USA scoutalarm.com sales@scoutalarm.com
Wink USA www.wink.com
DIY
DIY
SimpliSafe
VIPER Home Starter Kit
• • • •
• All wireless and battery-operated • Connects to the broadband router and links all Viper home devices ices into a wireless security network • Remote control and management access to the system, via thee cloud cloud, using the Viper Connect smartph smartphone app and the Viper Home website • Includes Smart Hub, indoor motion detector and 1 magnetic door/window sensor • Sends real-time notifications of any security event to smartphones via the internet
Wireless home security system that is pre-programmed for quick installation Supports control from free apps on iOS, Android and Windows smartphones Base Station has built-in backup battery and cellular GSM connection SMS text/Email alerts are sent when sensors are triggered or when the system is armed/disarmed by a family member • Two alarm modes for night & day protection • Supports up to 41 sensors including entry sensor, motion sensor, smoke detector, CO detector panic button, glassbreak sensor, water sensor, and more SimpliSafe USA customer-support@simplisafe.com
VIPER USA www.viper.com
DIY
PEQ Starter Kit • • • • • • •
Includes 1 hub and 1 door & window sensor Hub supports LAN connection: wireless/Ethernet Door & window sensor runs on a 3V lithium battery Receive alerts via e-mail or text message• Remote control and monitoring from smartphones or tablets Add-ons include lamp modules, cameras, motion sensors, water sensors, and smart thermostats Supports ongoing firmware updates Industry-standard security practices for data and privacy protection PEQ USA www.mypeq.com
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Project-based
Project-based
Das Technology Home Automation System
TECHCity Technology Smart Home Kit
• Provides a turnkey total solution for home automation including wireless gateway, receptacle, light dimmer, gas alarm, thermostat, smoke alarm, gas valve, curtain, camera • Gateway connects to router via RJ45 cable and provides an ARM9 platform with embedded Linux, web server, and more • All devices are connected to the gateway via Zigbee • Control from any smart device with internet browser, where scenarios can be configured • Smart receptacle monitors power consumption, and when anomaly in power consumption is detected, power will be cut off automatically • Wireless gas alarm would set off an audible alarm as well as turn off the gas in the event of gas leakage Das Technology Taiwan adamwu@das.com.tw
• • • • •
Includes a touch panel for personalized control of lighting, curtains, appliances, security devices, and scenes Multi-way switches (up to 3-way) available for light control Supports Wi-Fi, RF wireless and RS-485 wired connections Supports detection of and IR learning on A/V home appliances Mobile app (Android & iOS) available for remote control from pads and smartphones TECHCity Technology Taiwan amos_chang@techcity.com.tw
Project-based
Honeywell VISTA Automation Module • Centralized local control of security, video cameras and Z-Wave enabled thermostats, lights, locks, or shades directly on web-enabled devices • Built-in web server that broadcasts its own network and allows for local control of the system through any Wi-Fi enabled device • Built-in Z-Wave controller allows for 232 Z-Wave devices • Connects up to 32 MPEG4, H.264 or Onvif format IP cameras to a VAM system and view up to four cameras at once (quad view) on local Wi-Fi enabled devices • Supports Honeywell’s low-light IP camera (iPCAM-WL) for better viewing in low light and dark areas • Email notification of system actions and events, up to four different email addresses are supported • Customizes up to 10 scenes to have system devices operate based on time, day or system events Honeywell USA honeywell.com
Project-based
Project-based
NAPCO IBR-ITAB-KIT
Clare Controls CLIQ. express
• Color TFT high-resolution display (800x480 pixels) • Controls security system, video and automated home controls • 100% mirrors all functions of the iBridge App plus voice-prompts • Easy on/off combo • Magnetic wall mounting frame/charging dock • Z-Wave lighting, lock and thermostat control using Z-REMOTE module • Supports internet browser Napco Security Technologies USA salesinfo@napcosecurity.com
Project-based
Leviton OmniTouch 7 Touchscreen • Arms/disarms your security system or alerts emergency contact • View IP surveillance video footages without additional hardware. Supports MJPG and JPEG IP cameras as well as analog with an analog to IP converter • Utilize slider bars for lighting adjustment • Supports up to 64 thermostats including humidity settings • Control irrigation, ventilation, and window coverings • Controls Leviton’s Hi-Fi 2 Distributed Audio SystemBOX: Leviton USA www.leviton.com
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Project-based
2GIG Go!Control Control Panel • Built-in Z-wave radio for controlling HVAC, appliances, lighting, and lock • Supports full voice response to give notifications on system status, zone descriptions, alarms, and emergencies • Equipped with an LCD touch screen • Supports two-way voice between user and the central station operator • Supports remote control from computers and mobile phones • Over-the-Air function allows the panel to be updated with the latest software 2GIG Technologies USA info@2gig.com
• Entry-level controller designed for high volume mainstream applications • Supports up to 10 lighting circuits, 1 partition/8 zones of security, 4 zones of multi-room audio, 2 IP video surveillance, 2 TV entertainment areas, and 2 thermostats • Serves as media server for processing concurrent streams of music into the multi-zone audio application • Can distribute three soft internet/satellite streams, plus multiple local sources simultaneously Clare Controls USA sales@clarecontrols.com
Project-based
Project-based
Control4 HC-250 Controller
NETGEAR Home Security Gateway
• 1 GHz processor • Controls third-party devices via wireless ZigBee and WiFi as well as hard-wired Ethernet, infrared, relay, or two-way RS-232 • Third-party devices include lighting solutions, window shades, thermosets, sensors, security camera integration via IP (Ethernet or WiFi), pool and spa systems, and creature comforts • Controls from a touch screen, remote, or TV on-screen navigator • Control4 App license enables in-home control from mobile devices and PCs, where 4Sight subscription can be added for remote control Control4 USA customers@control4.com
Project-based
Resolution Products Helix • Wireless security platform with all-wireless peripherals (one and two-way) • Can be installed without wiring • Controllable from mobile devices via direct Bluetooth local control or cloudbased remote control from the same app • Supports a 1500 foot open-air range for all sensors of Resolution Products • Encrypted sensor communications for elevated security • Adopts an E Ink display to support more than three years of battery life
• Provides connectivity to security systems, Wi-Fi devices (including cameras and touch screens) and Z-Wave devices (including sensors, lighting controls, thermostats, door locks, etc.) • Allows the homeowner to remotely access cameras and touchscreens through a secured Wi-Fi communication • Provides easy-to-use home automation including the ability to control lights or thermostats while at home or away • Works with existing Honeywell and DSC security systems reducing installation time and total system cost • Provides complete connectivity with all certified iControl OpenHome Connect devices, including touch screens, cameras, security systems and Z-Wave devices NETGEAR USA sales@netgear.com
Resolution Products USA josh@resolutionproducts.com
November/December 2014 mySMAhome.com 29
REPORT
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SMART HOME IN THE US:
EASIER ACCESS, TOUGHER GAME
By Weili Lin
The traditional home automation market, offering pricey and intelligent systems, is often ranked as high-end for luxury homes. In recent years, the US market is booming with new entrants and more affordable solutions that reach out to the mass market from a luxury dominated market. User awareness, mature technology and new playersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; entrance are believed to be three major drivers of the market. According to Transparency Market Research, the U.S. has emerged as the single largest market for home automation systems geographically. North America is expected to remain the largest market by 2019, taking up more than 40 percent of revenue share in 2012. The US home automation and control market is predicted to have a large growth potential. According to the research of Parks Associates, nearly 4 percent of U.S. households will have a smart home controller by the end of 2014, with an estimated increase to nearly 6 percent by 2015. 64 percent of all smart devices presently in households
operate as part of a security or home controls system from a 1Q 2014 survey of 10,000 U.S. broadband households. The home automation market is a luxury dominated market by far. Difficult and pricey installation and cross-platform incompatibility hinder mass adoption. The budget-friendly price and universal solution for an easy installation to the masses help the market grow further. The DIY market is a growing engine of the US home automation marketplace due to lower cost and easier entry for average consumers.
CEDIA UNVEILS HOME AUTOMATION TRENDS CEDIA EXPO is the leading professional custom installation show in North America. Professional custom installation means more i n t e l l i g e n t h o m e c o n t ro l a n d automation. More than 90 percent of exhibitors are US-based companies. Device manufacturers, system integrators, distributors and dealers gather annually to discover emerging trends, and to find new products and technologies there. Developers receive advanced training on systems integration and networking in the residential electronic systems industry
November/December 2014 mySMAhome.com 31
REPORT
at the show. From CEDIA 2014, held in Denver, Colorado, the US home automation industry is evidently growing with a lot of possibilities. The show discloses several trends of the home automation market in North America in 2014 and 2015. SMAhome observed the impacts on introduction of DIY products, new entrants, cloud-based management, and tighter industrial cooperation. The traditional home automation market, referring to the professional installation market, requires changes to overcome the challenges.
DIY: THREAT OR OPPORTUNITY There were 100 first-time exhibitors at CEDIA, including a number of point and DIY solutions like Dropcam and Chui smart doorbell. The DIY devices catch attention of price-sensitive customers, fasten penetrations of home automation and push home automation market to the masses. DIY device makers look for cooperation with the wholehome system specialists, demonstrating their innovations at the CEDIA show. With the DIY device vendors entering the custom installation market, it is inevitable for the whole-home system specialists to provide app-controlled and easier-to-install custom design. Consumers thus can have personalized interface and settings without integrators’ or dealers’ support. They can add a thermostat or change intensity of the light themselves via a mobile app. Ron Zimmer, President
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THE DIY HOME AUTOMATION PRODUCTS AND SERVICE MARKET TO GROW AT A RAPID PACE DUE TO HIGH PENETRATION OF BROADBAND AND SMARTPHONE DEVICES. Ron Zimmer, President & CEO of CABA
& C E O , Continental Automated Buildings dings Association (CABA) expects the DIY home automation products and service market to grow at a more rapid pace due to high penetration of both broadband and smartphone devices. The devices typically cost between $100 and $300, and can be installed by homeowners themselves. The use of a smartphone as an interface to communicate with connected devices is therefore critical. Whole house automation typically costs thousands of dollars, and must be deployed by a professional system installer. According to CABA’s research, the DIY market constitutes 60 percent of U.S. market, and professional installation accounts for the remaining 40 percent. Greg Rhoades, Marketing Director of Leviton Security & Automation indicated that home DIY market can be a threat to the home automation industry, but an opportunity as well as big manufacturers and service providers are getting into this space like Apple. Apple puts multiple platforms into one app with their subsystems. Rhoades stated that functionality may be limited, but it helps raise the awareness of home automation to consumers. Resolution Products, a US-based home security hardware provider, offers hardware devices to professional security dealers. Dave Mayne, Vice President of Marketing at Resolution Products believes the DIY market is gaining traction, especially when big companies like Google, Apple and Samsung are involved in the market. He thinks the security service companies and professional installers have good financial models, helping lower down cost for consumers and enhance market penetration. Another factor that drives consumers to purchase DIY products is convenient lifestyle. Clare Controls offers a complete package for users to add popular smart home devices like lighting switch, irrigation system and thermostat in addition to controllers and software. The company certifies DIY products and puts them into the control list. Consumers can select what they want. Brigitte Mccarthy, Vice President of Marketing of Clare Controls indicated that consumers want to add things. For example, they want to add a sensor to their medicines. Wireless sensors are the things consumers can buy and install themselves. DIY products and point solutions are believed to help business growth and to expand revenue. “You’d better buy something from me or nothing from me. It could be a win-win strategy,“ said Paul Williams, Vice President of Lighting and Comfort at Control4. However, he pointed out that integration of DIY products into the whole-home automation may encounter problems like inconsistent standards.
Is it possible for one provider to supply all smart home technologies? Taryn Tulay, Analyst of Strategy Analytics said, "Consumers like the idea of having one provider for all three smart home categories - Media, Environment and Security, particularly for the convenience of bill and service provider consolidation, such as their cable or telephone provider. However, for 'Environmental Control' or 'Security-related' smart home technologies, they do not believe that a cable or telephone company would have the experience, or established equipment and technology to provide such services."
THREE GROUPS OF PLAYERS IN TIGHT GAMES The US home automation market is dominated by three major players, including traditional high-end whole-home system specialists, service providers and device vendors. They are expanding their revenue streams by offering both hardware devices and software services. To the traditional professional installers, the service providers including telcos, cablecos, broadband and security service providers and utilities companies are viewed as significant competitors whose revenue streams come from services and monthly recurring fees. What whole-home system specialists like Control4, Savant Systems, Crestron and Clare Controls can do is to make things easily done with reliable system integration. Williams of Control4 indicated that Control4's core competence is to build up a solution to bring all these technologies together into a simple and easy-to-use interface. To remain competitive, Control4 focuses on dealer relationship and customers’ experiences. “We continue to focus on dealers’ relationship, to make sure they are able to build up their business. We focus on customers’ experience, and want to make it economical to our customers. It brings availability of smart home technology to a broader group of people,” said Williams of Control4. IHS’s report revealed that MSOs (multiple service operators) has led the trend of integrating security equipment and home automation, and talked about their approaches in the competitive market. Powered partially by intensive marketing and partially by an existing and extensive customer base, MSOs may be in the best position to offer smart security devices over the next 3 to 5 years, by simply upgrading their customers’ current subscriptions. IHS indicated that traditional monitoring companies and traditional high-end providers are left to find new customers all the while.
CLOUD-BASED MANAGEMENT
CONTROL4’S CORE COMPETENCE IS TO BUILD UP A SOLUTION TO BRING ALL THESE TECHNOLOGIES TOGETHER INTO A SIMPLE AND EASY-TO-USE INTERFACE. Paul Williams, Vice President of Lighting and Comfort at Control4
Several US makers have been leveraging the cloud-based content management with the cost-efficient app to cope with decreased hardware revenue. According to a survey report of CEDIA Research on the North America home automation market, CEDIA Size and Scope of the Residential Electronic Systems Market, cloud-based content management is emerging like Dropcam’s remote monitoring service. The surveyed companies noticed a shift from hardware sales to service and labor sales caused by cloud-based content management. The preliminary findings show that 23 percent of survey respondents indicate a moderate decline in hardware sales, up from 18 percent in 2013 because of cloud-based content management. To ensure secure and reliable cloud services, carrier-grade technology and multi-tenant application are applied. The present cloud services offer more flexibility and convenience, enabling consumers to change settings and stored them in the cloud. If they have any problem with that, dealers can access the cloud to recover it. It is essential to keep active connection all the time with quick responses through the cloud November/December 2014 mySMAhome.com 33
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connection. Mayne of Resolution Products said, “It’s a critical issue that if I am a consumer, I want to unlock my door or turn on the lights right away. I don’t want to wait.” Consumers may wait for 30 seconds or even several minutes from current offerings on the market. In the cloud arena, the app is getting important in control systems. The single interface solution dominates the installation base. According to the survey from CEDIA Research, single interface solution, one total home control interface that controls all subsystems, is the primary adopted solution that accounts for 59 percent of installed control systems from surveyed firms. Around 23 percent of surveyed professional installation companies believe independent control apps help their business, and heightened consumer awareness of system control increases demand systems. for whole house sy
IT’S A CRITICAL ISSUE THAT IF I AM A CONSUMER, I WANT TO UNLOCK MY DOOR OR TURN ON THE LIGHTS RIGHT AWAY. I DON’T WANT TO WAIT. Dave Mayne, Vice President of Marketing of Resolution Products
MAJOR ATTRIBUTES WHEN PURCHASING A NEW TECHNOLOGY IN US
38%
CONVENIENCE
37%
EASE OF USE
32%
PERSONALIZATION
28%
SEAMLESS INTEGRATION LOW ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
24%
<Source: Savant Systems>
C r e s t r o n ’s Pyng allows users to customize schedules based on time of the day like ke sunset and sunrise as well as climate control schedule. For example, shades can be set to close at midday to keep out heat. Thermostats can be set to certain temperatures based on the time of day. Moreover, the app is designed to let integrators to finish setup with five simple steps. The integrator can name rooms, add accessories, create and custom scenes, and schedule events with ease. Sunset and sunrise scenes can be set up with different light colors. Savant Systems launched a new app Single App Home at CEDIA 2014. “We integrate home entertainment, security, lighting and climate control into our new app. Use one app to control your home no matter what technologies you are using, “said Tim Mclnerney, Director of Product Marketing of Savant Systems. Savant Systems cares about customer experience. “Scenes make people easier to understand, and to program their setting on their own. Users can have personalized setting under different scenarios like party, Friday night, sunset and etc,” said Mclnerney of Savant Systems. The company claims its solution enables installers to program with only a few hours.
MASS MARKET FAVORS SIMPLE AND AFFORDABLE WAYS To cope with the business challenges posed by DIY smart home makers, leading brands specialized in project markets are striving to make dealers’ job easier. To save time and cost, hardware devices are provided in a modular format to lower prices and save installers’ time in comparison with customized products. From the software side, easy-to-use app and cloud management help ease the problem. Clare Controls has its strategy to make their dealers efficient. Mccarthy of Clare Controls said, “When we make changes and add new features, we put them on the cloud to
THE RESPONDENTS OF DIFFERENT AGES AND GENDERS HAVE DIFFERENT RESULTS
47 49
%
%
of consumers at the age of 50 or older are more likely than all other age groups to find simple control/easy to use as extremely/very important when purchasing new technology.
of consumers rate personalization as extremely/very important when purchasing new technology.
77
of women are more likely than men (34 percent) to find low environmental impact as extremely/very important when making a technology purchase.
Consumers between the ages of , along with those or older, are more likely than younger consumers aged (18-24) to rank “cost savings” as their top consideration when purchasing new technology.
34 mySMAhome.com November/December 2014
%
65
35-49
ADVERTORIAL
THE VL SERIES TOUCHSCREEN ALARM:
A USER-FRIENDLY AUTOMATION & SECURITY INTERFACE A
long-time veteran of the electronic security market, Climax Technology is a Taiwan-based provider of security, household automation, and telecare solutions. This year, the company has chosen to distill the fruits of nearly three decades of experience into a key home security product – the Vesta family VL Series Touchscreen Alarm, an all-inone cloud-based total solution that integrates security monitoring, home automation, energy management, total visual monitoring, and senior care.
MODULAR SUPPORT FOR A VARIETY OF PROTOCOLS Featuring a 7" full-color, high resolution display with large, user-friendly icons and easyto-read fonts, the IP-based VL Series interface panel is designed with built-in expansion slots for a variety of different modules, as well as the capacity to pair with up to 160 remote monitoring and sensor accessories via RF and ZigBee. Standard monitoring accessories include sensors for smoke, water, heat, carbon monoxide, motion, and door / window access. Optional modules installed based on customer requirement grant further access to 3G and 4G GSM, Z-Wave, Wi-Fi, DECT, and Climax's proprietary RF protocol – enabling in sum a broad spectrum of custom home automation and energy management capabilities within well-established communication standards. The hardware-supported features of the device include remote thermostat setting, the management of major brandname electronic locks, and advanced lighting control – with capability for scheduling, scene modulation, conditional activation, and groupings. Appliances and utilities may be similarly configured to operate in response to conditions or schedules programmed from the VL panel.
THE BACKBONE OF ANY CLIMAX PRODUCT IS SECURITY The VL Series touchscreen is intended for
use alongside microprocessor-controlled video recording devices with Passive Infrared (PIR) sensors, natively incorporating the capacity to submit photographs or time-stamped videos to end-users and security services on the detection of motion and other activity. In addition to also providing alerts, the availability of IP cameras further enables the real-time video monitoring of household conditions. The standard implementation of the Vesta security solution permits the VL Series Touchscreen to submit data for remote storage on the Climax Home Portal Server, a high-capacity IP / GPRS digital backend designed to suit the standard operational needs of most security service providers. Communicating with the Home Portal Server via a VL Series device, endusers are provided with a total security solution via the Climax app interface, which grants access to a suite of monitoring and analytics features. Compatible apps are of course available for browser and for Android or iOS devices.
TWO-WAY COMMUNICATIONS AS A FOUNDATION OF SENIOR CARE The VL Series interface is designed with innate compatibility to Climax's repertoire of senior care devices, including the Call Point, Emergency Communicator, Wrist Transmitter, Voice Satellite, Panic Button, and Talking Pendant. Two-way communications is a core element of the VL Series' senior care functionality, and figures prominently into the features of most available accessories. Climax Technology Co., Ltd. www.climax.com.tw email: sales@climax.com.tw
November/December 2014 mySMAhome.com 35
REPORT
make them available for dealers to efficiently deploy them to consumers via our software infrastructure.” Clare Controls makes its host controller small, compact and affordable to consumers for full-featured automation in the mainstream homes. Savant Systems also works on more economic devices to make their systems more affordable from $3,000 to $1,000 systems to hundreds of dollars.The design philosophy of Leviton is making products simple to install and affordable. Entry-level technicians can also handle the installation. The senior technicians can conduct more complicated setting back in the central control center. Clare Controls positions its products as being managed from the cloud. All the programming is done in the cloud and is pushed down to the home. For dealers, the cloud services provide more efficient programming, deploying and selling. For consumers, they can have greater control. Consumers can buy dimmers, sensors or thermostats online, and choose self installation or professional installation. Control4 launched Composer Express, a mobile configuration tool for dealers to simplify and accelerate the set-up process for home automation systems at CEDIA, enabling more efficient entry-labor model, decreasing the training time and logistics for entry-level technicians. Hundreds of devices in the complex wholehome installations can be set up from a few days to a few hours with their WiFi-enabled tablets or smartphones. To enable efficient logistics and reduce dealers’ inventory costs, direct shipping is adopted. For instance, Clare Controls ships products from its warehouse to consumers, and dealers don’t have to contact customers directly. All the process can be done via the cloud platform. Consumers can add new and simple Clare-certified devices, and finish installation themselves by paring the devices with the automation controller. Mccarthy of Clare Controls said, “In our cloud, builders for new-home 36 mySMAhome.com November/December 2014
IN OUR CLOUD, BUILDERS OR INSTALLERS CAN CLONE THE PROJECT TO MAKE PROGRAMMING EASY, IN A FEW MINUTES TO AN HOUR. IT’S VERY EFFICIENT. Brigitte Mccarthy, Vice President of Marketing of Clare Controls
projects or installers can clone the project to make programming easy, in a few minutes to an hour. It’s very efficient.” Control 4 has Simple Device Discovery Protocol (SDDP), which is software built into a manufacturer’s product to make integration with a Control4 system easy and seamless. Dealers add these devices to a Control4 system and the controller automatically recognizes them. SDDP lets consumers enjoy a lower cost of installation. “We don’t want to offer only one solution only. We want our customers to make decisions based on what they need. If there is a device maker selling products into our dealers’ channels, we are willing to work with them,” said Williams of Control4. The US home automation market is believed to be taking off. “What happened in the US market now is that customers are starting to be aware of smart home technology because of lots of major service providers are getting into the market, such as Xfinity and AT&T with their digital life products. What they do is raising awareness of consumers. Consumers are looking for solutions,” said Williams of Control4. Though the demand hasn't reached its full potential, the adoption and awareness has been accelerating.
ADVERTORIAL
PHILIO SMART-KIT
Possessing more than 10 years of experience in the design and manufacture of security and home automation solutions, Philio has acted as a driving force behind the trending innovations of the IoT and Smart Home markets â&#x20AC;&#x201C; paving the way for a smarter, more secure, and safer world with Z-WAVE Home Control products. Philio now offers a Smart Home Kit for residential installations, featuring products and solutions based on innovative and open technical platforms.
P
hilio Technology Corporation designs and provides Taiwanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most original and inspired collections of Smar t Home products. Items from the company's comprehensive product lineup can be selected by consumers a la carte, or custom-ordered to suit bespoke requirements and special conditions. Philio also understand the importance of safety and security within the home. The Z-Wave SmartKit enables secure monitoring of the household with reliable Z-Wave controller and sensors. 4-in-1 sensors are able to monitor motion, the opening and closing of doorways, and temperature and light. On detection of irregular activity, pushnotification alerts are submitted to designated mobile devices, with alarm sounding within the home. Simplicity has always Philio's philosophy in
product design. With built-in support for Peer-to-Peer cloud service, the Z-Wave Smart-Kit is pre-installed with a wireless network that connects its controller and sensors, permitting easy management of all connected devices through the Philio App. Scenes, scenarios, and scheduling can be customized simply by dragging the appropriate sensor or device icon from the list. Philio's new Color-Button, made in Taiwan, effortlessly adjusts household conditions with a single touch, enabling not only the remote switching on and off of electronic devices, but also the capacity to dim LED lights, adjust the temperature on an air system, and set up a timer whenever necessary. Now consumers can have a stylish and ergonomic option in managing their domestic lives. Philio Technology Corporation www.philio-tech.com TEL: +886 2 2908 8952 sales@philio-tech.com
November/December 2014 mySMAhome.com 37
REPORT
Nest Protect & Dropcam • Access live or stored video of homes or businesses from users’ computers, tablets or smartphones • When Nest Protect: Smoke + Carbon Monoxide alarm goes off, Dropcam will record a clip the smoke or carbon monoxide event and automatically save it • Emails or push notifications are sent right away upon the detection of any motion and sound • Dropcam supports 107 degree field of view that allows the capture of an entire room; 4x zoom for rendering the details of the part of interest • Nest Protect features Wi-Fi connectivity and 6-in1 sensors (photoelectric smoke, carbon monoxide, heat, three activity, ambient light, humidity sensors) ■ Nest ■ nest.com ■ USA
AwoX AromaLIGHT Color • Built-in essential oil diffuser in the energy-saving LED light bulb • Diffusion on/off and speed control via free mobile application • A few drops in rechargeable cartridge last up to a week • Light intensity and color section are controllable with the free mobile application • Supports Bluetooth connectivity (Bluetooth 4.0 or higher) and E27 socket ■ AwoX ■ www.awox.com ■ France
Chui • Smart doorbell with face detection for eliminating the need for keys • Real-time notifications via email and push notifications to your smart phone or tablet with the visitor’s face, time-stamp, and name (if recognized) • Interactive - users can have live conversations with visitors via one-way video and two-way audio • Users can leave prerecorded/personalized messages for visitors • Unlocks the door for family or friends simply through facial recognition- no need to interact with a phone or worry about letting someone in when away ■ Chui ■ www.getchui.com ■ USA
Fibaro Swipe • Wireless keypad with incorporated gesture sensors • Mounted on the wall, behind a wall, or even under a counter • Users can control home devices like roller shades, light switch and audio/video equipment without touching them • Swiping in different directions enables different functionsmake roller shades go up or down, switch the light, turn up the music, or turn on a TV ■ Fibar Group ■ www.fibaro.com ■ Poland
Crestron Pyng • Home control app for controlling the lighting, shades, sensors, HVACs, thermostats, door locks, and security systems • Can be set up completely from iPad and control from iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch devices • Supports wireless infiNET EX lighting controls, Crestron shades, wireless thermostats, Yale wireless door locks, and security systems • Supports up to 200 infiNET EX accessories via dedicated hub (model PYNG-HUB) and three additional external gateways • Separate integrator and homeowner modes • Adds and edits scenes (adjust lighting levels, shade positions, etc.) from the app • Schedule time-based events according to time of day or sunrise/ sunset ■ Crestron ■ www.crestron.com ■ USA
38 mySMAhome.com November/December 2014
iSmartAlarm Smart Switch • Allows user to control home lighting, appliances and security devices from their smartphone • Supports rule setting • Turns off dangerous appliances when they are not in use • User can create scenarios to automatically turn off and on lights or TVs when an alarm goes off to deter intruders ■ iSmartAlarm ■ www.ismartalarm.com ■ USA
Lutron GRAFIK T dimmer • Users can set the light to a desired level with one simple touch or slide-of-a-finger on the LED light bar • Supports patented C•L dimming technology to ease the transition to new lighting sources for residential and commercial users alike • Compatible with a broad range of LEDs available on the market • UL approved to control dimmable LEDs/ incandescent and halogen bulbs ■ Lutron ■ www.lutron.com ■ USA
Honeywell Performance Series IP Kit • Home surveillance system including an embedded NVR, four IP ball or bullet cameras in ready-to-install kits • Mobile app available for remote access and monitoring. • Featuring four 1080p IR-illuminated, IP66-rated cameras and a 1 or 2 TB embedded NVR (up to 8TB storage optional) • Can be upgraded to high-quality, end-to-end IP video systems for smaller installations • Quick setup in just several minutes ■ Honeywell ■ www.honeywell.com ■ USA
IC Realtime IC720 • High-definition, 720-degrees surveillance camera with no blind spots or moving parts • Can be mounted atop racecars to stream live HD video from racetrack to the user’s mobile devices at speeds in excess of 100 MPH • Built-in software sensors and synchronization of front and rear spheres allow 360-degree x 360-degree video to be captured for creating a 3D-like experience • Compatible with iPad, iPhone and Android-enabled mobile devices ■ IC Realtime ■ www.icrealtime.com ■ USA
Rachio • Smart sprinkler controller that creates watering schedule based on season, humidity, and location for water and money savings • Learns user behavior and continues to tweak the watering schedule • Features Wi-Fi connectivity that allows users to manage the watering remotely by a smartphone or tablet • Creates personalized watering reports and analytics that are saved to the cloud for easy remote control and monitoring • Helps strengthen root structures and eliminate runoff with a cycle-and-soak method to fit different soil types • Compatible with Wink and Revolv ■ Rachio ■ www.rach.io ■ USA
November/December 2014 mySMAhome.com 39
REPORT
CEDIA 2014 Home Automation Supplier List Hardware Video monitoring
Digital Watchdog U. S. A.
www.digital-watchdog. com
U. S. A.
Arecont Vision
www.arecontvision.com
Axis Communications
www.axis.com
U. S. A.
FortrezZ
www.fortrezz.com
U. S. A.
Bosch security
www.boschsecurity.us
Germany
iSmart Alarm
www.ismartalarm.com
U. S. A.
Comelit USA
www.comelitusa.com
U. S. A.
Resolution Products
resolutionproducts.com
U. S. A.
D-Link Systems
www.dlink.com
Taiwan
SNUPI Technologies
www.wallyhome.com
U. S. A.
Geovision
www.geovision.com.tw
Taiwan
LILIN
www.LILIN.US
Taiwan
NETGEAR
www.netgear.com
U. S. A.
QNAP
www.qnap.com
Taiwan
TP-Link
www.tp-link.com
China
TRENDnet
www.trendnet.com
U. S. A.
TUTK
www.tutk.com
Taiwan
Vivotek
www.vivotek.com
Taiwan
Software D-Tools, Inc.
www.d-tools.com
U. S. A.
BidMagic
www.bidmagic.com
U. S. A.
Integrated systems
Door locks & access
2GIG by Linear
www.2gig.com
U. S. A.
Aiphone
www.aiphone.com
U. S. A.
Clare Controls
www.clarecontrols.com
U. S. A.
Chui
www.getchui.com
U. S. A.
Comcast Labs
eKeyUSA Systems
www.ekeyusa.com
U. S. A.
www.comcastcorporation. U. S. A. com
Lockstate
www.lockstate.com
U. S. A.
Control4
www.control4.com
U. S. A.
Kwikset
www.kwikset.com
U. S. A.
Crestron
www.crestron.com
U. S. A.
okidokeys
www.okidokeys.com
U. S. A.
ELAN / Core brands
www.elanhomesystems. com
U. S. A.
Schlage
www.schlage.com
U. S. A.
) LEDU* URXS ) LEDUR
Z Z Z ILEDUR FRP
Siedle Security Systems www.siedleusa.com of America
U. S. A.
G2i
www.g2ihome.com
U. S. A.
Unitech
www.us.ute.com
Taiwan
Homeseer
www.homeseer.com
U. S. A.
Yale
www.yalecommercial.com U. S. A.
Honeywell
www.security.honeywell. com/hsc
U. S. A.
Leviton
www.leviton.com/ automation
U. S. A.
Home control Aprilaire
www.aprilaire.com
U. S. A.
3RO DQG
Basalte
www.basalte.us
Belgium
Lifedomus
www.lifedomus.com
France
Cool Automation
www.coolautomation.com
Israel
Linear
www.linearcorp.com
U. S. A.
Eaton
www.eaton.com
U. S. A.
www.napcosecurity.com
U. S. A.
Enerwave
www.enerwaveautomation.com
NAPCO Security Technologies
U. S. A.
On Controls
www.oncontrols.com
U. S. A.
www.procontrol.com
U. S. A.
www.rticorp.com
U. S. A.
Elk Products
www.elkproducts.com
U. S. A.
Pro Control
Lutron
www.lutron.com
U. S. A.
MCOHome
www.mcohome.com
U. S. A.
Remote Technologies Inc. (RTI)
Nest Labs (Dropcam, Revolv)
www.nest.com
U. S. A.
Qmotion Advanced Shading Systems
www.qmotionshades.com
U. S. A.
PipeBurst Pro
www.pipeburstpro.com
U. S. A.
Playtabase
www.playtabase.com
U. S. A.
Rachio
www.rach.io
U. S. A.
Somfy Systems
www.somfysystems.com
U. S. A.
Specialized Shading Systems
www.specializedshadingsystems.com
U. S. A.
Savant Systems
www.savantsystems.com
U. S. A.
Telguard / Telular
www.telguard.com
U. S. A.
Universal Remote Control (URC)
www.universalremote. com
U. S. A.
Vantage / Legrand
www.vantagecontrols. com
U. S. A.
Distributors ADI
www.adiglobal.com
U. S. A.
China
Capitol Sales Company
www.capitolsales.com
U. S. A.
www.i-team.com.hk
Hong Kong
Powerhouse Alliance
www.powerhousealliance. U. S. A. com
www.webeeuniverse.com
U. S. A WAVE Electronics
www.wave-electronics. com
U. S. A.
Worthington Group
www.worthingtondistribution.com
U. S. A.
Suzhou inSona Techonology
www.insona.cc
TEAM DIGITAL WEBEE Alarm & safety sensors Aeon Labs
www.aeon-labs.com
U. S. A.
BLEHome.com
www.blehome.com
U. S. A.
40 mySMAhome.com November/December 2014
TALK
QIV V ICON OPENS ITS DOOR TO EVERY POSSIBILITY
a&s SMAhome magazine sat down with Thomas Knops, Head of Marketing & Sales, Connected Home to talk about Qiviconâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s development, its benefits for users, and market trends. According to Knops, the market is still at an early stage of growth, but the commoditization of the smart home has already taken off. By Veronica Chen
1. How long has Qivicon been in existence? Qivicon was launched in IFA 2013 as a B2B2C platform. When we started in 2013, we had just 6 business partners, but we've now increased this number to over 30. For example, Sonos and Osram are our latest partners. World-famous brands such as Miele, Samsung, Telekom, D-link, etc. are all part of the Qivicon family. More and more partners are expected to be included in the Qivicon platform.
2. Can you explain the relationship between Qivicon and its business partners? Qivicon is a B2B2C platform. We do not sell to end-users directly. Every partner has their own smart home solutions, services, or mobile 42 mySMAhome.com November/December 2014
applications with different focuses. The only thing they share is the Qivicon gateway as their central station and the technical platform itself. Qivicon is an open platform designed to connect the whole ecosystem. For example, if you have a Deutsche Telekom solution, and you want to add a D-link camera, it is feasible; simply plug and play. All you have to do is check if the D-link camera is compatible with Qivicon and the Telekom App.
3. The 30 partners that you've thus far named are predominantly western brands. Is there any chance that Qivicon might add Asian companies to the family in the near future? Yes, it is possible. As a matter of fact, we are now talking to an important Asian brand. The news will be soon released. Despite the fact that Qivicon is primarily focused in Europe at the moment, we are interested in other markets around the world. We would like to obtain powerful partners who can introduce Qivicon to local markets. Qivicon works with the Eclipse community to seek potential partners or software developers. Eclipse is a community for individuals and
organizations who wish to collaborate on commercially-friendly open source software.
Qivicon Partners Brand
Territory
URL
EnBw
Energy Management
www.enbw.com
D-Link
Home Networks & Security www.dlink.com
eQ-3
Home Automation
www.eq-3.de
Miele
Household Appliances
www.miele.com
Samsung
Consumer Electronics
www.samsung.com
T-Mobile
Telecommunications
www.t-mobile.com
aetka
Telecommunications Retail www.aetka.de
Belkin
Connected Electronics
www.belkin.com
Bernal
Garage Door Automation
www.bernal.de
BitronHome
Home Automation & Security
www.bitronvideo.eu
Cyberport
Electronics Retail
www.cyberport.de
6. Is openness the major benefit that Qivicon brings to users?
Digitalstrom
Energy Management
www.digitalstrom. com
Yes, I would say openness is one of the major attractions. Users are not bound to one particular provider. Two more benefits should not be missed. First, users understand that Qivicon is backed by Deutsche Telekom, which has long history and a solid support base among its clients. Users do not need to worry about the credibility of Qivicon and its security. We can supply reliability to end users. Secondly, Qiviconbased solutions are very easy to use. They are designed for general users with no technical background. No complex settings are required. And if you relocate from one apartment to another, you simply move the device like a TV set.
Digitus
Computer Accessories
www.digitus.info
E.G.O.
Household Appliances
www.egoproducts. com
Eno
Telecommunications Distributor
www.eno.de
Entega
Energy Management
www.entega.de
Euronics
Electronics Retail
www.euronics.co.uk
Herweck
Electronics Retail
www.herweck.de
Integrierte
IT Solutions
www.in-gmbh.de
Kärcher
Vacuum Cleaners
www.karcher.com
Osram
Lighting Solutions
www.osram.com
PaX
Doors & Windows
www.pax.de
Philips
Consumer Electronics
www.philips.com
Rheinenergie
Energy Provider
www.rheinenergie. com
Sonos
Wireless Audio
www.sonos.com
Tunstall
Telecare Solutions
www.tunstall.co.uk
Vattenfall
Energy Provider
corporate.vattenfall. com
4. Does Qivicon plan to launch own-brand hardware? A Qivicon camera, for example, or a Qivicon smart plug? No. Qivicon’s role in the smart home industry is to provide an open platform to its partners and end users. Just as it is with Intel and PC, Intel won’t launch its own PC or laptop, as they may come into conflict with PC manufacturers who are also their clients. Qivicon is in a similar circumstance. We do not develop our own devices, as it may create tensions with our existing partners. And if we do so, no companies will partner with Qivicon.
5.Who are Qivicon’s primary competitors? I haven’t seen any supplier quite like us in Europe, but from a global perspective, Google Nest, Apple, SmartThings (by Samsung Electronics) are also in very favorable positions. I won’t say that they are our competitors. Instead, Qivicon can hook up with them, just as we have done with SONOS and Philips. Again, we are an open platform. Partnership is the driving force behind Qivicon's market strategy.
7. If you were to compare the current smart home market with its conditions as of 3 years ago, what has been the most significant shift? I will respond to this in 4 parts. Overall, more and more products have been launched in the market. Not merely solutions. Many standalone products are available, and end-users are able to select from far more choices than they could before. Pricing variety helps the industry. Starter-kits that cost a mere 199 Euros encourage new users to try smart home products. With the expansion of the pricing range from 199 to 300 or more, users can pick whatever suits their need. Communication-wise, increasing demand has been pushing more products to solve basic problems for consumers. In Germany, the energy issue has been highlighted. Users demand better ways to manage their energy expenses, and smart home solutions can help with that. Though, distribution-wise, there are no sales channels dedicated to the smart home, more channels in different industries have begun to be involved in smart home products. The market is still in its infancy, and it will take a few years to truly commoditize it. However, the smart home market is on a similar developmental track to that of the smart phone. And it has already taken off.
Remark: The information above was obtained from the Qivicon website at https://www.qivicon.com/en/partners/ in November 2014. For the most up-to-date listing, please refer to the website.
November/December vember/December 2014 mySMAhome.com 43
MIT BRIGHTENS THE SMART HOME By Lingo Lin
FUTURE
Do you know? The world famous Nest thermostat, Dropcam and among several other connected-home products are actually the fruits of cooperation between Taiwan's original makers and those leading brands. Thanks to our prominent IT and networking background backed by years of experience, the island is marching in full gear towards the smart home arena, shining under the spotlight.
THE INDUSTRY P.46
THE PRODUCTS P.54
THE MAKERS P.64
November/December 2014 mySMAhome.com 45
Made-in-Taiwan has long been synonymous with high quality. Following Taiwan’s success in the IT industry, local smart home makers are again venturing out to a whole new ballgame, determined to reinvent a new spectrum of quality that is MIT. The global smart home has really hit its stride. Even the big boys – Google, Apple and Samsung – are all head over heels looking to make a statement. According to a study released by Juniper Research, the smart home market will reach a staggering $71 billion by 2018. So who are amongst the drivers behind the move toward mass adoption? For one, Taiwan makers are very much onboard the smart home bandwagon, providing new features and solutions that help push the industry into the next generation as our homes become the hub for smarter living. The smart home arena in Taiwan is a colorful representation of those in the know. It can generally be summed up by three types of players. First, there are those that are already IT and networking experts in their respective fields, providing gateways, home cameras and cloud services for telcos, MSOs, retailers, SIs, and IT distributors respectively. Companies falling into this category include D-Link, Gemtek, Advantech, Sercomm, AlphaNetworks, Chicony, Liteon, and JSW, just to name a few. Secondly, there are those carried over from the traditional security sector. Companies like BarvoTech,
“Taiwan's advantage is in customized projects because our hardware and software are already in place.” Kevin Wu, CEO, Amegia
“In terms of the scale of the smart home market in China, the quantity is there. But it lacks variety because everyone is churning out similar hardware specs.” Y.K. Chen, Director of New Business Development, Climax Technology
Lilin, StarVedia, Amegia, Vivotek, ACTeck, GKB, AMTK and Pixord are some examples of those who offered home cameras, NAS, or home NVRs for security distributors, alarm monitoring companies and SIs. Due to their earlier presence, these companies are well positioned globally by name and expertise in the security arena. On further note, Unitech, Climax, Everspring, Amroad and Touchlife are some of the veterans in the intercom and antitheft fields who have since been making PIR sensors, wireless alarm kits, video door phones, control panels and HA solutions for security distributors/SIs, alarm monitoring companies, or home automation SIs. These experts are all vying for smart home solutions through enhanced user experiences.
CUSTOMIZATION PROWESS
User experience is about the aspect of how people use an interactive product - easy installation and ease of use.
46 mySMAhome.com November/December 2014
Over the years, the island has carved out a distinctive niche as the world’s pre-eminent high-tech manufacturing hub. But due to price competition from neighboring countries and other underlying factors, manufacturing hardware alone can no longer sustain its competitive edge. But thanks to these experiences coupled with Taiwan’s design talents, Taiwan smart home makers are known for their ability to conduct OEM/ODM on customized projects. Taiwan makers are well-positioned to tackle the flourishing smart home market, since they can utilize their technology
and manufacturing capability to reinvent everyday household objects to solve actual problems. “Taiwan’s advantage is in customized projects because our hardware and software are already in place,” said Amegia CEO Kevin Wu, a leading OEM/ODM provider dedicated to the integration and customization of surveillance solutions. Amegia, who’s been providing different modules and solutions ever since its inception 5 years ago, sees itself as free from the price fray. “Price competition is an issue we have to confront in the smart home sector,” Wu said, adding that the only solution is in customization. Taiwan’s smart home makers are striving to distinguish their products from competitors through differentiation strategies. In an often crowded product market, customers crave product distinctions to help them make purchasing decisions. By offering greater values and customization features, many of Taiwan’s producers have come to understand that the best product differentiation strategies increase their company image, cater to customer preferences and increase sales. Also, because smart home is a very personalized thing, customization is important for future sustainability, according to Climax Technology director of new business development
“Taiwan-made products are intricately designed inside out, whether it's from the materials used to packaging design.” Jeffrey Wu, President, StarVedia
“Taiwan's edge is in its integrated software (cloud) solution.” Hans Liu, Senior Manager of Software R&D Department, D-Link
“Expertise is not about having the best components, but in component tuning.”
Y.K. Chen. Coming from a professional intrusion alarm background, Climax is a wireless expert that provides total turnkey solutions with regard to user interfaces, gateways and cloud service. With the smart home market in China currently on the rise, Chinese makers of smart home products already number in the thousands. In order for Taiwan makers to compete with such a scale and to avoid price competition, product differentiation is definitely the key factor, Chen explained. “In terms of the scale of the smart home market in China, the quantity is there. But it lacks variety because everyone is churning out similar hardware specs.” “Smart home basically means smart living, which also means personalized features. Therefore, customization is the key to future sustainability,” Chen concluded.
SOFTWARE SAVVY – CLOUD, APP SUPPORT & SOLUTION Cloud computing is a key contributor in innovative application towards the internet of things (IoT). This trend is gradually taking form, which will bring forth new challenges for enterprises in business models and innovations. StarVedia president Jeffrey Wu explained that the IoT is the next stage of evolution for information and communications technology (ICT), and that Taiwan’s cloud service capability will put it ahead of its competitors. StarVedia currently offers onestop-shop for OEM and ODM (GUI and back-end infrastructure.) The company is launching its own “YesCam” brand in a bid to tap into the Chinese market. Wu said their Wi-Fi module is 100% MIT (Made in Taiwan), beginning from material and design to production. When it comes to software
Albert Yeh, Vice-President, OvisLink November/December 2014 mySMAhome.com 47
powerhouse, D-Link is one of the many shining examples to be reckoned in Taiwan. D-Link, a leading global networking solutions provider for enterprise and consumer markets, has in the last 2 years endeavored to provide a fully-integrated, easy to use smart solution for the masses. Their smart home lineup includes network cameras, gateways, routers, smart plugs, sensors, cloud service, and app. With D-Link’s software ingenuity, the company has spent two years in the development of their own cloud service, named aptly the “D-Link Cloud,” which is a revolutionary product series comprising of D-Link cloud router, cloud camera, and cloud storage products. The Mydlink Home app works in conjunction with their cloud service. According to D-Link Hans Liu, senior manager of software R&D department, Taiwan’s edge is in its integrated software (cloud) solution. “In a recent project in Europe, our 'Dlink Cloud' service was the third out of 34 other competing service proposals to be adopted,” Hans proudly explained. Skywatch co-founder Dr. WeiChao Chen added that “Taiwan’s software is definitely strong, but it still boils down to how you build the team.” JSW marketing manager Nicolas Pang reiterated that Taiwan’s software savvy is currently one of the important tickets to stay competitive. JSW is a renowned wireless solution provider based in Taiwan, with products ranging from digital wireless security systems and network cameras to video door phones and home control gateways/ sensors, including Cloud and app solutions. Their wide-ranging services encompass the security sector, home safety, agricultural vehicles and front/backend S/W related solutions. “Not only are we able to provide 48 mySMAhome.com November/December 2014
customized app solution, we also emphasize software support,” Nicolas said. According to Nicolas, JSW is fully supportive of the software upgrade commitment so as to extend the life cycle on all of their existing wireless products. Also, this promotes repeat clients from returning.
ADDING VALUE THROUGH CREATIVITY “I would use cooking as a metaphor for the paradigm shift in Taiwan's tech industry. In the past, local manufacturers were all about making the ingredients regardless of flavor or appeal. But today, things have changed. Now we are moving toward designing the complete menu and choosing the right recipes,” said Dr. Chen of Skywatch. Adding value through creativity is an area where Taiwan excels, he said, emphasizing that such value can only shine through when the product treats the overall user experience as the top priority. Founded in 2011, Skywatch Innovation is a solution provider of surveillance products and services that include fully
“Adding value through creativity is an area where Taiwan excels.” Wei-Chao Chen, Co-founder,S kywatch( Left) JP Yang, Co-founder, Skywatch (Right)
“2015 is another milestone year for Unitech to go global, both product portfolio and market penetration.” Pete Chen, CEO, Unitech
“Taiwan has its strengths in the project (installer) market because of our quality.” Chris Hsu, Global Marketing Manager, Lilin
integrated, plug-and-play network cameras as well as cloudbased intelligent recording solutions. According to OvisLink Vice-President Albert Yeh, the company is integrating “intelligence” to the mini-dome camera line by incorporating new features to their bundled software. The AirLive smart software has built-in Intelligent Video Analytics that features: Face detection & recognition, iMotion detection, Trip zone, Object counting, and e-Fence. As smart cameras continue to evolve and improve with time - new CPUs, ICs and image sensors, - the technology gap will remain tight amongst competitors because everybody is churning out cameras with near or similar hardware specs. “Expertise is not about having the best components, but in component tuning,” Dr. Yeh said. On the other hand, there are those who see otherwise. Wu of StarVedia said the MIT moniker itself symbolizes true value when compared to other cheaper alternatives from neighboring competitors. “Taiwan-made products are intricately designed inside out, whether it’s from the materials used to packaging design,” he said, adding that he has seen similar products from neighboring competitors whose products are ruggedly put together both in and out. However, Wu said he has witnessed a sudden change of consumer behavior amongst the Europeans in recent years, adding that due to the stagnant economy they are opting for cheaper alternatives from China. “The Europeans drive a hard bargain, even more than the Americans. The Japanese consumers, on the other hand, are more adamant about quality.”
USER EXPERIENCE For some, user experience is a new catchphrase. Slowly but surely smart home makers in Taiwan are grasping the concept of user experience. Thanks to years of export experience and regular interaction with their customers, they have come to understand that user experience is all the aspects of how people use an interactive product: the way it feels in their hands, how well they understand how it works, how they feel about it while they’re using it, and how well it fits into the entire context in which they are using it. “User experience is all about easy installation, easy to set up and use,” JSW’s Nicolas said. “Our entire product lineup adopts this concept. For instance, our gateways/sensors do not feature any fancy LEDs or gimmicks, and apply simple lead batteries so as to facilitate end-user’s application.” “GKB is launching a smart home solution on a camera (SoC) called Aetherlink to its global market. Aetherlink is the result of the integration of reliable software, customized sensors, and app that allows you to have a sense of complete control,” said Anna Hsiung of GKB Security. “It combines security system and home automation for home users to easily install and operate without any technical knowledge, thus providing a rich user experience.” 50 mySMAhome.com November/December 2014
T h ro u g h Te k , a p ro v i d e r o f innovative M2M solutions, has taken another step forward in home automation, unveiling its new cloud platform enabling digital devices to automatically communicate with each other. “Our new cloud platform has plug-and-play functionality to ease product setup considerably, and further offers flexible multifunctional service to fulfill home automation requirements and surveillance needs of small and medium enterprises (SMEs),” Sales Director of ThroughTek Caroline Chan. According to Philio Technology CEO James Huang, simplicity is very important in smart home. To date, most of smart home products are still complicated to general users in the mass market. “We are in the very early days of smart home. Perhaps only gadget lovers enjoy and understand smart home products. As an original maker, we have to simplify the user experience of smart home product as much as possible.” Philio designs and manufactures Z-Wave based smart home solutions, ranging from PIR sensors, controller, gateway to software & app design. By far, Philio’s products are utilized
in DIY kits and professional system integration projects.
AIMING HIGH G i v e n t h e b re a k n e c k p r i c e competition within the DIY markets, some Taiwan makers believe that Taiwan can play a big part in the SI market to create a niche under the notable MIT moniker. “Due to the stagnant US economy whereby new construction of apartments and condos are springing up everywhere, it is about the right time to enter the market,” said Unitech CEO Pete Chen. “For integrated smart home, most traditional main players in the US market are still in SIs, for single devices or sub-systems such as security, smart plugs, IP cameras, and so forth.” Chen said 2015 is another milestone year for Unitech to go global, both product portfolio and market penetration. It is unveiling series of new products targeted at SIs and VADs (value-added distributors.) The products include "Elfin Home & Community", “Elfin T&A,” “MoboBell” for remote doorbell featuring apps for consumer smartphones and tablets, and “Rainbow”, a system management console. Also aimed at top tier markets is Lilin, a Taiwan-based manufacturer of IP video cameras, recording devices, and software with over 30 years of experience. The company is currently working with Control4
in the US market. “Taiwan has its strengths in the project (installer) market, and although our prices are higher, customers in the US and Europe will still consider Taiwan because of our quality,” said Lilin global marketing manager Chris Hsu. “We have to aim higher because for the DIY market, which is made up of relatively cheaper products, we simply cannot compete at that price range,” he added. Hsu said thanks to Taiwan maker’s international presence over the years, they are able to understand better the demands of overseas markets, and can provide a faster feedback.
A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE It’s only been the last few years since the smart home sector has picked up widespread attention. Sensing such explosive growth, Taiwan traditional security camera makers and component suppliers have all jumped on the bandwagon, all hoping to grab a share of the global market. To date, Taiwan’s export destinations of smart home products have spanned across major markets in the US and Europe, with most of their businesses channeled through telcos, distributors, retailers, solution providers, and project-based SIs. By having a rich experience in working with European smart home brands, Huang of Philio observed some key popular items – the combination of good designed product appearance, stable technology and safety certification assured. “Too-cute designed products can be regarded as toys in some markets. Clean and light design is preferable now when talking about business prospect. Also, safety certification is a must-have for European partners,” he said, adding that Philio also aims for the US market in 2015. Dextech, a company who has been providing the entire ecosystem of smart home items that include cloud servers, software app and firmware development, said it is also targeting two of the world’s biggest markets – Europe and the US. However, there are still those who see vast potential in emerging markets, notably South and Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America. “Our business scope encompasses ‘ROW’, or simply, rest of world,” Dr. Chen of Skywatch said, adding that
Take Away
The MIT Advantage • There are three groups of smart home makers in Taiwan: home camera specialists, connected-home device makers of IT background, and smart home solution providers. • With IT background, networking and security professionalism, Taiwan makers are actively pushing for total turnkey solution in a bid to avoid the fierce price competition.
52 mySMAhome.com November/December 2014
• Customization is another key attribute to Taiwan makers. Smart home is not only about selling similar hardware, but the ability to customize the demands imposed by clients. Creativity plays a role here, which is an asset Taiwan is known for. • Taiwan makers have shown the ability to provide cloud building and support, including services that surround it.
their customers now include Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Dominican Republic and Panama. “Although Quadrant’s target markets are the US, Western Europe and Southeast Asia, we also hope to reach to markets in Africa, Eastern Europe and China with the launch of our new products,” said Quandrant’s product marketing director Debby Chen. Quadrant is in the production of consumer video monitoring with wireless technology and cloud service. Since 1999 it has built its reputation by making quality memory and camera modules for the aftermarket, distribution and reseller channels.
COOPERATION WITHIN The survival of the fittest rule is practiced and promoted everywhere, even in business. In most cases, it ignites competitiveness among businesses, not cooperation. In a business structure, businesses forge partnerships to raise awareness among consumers, tapping each other’s potential and maximizing it to the fullest. In today’s connected world, the role of system integration is becoming increasingly important: more and more systems are designed to connect, to be interoperable, both physically
and functionally. “Everybody still wants to be boss in Taiwan,” said Skywatch co-founder JP Yang. “In terms of product integration, it has been mostly about who’s following who’s rules.” Yang added that although Taiwan smart home makers in general are slowly becoming more receptive to the idea of collaboration, there is still room for improvement. Indeed, by developing our own unique strengths and talents and focusing on cooperation instead of competition, we keep the ecology of the business world diverse and healthy. There’s no need for anyone to claim a generalized top position. We have to work together to make the system function and opt for a brighter, sustainable future.
November/December 2014 mySMAhome.com 53
AHOKU
Ocam M1
VIDEO MONITORING
• 1/6-inch 2M sensor with 100-degree wide angle lens • Supports motion and voice detection • Features 720p high definition video Email: sales@ahoku.com
GKB SECURITY
GKB IP Cam • 720p resolution at 30/25 image frames; VGA/QVGA • MicroSD up to 32GB • H.264 video compression • 120-degree wide angle with Z-Wave transmission • Built-in microphone and speaker Email: sales@gkbsecurity.com TEL: 886-4-2562-8956 www.gkbsecurity.com
B&B
Magic Eyes • 2.4G radio frequency hopping transmission • VGA 640x480 pixel CMOS sensor • 800x480 pixel 7-inch TFT panel indoor machine Email: sales@bnblabs.com
AFIDUS
H-120F7 1.4M Fisheye Cube IP Cam • 1.3M high resolution image with fisheye lens to offer 180-degree view angle • Easy installation with quick Wi-Fi setup, WPA and plug-and-play function • Supports microSD card for local recording • Register your cloud service account via Google account to manage your entire surveillance system anywhere Email: sales@afidus.com TEL: +886-2-8226-9857 Ext: 305 www.afidus.com
BAYCOM
BRINNO
K10H HD Wi-Fi Home Camera
MAC200
• 1280x720p resolution at 30fps • Two-way audio communication • Built-in PIR sensor and IR LED for motion detector and night vision monitoring Email: alston@baycom.com.tw
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ALPHA NETWORKS
CS-5062 Fisheye Camera • 3M progressive CMOS sensor • Dewrapping, ePTZ and more display modes on smartphones available • 2-way audio and 11n Wi-Fi with WPS button Email: tiffany_ kuo@alhanetworks.com
• Fully DIY and 100 percent portable • Battery life can last 14 months nths • Features 10x outlook range e and fast video playback Email: terence@brinno. com
CHICONY
H40-M Surveillance Camera • Free mobile app control (iOS/ Android) • Auto/manual pan control (app/ BT remote controller) • Provides true day/night functionality with auto IR filter operation Email: vipsales@chicony. com.tw
AIRLIVE (OVISLINK)
MD-3025-IVS • Intelligent automation & standalone video analytics • Mini compact size and 802.3af PoE • 3M resolution and MicroSD card recording • Ultra wide lens and adjustable viewing angle • Day/night monitoring using IR night vision & IR-CUT removable Email: info@airlive.com TEL: +886-2-2218-6888 www.airlivesecurity.com
GYNOII
Gynoii Wi-Fi Video Baby Monitor • Time-lapse HD video by app • Features social network sharing • Plays baby lullaby Email: info@gynoii.com
STARVEDIA
Yes711W Mini Camera • Plug-and-play: P2P direct streaming with easy ID/password access • Easy Wi-Fi setup with no PC required; only needs camera and smartphone/tablet • DropBox cloud storage to record video without physical restriction on location or hardware • Push notification: receives real-time event notification on mobile device • World’s smallest: 10cm(H) x 7cm(W) Email: sales@starvedia.com TEL: +886-3-560-0686 www.starvedia.com
ZINWELL
VIVOTEK
PlugCAM Powerline Camera Kit
Vivotek IP8131
• Plug-and-play installation without needing Wi-Fi configuration • Complies with HomePlug AV1.1 technology • Infrared LEDs and temperature sensor built-in for better night vision and surveillance Email: d-sales@zinwell.com.tw
1M CMOS sensor; 1280x800 resolusolu lu lu tions at 30fps • Removable IR-cut filter for day and night function • Built-in IR illuminators effective up to 6 meters Email: sales@vivotek. com
November/December 2014 mySMAhome.com 55
COMPRO
TN900RW • IR remote controller • Mobile pan/tilt control • Day & night functionality Email: sales@comprousa.com
SKYWATCH
Homecam2 Black Edition • Lifetime plan: continuously stores the last 7 days of video in the secure cloud servers • Easy installation: easy to set up Skywatch account; works with your home network and Wi-Fi routers • Supports browsers as well as iOS/Android apps. Enjoy HD video playback • Stay notified through emails and smartphone notifications, including built-in video motion detection or external door or motion sensors • Just specify who and how you want to share your camera Email: support@skywatch24.com TEL: +886-2-2395-5677 www.skywatch24.com
QUADRANT
TRANS ELECTRIC
+CAM HD PTZ
SOS Smart IP Cam
• Wi-Fi setup via smartphones and tablets • 720p video resolution with H.264HD video compression • IR cut embedded for dual films switching Email: cni@quadrant.com
• Features emergency notification and two-way audio communication • Night vision capability with 85-degree wide-angle lens • Sends out alert when Internet is disconnected Email: sales@mail.px.com.tw
TRANWO
VMi122 • Quick and easy setup: no IP address or DNS settings • H.264 video codec with 1280x720 resolutions at 30fps • Built-in smart home gateway (ZigBee module UART) to connect wireless sensors and monitor from the Internet • Push notification on iOS & Android for motion, sound detection and other alarm sensors • Includes PTZ, two way audio, night vision and recording Email: sales@tranwo.com.tw TEL: 886-3-553-5326 www.tranwo.com
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BESEYE
Beseye Pro • Omni-directional 360-degree rotatable ID structure • Non-stop cloud video recording • 125-degree HD video on Web/iOS/Android Email: partners@beseye.com
BARVOTECH
Magic Eyes • Up to 118 wireless and 32 hardwired devices • All protection zones can be labelled individually • Remotely controlled and programmed via SMS and GSM network Email: sales@barvotech.com
ADVERTORIAL
SKYWATCH: INTELLIGENT SURVEILLANCE SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE Skywatch Innovation Inc. www.skywatch24.com sales@skywatch24.com
Home surveillance systems are only smart if they save time, money, and effort for distributors and end-users alike.
Skywatch is an IP camera and online video storage service that offers intelligent, hassle-free surveillance solutions. With years of experience in the servicing of small businesses and households and a distribution channel that covers 5 continents and more than 20 nations, Skywatch is capable of providing video data relevant to the end-user precisely as the need arises.
THE NAME OF THE GAME IS CONVENIENCE Skywatch provides simple and sturdy cameras that are easily installed and require minimal maintenance â&#x20AC;&#x201C; suitable for any end-user needs, both indoors and outdoors. These cameras are designed specifically, both in terms of costs and performance, to meet the needs of small businesses, families, and the distributors that provide for them. Skywatch manages and monitors the cloud recording service backend, freeing distributors and end-users alike from the management of recording equipment. As the services can be managed entirely through the cloud-based interface, it largely becomes unnecessary for Skywatch distributors to retain a separate IT maintenance staff. The adoption of standard network connection rather than proprietary ones frees the end-user from any restrictions in service expansion, and this makes Skywatch an elastic service that is particularly suitable for growing SENSOR businesses. To ensure stable recording ALARM using consumer grade Internet SPEAKER connections, Skywatch is designed to be able to record even in the absence of network connections. To this end, video data are stored in the camera NVR SD card when a network disruption
occurs, and retransmitted when a connection becomes available (SureRecord). This persists right up to the very last few second, even if the relevant hardware becomes damaged to the point of inoperability. Taking full advantage of its cloud backend, the Skywatch service frees end-users from the need to click through lengthy videos just to find what they're looking for. Aside from traditional emails or smartphone push alerts, cloud-based data analytics also intelligently recognizes notable activities in the video, and produces variable speed time-lapsed videos in accordance to the event level. Recorded data can then be instantly shared to any user who is granted access.
DIRECTIONS FOR GROWTH The Skywatch service has announced its intentions to further expand its repertoire of end-user data analytics tools. Video Synopsis, Content Analysis, Object and Action Recognition, Visual Search, and Object Counting are currently in the stages of research and development, and may become available via the cloud in the near future. With the release of its RESTful API, Skywatch has also indicated a strong interest in integrating its products with other service providers. By engaging in strategic partnerships, they aim to expand their cross-platform compatibility toward the creation of a comprehensive Internet of Things (IoT).
EVENT RECORDING CONSTANT RECORDING
CAMERA
ROUTER
USER
November/December 2014 mySMAhome.com 57
AMROAD
Amroad P9 Home Station • 7-inch touchscreen displays • Video communication • Video and audio recording capability Email: info@amroad.com.tw
INTEGRATED SOLUTION TASHI (UNITECH)
TASHI INTERCOM TURNKEY SOLUTION
POWERTECH
APPSPOWER • Cloud-based energy data aggregation and post-processing • Energy ent management g for tracking energy usage ge • Functions with iPhone/iPad and Android apps Email: sales@abc.com
HOUNGFU
IP Video Indoor • 10-inch touchscreen display • 800x480 resolutions • Can connect to 8 IP cameras Email: sales@houngfu.com.tw
• Utilizes video & voice over IP technology in door intercommunications and offer the fancy 3D UI connecting to the smart-home applications. • Door Phone adopts international SIP communication, supporting MPEG4/H.264 and RTSP/RTP/RTCP protocol • Features 2M pixels camera (IP65 rated protection) • Control panel adopts multiple communication interfaces, including Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and ZigBee • Provides turnkey solution: intercom, community management, com home-automation, alarm systems hom and IoT services Emai Email: TASHI@tw.ute.com www.ute.com
CHIPSIP
BTSTAR
Wireless Sensor Hub
ZG01 Heimdallll Z-Wave Gateway
• Central portal collects all the information and sends out alerts • ZigBee, BT and USB dongle can be added • Supports various sensors Email: sales@chipsip.com
• Z-Wave module supports multichannel operation and higher date rate (9.6/40/100kbps) • Higher output power to enhance the communication range • Provides external USB port for optional expandable device Email: sales1@sunitec.com.tw www.sunitec.com.tw
ASUSTOR
DEXATEK
AS7004T
Smart Gateway
• Intel Core-i3 dual-core processor and built-in 2GB RAM • Windows+Mac+Linux cross-platform • Free Surveillance Center app Email: inquiry@asustor.com
• Controls smart home devices • Sends messages to your smartphone • Built-in 2T2R Wi-Fi antenna Email: susan@dexatek.com www.dexatek.com
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ADVERTORIAL
DEXATEK ΣCASA:
THE HUMAN FACTORS IS WHERE "VALUE" ORIGINATES T
aiwan-based hardware manufacturer Dexatek Technology has recently announced the ΣCasa Smart Home Platform, for use and integration with the company's lineup of smart gadgets and home automation devices. The items that comprise the ΣCasa family are subjected to continuous evaluation for ease of use, specifically accounting for the instinctive manner in which end-users interact with them, and preemptively addressing any demands that might arise. The process of adoption, Dexatek has asserted, is where the value of a product is actually determined from the perspective of the consumer – and it is here that the company has targeted its efforts. Long-term investments have been placed into building a dedicated cloud server that future-proofs the platform with system flexibility and the capacity to append new features. Integrating the household from the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 enabled ΣQube home automation gateway, the cloud-based ΣCasa Control mobile device app for iOS and Android is the centerpiece of the automation platform at large – developed within-house by Dexatek, and polished for end-user convenience. Beyond provision of remote device and appliance management, the app's ΣCasa Link feature permits the automated modulation of device settings to preset schedules and a variety of user-defined conditions. So as to prevent inappropriate operation by young children and others, ΣCasa Group permissions management is capable of designating each registered user with accountspecific / product-specific administration authority; and
ΣCasa Chat furthermore provides alongside its basic chat functionality real-time tracking data for a user's submitted home management actions. ΣCasa Control natively supports energy management devices such as intelligent outlet plugs and smart LED lighting. Metering information is submitted for monitoring via the cloud, and remote or automated power-on and power-off can be added to ΣCasa Link customizations for scene creation. Nest-like learning capability is additionally enabled for LED dimmer settings. In the domain of household security, the ΣCasa suite presently offers doorway contact sensors, which updates the system's cloud-based backend with a time-stamped record of door access – linkable to notifications or push alerts for delivery to mobile devices. Last but not least, the WeatherCube climate condition sensor integrates the ΣCasa platform for cloud-based historical tracking of actual household temperature, humidity, and pressure conditions, potentially permitting functionality as a smart thermostat for household climate control systems. The ΣCasa family is presently in its early stages of commercialization, but consumers should see a gradual expansion of its product suite in the coming year – potentially with increased compatibility across other Dexatek product lines.
DEXATEK TECHNOLOGY +886 2 8698-4245 www.dexatek.com
November/December 2014 mySMAhome.com 59
iCATCH
IVR-2481E-B
CLIMAX
VL Touchscreen Alarm • 7-inch full-color, high-resolution touchscreen with exquisitely designed UI • Integrates security system, home automation, senior care, total visual monitoring solution, emergency monitoring and energy management • IP alarm panel with built-in RF and ZigBee modules, and expansion slots for 4G/3G/GSM, Z-Wave, DECT and Wi-Fi modules • VL supports ZigBee and Z-Wave interoperability, allowing users to manage energy consumption and remotely control household appliances • VL can integrate multiple PIR video cameras/PIR and IP cameras for visual verification and real-time video monitoring Email: sales@climax.com.tw TEL: +886-2-2794-0001 www.climax.com.tw
ELITEGROUP
Liva
• 24 ports (16 cameras with PoE, 8CH through LAN, one Internet) • Supports 1080p real-time recording • Standalone Linux embedded system Email: sales@icatchinc.com
IEI
Smart Lighting • Wireless control supporting up to 10 group IDs • Supports up to 128 lights • Easy brightness and color adjustments Email: sales@ieiworld.com
• World’s smalled Windows-based mini PC kit • Wide graphics support • PC mobility Email: serena.tao@ecs.com.tw
EVERSPRING
2.4GHz Smart Home Security System • True plug-and-play: no IP setting or router configuration required • Simple operation via 7-inch touch control panel or Android/iOS app • Records video from camera on demand or when triggered Email: sales@everspring.com
JSW
Smart Home Control • Completely wireless system: consists of various battery powered devices operating on low power consumption • Excellent user experience, intuitive JSW “Pure” version iOS/ Android apps with cloud service options • All devices fully capable of offering intelligent interactive controls and operation Email: nick@jswpac.com
KGUARD
Mars Home • 1/3-inch Megapixel CMOS sensor with IR cut filter • Smart QR code for quick app download and easy remote mobile access setup • Cloud, Dropbox/Google Drive support with photo/video upload Email: sales@kguardsecurity.com
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NETVOX
Cloud Smart Home System (Home Package) • Interactive and intelligent IoT wireless smart home system • Integrates instant messaging application: QQ, WeChat, Weibo • Costs lower than an average smartphone Email: sales@netvox.com.tw
ADVERTORIAL
AIT: A MULTI-MEDIA POWERHOUSE IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND Alpha Imaging Technology Corp. www.a-i-t.com.tw jane_lin@a-i-t.com.tw AIT's System-on-a-Chip solutions put all the basic functionality of a Linux box into your camera.
Alpha Imaging Technology (AIT) is a Taiwanbased fabless design house for IC components, focused in the domains of Multimedia Processing (MMP) and Image Signal Processing (ISP) for portable devices. At a net worth of $18 million USD and a growth rate of 214% over 3 years, the company boasts a repertoire of audio / video codec algorithms, and develops nearly all key technologies incorporated in its products withinhouse. Utilized initially by cellular manufacturers, AIT innovations have since seen growing adoption in mobile devices, computers, televisions, and â&#x20AC;&#x201C; more recently â&#x20AC;&#x201C; surveillance equipment and dashcams. Major clients include Motorola, Ienovo, Samsung, Sharp, LG, Panasonic, HP, Dell, Belkin, and Logitech.
SYSTEM ON A CHIP INTEGRATION In the 2014-2015 business year, AIT has ventured beyond the terrain of UVC components with innovations into the domain of full-fledged System-on-a-Chip (SoC) solutions. The company's central offerings in the SoC category as of Q3 2014 are the AIT8455P and the AIT8x28 / AIT6x28 Family. Designed with a single core ARM9-600MHz processor, the AIT8455P was the first of the company's products to offer SoC functionality, distinguishing itself from prior UVC products (notably, the AIT8455D) in its offering of private area security and SDIO support for Wi-Fi. In conjunction with a Linux implementation, these features permit deployment of peer-to-peer communications with remote devices. Other functionalities include Main Profile (CABAC) encoding of H.264 to 1080p@30fps, a sensor
resolution of up to 5Mp@24fps, variable bit-rate control (VBR) for video relay in multiple channels, Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) imaging for low-light conditions, and motion and voice detection. Expanding on the AIT8455P's features, items of the AIT8x28 / AIT6x28 series are powered by a dual-core ARM9-600MHz processor, and support Ethernet and Main and High Profile (CABAC and CAVLC) H.264 to 1080p@60fps, 2-channel 1080p@30fps, 1524@30fps, and 2160@15fps. Sensor performance extends to 8Mp@30fps or 13Mp@24fps, and the AIT8455P's 11x11 mm ball grid array is upgraded in the AIT8x28 / AIT6x28 series to 13x13 mm TFBGA. The AIT8x28 / AIT6x28 family provides hardware support for USB 2.0 OTG, HDMI output, app integration via Wi-Fi, stacked mDDR, SD cards to 64GB in size, and sensors manufactured by Sony, Samsung, OmniVision, and Aptina. Modules may be incorporated to suit client-side applications, including gyroscopic sensors for Electronic Image Stabilization (EIS), or support for short-range Near Field Communication (NFC). The optional Intelligent Speed Adjustment (ISA) feature for dash-cam implementations can be used with video streams of 1080p@30fps / 800kbps or 720p@30fps / 512kbps. The highlight features of this year's AIT8x28 / AIT6x28 offerings include Lens Distortion Correction (LDC), Wide (WDR) and High Dynamic Range (HDR) imaging for exposure and detail loss correction, multi-axis color correction, and enhanced video Noise Reduction (NR). In general, the majority of these enhancements are themed toward intelligent elimination of undesirable image and video elements that may compromise quality. In the area of algorithm-supported media processing, AIT has in the AIT8x28 / AIT6x28 series implemented a suite of high-demand features for audiovisual content. For audio, these include noise reduction, de-reverberation, acoustic echo cancellation, and voice activity detection. Video-end features currently comprise of facial and motion detection, camera tampering detection, and dashcam lane departure detection. In coming months, the list will be appended with dashcam forward collision detection, facial recognition, rolling shutter compensation, and intelligent object tracking (Q1 2015).
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS AIT has announced that the planned successor to its current SoC offerings will feature a dual-Coretex CPU processor, H.265 encoding, and further hardware support for Ethernet. Following the company's advancements to date, it is likely that end-users will enjoy a broader variety of convenient innovations in intelligent media correction. November/December 2014 mySMAhome.com 61
PHILIO
Color Button for Remote Control • Single PUSH On/Off remote control Z-wave devices • Dims the lights by turning the button; Features self-timer with sound alarm • Opens and closes the curtain by turning the button Email: sales@philio-tech.com www.philio-tech.com
SAPIDO
IoT Smart Home Solution • Provides day/night vision camera, smart cloud sensors for cloud surveillance • 2-way communication and music player for home care Email: sales@sapido.com.tw
UNISVR
Unigate IoT Controller • Real-time video surveillance with up to 4 video sources • Controls various devices remotely via smartphones/tablets and PCs Email: sales@unisvr.net
EMCOM
RL300E YISEN
• 240-degree LED sensor light, 220V~240V/50Hz • Detection: 240 degrees (2xPIR), 12M forward at 2.5 height at 20 degrees Celsius Email: sales@emcom.com.tw
IM-800 • Wi-Fi/3G mobile network • Includes app warning notification, phone call alerts and SMS messaging • Up to 99 wireless sensors Email: sales@visen.com.tw
COMPONENTS, SOFTWARE AND OTHERS ALPHA IMAGING (A.I.T.)
AIT8455P ARM 9 up to 600MHz H.264 high profile support up to 1080p at 30fps Embedded DDR/2-CH ADC Intelligent Speed Adjustment (ISA) for bit-rate control • Supports WDR/OSD/private area/MD • 11 x 11mm BGA package Email: info@a-i-t.com.tw TEL: +886-3-656-0528 www.a-i-t.com.tw
TRICLOUDS
TriClouds APP
• • • •
• Live view and cloud recording functions • Intelligent event notification and two-way talk • Local search and bandwidth control Email: sales@triclouds.com
VATICS
Mozart 3C/Rossini 2C SoC • Embedded H.264 encoder/codec SoC • Integrated hardware fisheye correction • 2-CH sensor and ISP support Email: sales@vatics.com
VISION (VAE) V
ZZL7261 • Mini size smart power plug certified with CE • LED power indicators display power status • Features power meter to remotely switch on and off Email: business@visionsecurity.com.tw E
November/December 2014 mySMAhome.com 63
MOVERS & SHAKERS in Taiwan smart home industry Check out their contact details here.
Abeltech Co., Ltd • +886-3-658-3147 • joe@abeltech.com.tw • www.abeltech.com.tw
Accton Technology Corporation • +886 3 577 0270 • sales@accton.com • www.accton.com
Advance Vision Electronics Co., LTD. • • • • • • • •
Specialization: Home Camera 10 Years in OEM/ODM Americas, Europe, Asia Since 2000 30 Employees +886-2-8228-6161 info@amegia.com www.amegia.com
Afidus Ltd. • Specialization: Home Camera, Home Security Kit • 8 Years in OEM/ODM • Middle East, Asia • Since 2013 • 60 Employees • +886-2-8226-9857 ext: 305 • sales@afidus.com
AirLive (OvisLink Corp.) • Specialization: Home Camera, Home Video Recorder • Global Market • Since 1993 • 50 Employees • +886-2-2218-6888 • info@airlive.com • www.airlivesecurity.com
• Specialization: Home Security, Key Component, Others • 12 Years in OEM/ODM • Americas, Asia • Since 2002 • 150 Employees • +886-3-656-0528 • info@a-i-t.com.tw • www.a-i-t.com.tw
• • • • • • • •
Specialization: Home Security Less than 1 Year in OEM/ODM Global Market Since 2011 30 Employees +886-2-6613-0883 sales@bnblabs.com www.bnblabs.com
Barvotech International Co., Ltd. • Specialization: Home Security, Auto Control, Energy Saving • 34 Years in OEM/ODM • Europe, Oceania • Since 1980 • 30 Employees • +886-2-2642-3675 • sales@barvotech.com • www.barvotech.com
Alpha Networks Inc. • Specialization: Home Security, Auto Control, Multimedia • 11 Years in OEM/ODM • Americas, Europe • Since 2003 • 6000 Employees • +886-2-7720-6006 • www.alphanetworks.com
Amroad Technology Inc. • Specialization: Home Camera, Baby Monitor & Video Kit • 31 Years in OEM/ODM • Americas, Europe • Since 1983 • 300 Employees • +886-2-2799-1199 • sales@ahoku.com • www.ahoku.com
B&B Laboratory Corp.
Alpha Imaging Technology Corp.
• www.afidus.com
AHOKU Electronic Company
• • • • • •
Home Video Recorder, Multimedia Americas, Latin America Since 2011 80 Employees +886-2-7737-0888 inquiry@asustor.com www.asustor.com
• Specialization: Home Security, Auto Control • 10 Years in OEM/ODM • Global Market • Since 1986 • 45 Employees • +886-2-8226-5686 • info@amroad.com.tw • www.amroad.com.tw
ASUSTOR Inc. • Specialization: Home Security,
64 mySMAhome.com November/December 2014
BAYCOM Opto-Electronics Technology Co.,Ltd • Specialization: Home Camera, Baby Monitor & Video Kit • 24 Years in OEM/ODM • Americas, Europe, Asia • Since 1990 • 100 Employees • +886-3-578-6178 • alston@baycom.com.tw • www.ucamsee.com
Beseye Cloud Security Co., Ltd. • Specialization: Home Camera, Home Video Recorder, Baby Monitor & Video Kit • 1 Year in OEM/ODM • Americas, Asia, Oceania • Since 2013 • 30 Employees • +886-2-2834-3771
• partners@beseye.com • https://www.beseye.com
Brinno Incorporated • • • • • • •
Specialization: Home Security Global Market Since 2003 40 Employees +886-2-8751-0306 terence@brinno.com www.brinno.com
BTStar Technology Co., Ltd. • Specialization: Home Security, Auto Control, Healthcare • 20 Years in OEM/ODM • Americas, Europe • Since 1994 • 560 Employees • +886-2-8943-1929 • sales1@sunitec.com.tw • www.sunitec.com.tw
Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd. • Specialization: Home Camera, Baby Monitor & Video Kit, Multimedia • 31 Years in OEM/ODM • Americas, Europe • Since 1983 • 30,000+ Employees • +886-2-2298-8120 • VIPSALES@chicony.com.tw • www.chicony.com.tw
ChipSiP Technology Co., Ltd. • Specialization: Home Security, Auto Control, Energy Saving • 12 Years in OEM/ODM • Americas, Europe • Since 2002 • 100 Employees • +886-2-8227-1799 • sales@chipsip.com • www.chipsip.com
November/December 2014 mySMAhome.com 65
Elitegroup Computer Systems Co., Ltd. Climax Technology Co., Ltd. • Specialization: Home Security, Auto Control, Energy Saving • 30+ Years in OEM/ODM • Americas, Europe • Since 1985 • 200+ Employees • +886-2-2794-0001 • sales@climax.com.tw • www.climax.com.tw
COMPRO Technology Ltd. • Specialization: Home Camera, Home Video Recorder, Smart plug (Socket, Outlet, Switch) • 10 Years in OEM/ODM • Global Market • Since 1988 • 100 Employees • +886-2-2918-0169 • sales@comprousa.com • www.comprousa.com
Dexatek Technology Ltd. • Specialization: Home Security, Multimedia, Others • 10 Years in OEM/ODEM • Americas, Europe • Since 2003 • 50 Employees • +886-2-8698-4245 • susan@dexatek.com • www.dexatek.com
D-Link Corporation • Specialization: Camera, smart home system, cloud • +886-2-6600-0123 • info@dlinktw.com.tw • www.dlinktw.com.tw
• Specialization: Multimedia, Key Component, Others • 27 Years in OEM/ODM • Americas, Latin America, Asia • Since 1987 • 20,000+ Employees • +886-2-21621178 • www.ecs.com.tw
Americas, Europe Since 2014 22 Employees +886-2-2365-8278 info@gynoii.com www.gynoii.com
Hanmin Technology Inc. • +886-7-558-2256 • sale_service@hanmin.com.tw • hanmin.com.tw
EmCom Technology Inc. • Specialization: PIR Sensor, Lighting, Cable & Networking Devices • 30+ Years in OEM/ODM • Americas, Europe • Since 1975 • 750 Employees • +886-2-2717-7766 • sales@emcom.com.tw • www.emcom.com.tw
EVERSPRING Industry Co., Ltd. • Specialization: Home Security, Auto Control, Energy Saving • 30 Years in OEM/ODM • Americas, Europe • Since 1980 • 1000 Employees • +886-2-22606868 • sales@everspring.com • www.everspring.com
Gemtek Technology Co., Ltd. • +886-3-598-5535 • sales@gemteks.com • www.gemteks.com
Inventec Corp. • +886-2-2881-0721 • iec@inventec.com • www.inventec.com
JSW Pacific Corp. • Specialization: Home Security, Auto Control, Energy Saving • 23 Years in OEM/ODM • Americas, Europe • Since 1992 • 550 Employees • +886-28227-8582 • www.jswpac.com
Hi Sharp Electronics Co., Ltd. • • • • • • •
Specialization: Home Camera Americas, Europe, Asia Since 1987 230 Employees +886-3-365-3121 sales@hisharp.com.tw www.hisharp.com
Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
KGUARD Security • Specialization: Home Camera, Home Video Recorder • Americas, Europe • Since 2003 • 30+ Employees • +886-2-8228-6080 • sales@kguardsecurity.com • www.kguardsecurity.com
• +886-2-7715-8888 • chau-yuan.ke@foxconn.com • www.foxconn.com
HoungFu Technology Ltd.
Kingdom Communication Associated Ltd.
• Specialization: Home Security, Energy Saving • 1 Year in OEM/ODM • Americas, Asia • Since 2013 • 5 Employees • +886-2-7709-9500 • sales@houngfu.com.tw • www.houngfu.com.tw
• Specialization: Doorphone, Home Security Kit, Control Panel • 25 Years in OEM/ODM • Americas, Europe • Since 1990 • 95 Employees • + 886-2-2244-7988 • kca@ms7.hinet.net • www.kca.com.tw
iCatch Inc.
Merit LILIN Ent. Co., Ltd.
• Specialization: Home Camera, Home Video Recorder • 9 Years in OEM/ODM • Americas, Europe • Since 2005 • 120+ Employees • +886-2-5550-6660 • sales@icatchinc.com • www.icatchinc.com
• • • • • • • •
IEI Integration Corp.
Metalligence Technology Corporation
GKB Security Corporation • Specialization: Home Camera, Home Security Kit, Software/ Cloud Service • 19 Years in OEM/ODM • Americas, Europe • Since 1996 • 123 Employees • +886-4-2562-8956 • sales@gkbsecurity.com • www.gkbsecurity.com
DYNACOLOR, Inc. • Specialization: Home Camera, Home Video Recorder • 23 Years in OEM/ODM • Americas, Europe • Since 1991 • 462 Employees • +886-2-2659-8898 • info@dynacolor.com.tw • www.dynacolor.com.tw
• • • • • •
Good Mind Industries Co. Ltd. • +886-7-787-1228 • sales@goodmind.com.tw • www.goodmind.com.tw
Gynoii Inc. • Specialization: Baby Monitor & Video Kit, Software/Cloud Service, Smart Home Appliance • 10 Years in OEM/ODM
66 mySMAhome.com November/December 2014
• Specialization: Home Security, Auto Control, Energy Saving • 17 Years in OEM/ODM • Americas, Europe • Since 1997 • 1615 Employees • +886-2-2690-2098 • sales@ieiworld.com • www.ieiworld.com
Specialization: Home Security 10 Years in OEM/ODM Americas, Europe Since 1980 400+ Employees +886-2-22988988 sales@meritlilin.com www.meritlilin.com
• Specialization: Home Security, Auto Control, Energy Saving • Europe, Asia • Since 2010 • 30 Employees • +886-2-2711-7061 • sales@metalligence.com • www.metalligence.com
November/December 2014 mySMAhome.com 67
Netvox Technology Co., Ltd. • Specialization: Home Security, Auto Control, Energy Saving • 10 Years in OEM/ODM • Europe, Asia • Since 1995 • 250 Employees • +886-6-261-7641 • sales@netvox.com.tw • www.netvox.com.tw
• • • • • •
Middle East, Latin America Since 2006 30 Employees +886-6-384-0066 sales@sapido.com.tw www.sapido.com.tw
• www.unisvr.net
Tecom Co., Ltd. • +886-3-577-5141 • sales@tecom.com.tw • www.tecom.com.tw
Unitech Electronics Co., Ltd.
Sercomm Corporation • +886 2 2655 3988 • sales@sercomm.com • www.sercomm.com
ThroughTek Co., Ltd.
Philio Technology Corporation • Specialization: PIR Sensor, Siren, Home Security Kit • 2 Years in OEM/ODM • Americas, Europe, Asia • Since 2010 • 26 Employees • +886-2-2908-8952 • Sales@philio-tech.com • www.philio-tech.com
Skywatch Inc. • Specialization: Home Security, Software/Cloud Service • Global Market • Since 2011 • 12 Employees • +886-2-2395-5677 • support@skywatch24.com • www.skywatch24.com
Powertech Industrial Co.,Ltd • Specialization: Home Security, Auto Control, Smart Plug (Socket, Outlet, Switch) • 10 Years in OEM/ODM • Americas, Europe • Since 2000 • 170 Employees • +886-2-8221-5588 • www.power-tech.com.tw
SpotCam Co., Ltd. • • • •
ST&T Electric Corporation
QNAP Systems, Inc.
Quadrant Components Inc. Ltd • +886-2-27582413 • cni@quadrant.com/ tliao@quadrant.com • www.quadrant.com
Sapido Technology Inc.
Trans Electric Co., Ltd • Specialization: Multimedia, Smart Home Appliance • 40 Years in OEM/ODM • Global Market • Since 1968 • 490 Employees • +886-4-763-3361 • sales@mail.px.com.tw • www.px.com.tw
Specialization: Camera +886-2-2941-6931 jacky.lin@myspotcam.com www.myspotcam.com
• +886-6-505-1588 • cs@stt.com.tw • www.stt.com.tw
• Specialization: Home Security, Others • 9 Years in OEM/ODM • Americas, Europe, Asia • Since 2004 • 700+ Employees • +886-2-2641-2000 • nvr@qnap.com • www.qnapsecurity.com
• Specialization: Home Security, Auto Control, Energy Saving • Europe, Asia • Since 2008 • 100+ Employees • +886-2-2653-5111 • info@tutk.com • www.throughtek.com
StarVedia Technology Inc. • Specialization: Home Security, Auto Control • 8 Years in OEM/ODM • Americas, Asia • Since 2007 • 50 Employees • +886-3-560-0686 • sales@starvedia.com • www.starvedia.com
VATICS Inc. • Specialization: Home Security, Multimedia, SoC/ISP • Americas, Asia • Since 2007 • 60 Employees • +886-2-8245-1282 • sales@vatics.com • www.vatics.com
Vision Automobile Electronics Industrial Co., Ltd. • +886-6-384-3888 • business@visionsecurity.com. tw • www.visionsecurity.com.tw
Tranwo Technology Corp.
VIVOTEK Inc.
• Specialization: Home Security, Auto Control, Energy Saving • 14 Years in OEM/ODM • Americas, Europe • Since 2000 • 60 Employees • +886-3-553-5326 • sales@tranwo.com.tw • www.tranwo.com
• • • • • • • •
TriClouds Technology Co., Ltd. • • • • • • • •
Specialization: Auto Control 8 Years in OEM/ODM Americas, Europe, Asia Since 2007 20 Employees +886-3-621-4988 sales@triclouds.com www.triclouds.com/index.php
Sunmore Smart Technology Inc.
UniSVR Global Information Technology Corp.
• +886-2-8797- 5801 • sales@sunmoretek.com • www.sunmoretek.com
• Specialization: Home Security, Auto Control • 10 Years in OEM/ODM • Asia • Since 1997 • 50 Employees • +886-3-563+2456 • sales@unisvr.net
• Specialization: Home Security, Auto Control, Energy Saving • 8 Years in OEM/ODM
• Doorphone, Auto Control, Healthcare • 10 Years in OEM/ODM • Americas, Asia • Since 2008 • 500 Employees • TASHI@tw.ute.com • www.ute.com
Specialization: Home Camera 13 Years in OEM/ODM Global Market Since 2000 680 Employees +886-2-8245-5282 ext.5188 sales@vivotek.com www.vivotek.com
Wuunet Technology Co., Ltd. • +886-2-8226-9888 • info@wuunet.com • www.wuunet.com
Yisen Technology Co., Ltd. • +886-6-355-5188 • sales@yisen.com.tw • www.yisen.com.tw
ZINWELL Co. • Specialization: Home Camera • 30 Years in OEM/ODM • Americas, Europe, Latin America, Asia • Since 1979 • 3000 Employees • +886-2-2225-1929 • d-sales@zinwell.com.tw • www.zinwell.com
*All the info is collected from the submissions of these companies as of the deadline. 68 mySMAhome.com November/December 2014
ADVERTORIAL
BTSTAR: A Z-WAVE BASED HOME AUTOMATION & SECURITY SOLUTION PROVIDER FROM ASIA Taiwan-based telecommunications manufacturer BTStar has announced a Z-Wave based Home Automation System.
I
nstalled with a Wireless 500 Series Z-Wave module, the ZG01 Heimdall Gateway serves as the central hub of BTStar newly announced Home Automation System, communicating with any compatible appliance within the local Z-Wave mesh network – and supporting a diverse suite of automation and monitoring accessories natively offered by BTStar. Via gateway access to Wi-Fi or LAN, household conditions are manageable through the APP, which permits remote operation of connected devices and the creation of conditional scenes from any compatible mobile device. Basic household automation is achievable with use of the BTStar ZC01C Smart Plug, which – in addition to providing essential features such as remote outlet management with real-time feedback, surge protection, and smart historical metering – also serves as a bridge and repeater for the Z-Wave mesh network, extending the effective range of the Heimdall Gateway with every additional smart plug added. BTStar's current home automation offering also includes the ZC03 Roller Shutter Controller for curtains, and the ZC06 In-Wall Dimmer Module for lighting.
FOCUSING ON HOME SECURITY More robust in comparison with its automation offerings, BTStar's present lineup of security and monitoring devices encompass a range of countermeasures for home intrusion and other emergencies, including smoke (ZS01) and flooding (ZS02) detectors, and a vibration sensor for window break-ins (ZS04). Any detected irregularities can be set to trigger the ZS05 MultiSound Siren, an easy-to-install device that pairs up to 6 different predefined siren noises to userindicated conditions. The highlight of the BTStar sensor suite is the ZS05A 4-in-1 Multi Sensor, a door / window contact sensor mounted with light, temperature, and body motion detection capabilities via passive infrared (PIR). The tamper-proof 4-in-1 is powered by a lithium battery with a guaranteed
lifespan of over 2 years, and is capable of capturing just about any irregular activity within the vicinity of a doorway. Doorways themselves may be secured with use of the BTStar ZC04 Electronic Deadbolt Door Lock. Capable of storing up to 13 user codes of up to 10 digits each, it maintains a 50-item cloud-synchronized log of the most recent accesses by user, and may be set to report accesses in real-time to designated mobile devices. To reduce the annoyance of constantly switching out the lock battery, low energy consumption capabilities ensure a full battery has a lifespan of between 6 to 8 months, assuming roughly 10 accesses in a given day.
FUTURE DIRECTIONS BTStar provides a number of other devices notably, in the areas of wireless connectivity and entertainment. Though these items are at present not immediately related to its home automation ecosystem, it is possible that in prospect, the company intends to expand its Internet of Things (IoT) to more completely cover the assorted venues of the domestic life. BTStar Technology Co., Ltd. sales@bt-star.cn www.bt-star.cn
November/December 2014 mySMAhome.com 69
TALK
Z-WAVE:
INSTALLATION DIY MARKETS DRIVE AND
By Weili Lin
US SMART HOME GROWTH
The two major advantages of Z-Wave technology are high interoperability and interference-free performance. Every certified Z-Eave device is compatible with any other Z-Wave certified device, regardless of brand or version. Z-Wave uses sub-GHz frequencies, rather than the crowded 2.4GHz frequency band. Besides, the technology, supporting two-way communications, has been designed from the ground up for control and status-reading applications unlike some other protocols modified for home control.
The US smart home market is growing rapidly. Schlage launched a TV commercial about remote control service for door locks around four to five years ago. New entrants like Nest Labs and Belkin are bringing new products to the market to help stimulate customer demand. Also, major retailers like Lowe’s, Home Depot and Staples have entered the market. They help increase awareness in manufacturer and user communities. In addition, the alarm companies in North America have added home services like remote door locks, thermostats and lighting now. Mark Walters, Chairman of Z-Wave Alliance indicated that remote management application dominates the market like adjusting thermostat, unlocking door and remotely interacting with their homes. Users can ensure that temperature is right, who unlock my door, when my kids come back home, when does my housekeeper come, and so on. Breaking down into product categories, door lock and thermostat are two most popular Z-Wave devices to date. From Walters’ point of view, DIY and installation markets are different. From the volume point, the installation market is larger than DIY market so far. Estimated 70 percent or more of Z-Wave products are distributed in the custom installation markets market. However, the retail market is projected to grow rapidly in following years. The entrance of alarm companies, telecommunication and retailers is a major driving force. Alarm companies and telecommunication are involved with professionally installed solutions. The DIY market is getting strong in the online retail market like Amazon. Besides, hardware manufacturers sell their products directly online. Interoperability is a major issue when integrating those DIY products into a whole-home system. Walters indicated the reason that Z-Wave technology can be so successful is due to its open standard instead of proprietary. Walters said, “I want my door lock to tell my light to turn on, but they can’t because they are made from different companies. Z-Wave protocol allows people to interoperate their products” 70 mySMAhome.com November/December 2014
Z-Wave is an established international standard based on the ITU-T G.9959 specification and has been powering the smart home market since 2005. It is a so-called “sub-G” technology utilizing the 868/908 MHz ISM frequency band and mesh network architecture. Because of its product-level interoperability and cost-efficiency, Z-Wave is one of the major smart home standards, especially in North America. By far, there have been over 1,100 certified interoperable control and automation products, such as locks, lights, sensors, window shades, fans, gateways, thermostats, power plugs, panic buttons and security cameras. According to the Z-Wave Alliance, over the last three years, 12 million alarm panels have been installed with Z-Wave technology in North America. There are 28 million Z-Wave devices in circulation right now, including 12 million gateways. It is also a strong standard in Europe and South America.
LISTING OF Z-WAVE PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS Enerwave Wireless Energy Management
Kwikset SmartCode 916 Touchscreen Deadbolt Lock
MCOHome Electrical Heating Thermostat
• Utilizes Z-wave technology to communicate with smart meter wiring devices integrated with light switches, outlets and devices for energy management and savings. • Permits remote management of switches and USB outlets with use of smartphones or tablets • Rated wattage and real-time KWH indicator tracks the energy consumption of every light switch, outlet, and device within a household. • Basice nergysaving scenes may be set to initiate on user-defined sensor conditions, saving up to 40% of the utility bills on average. Enerwave www.enerwaveautomation.com United States
• Communicates via Z-Wave to support home automation and security platforms, including Kwikset Home Connect. • One-Touchp rogramming • Ability to hold up to 30 access codes • One-Touch locking • Sleek design • Reduced interior size for increased aesthetic appeal • SmartKey Re-Key Technology • BumpGuard Technology
• Control panel for electrical heating, heating cables, and electrothermal film, with two temperature sensors. • Programmable with a 7 day schedule that permits up to 4 events per day. • Display accuracy of ± 0.5° C, with a range between 0° F to 99°C. • Adjustablean ti-freeze protection and high temperature cutoff. • Availablei nstallation options permit flushmounting to standard wall sockets in the EU and United States. MCOHome Technology www.mcohome.com China
Yale Key Free Touchscreen Deadbolt T1L • Touch-screen interface, illuminated keypads, and small form factor. • QuickZ -Wave enrollment at a single button press. • Simple and quick installation. Can be installed in minutes on standard doors with just a screw driver and no extra wiring • Certified with ANSI/BHMA Grade 2 Yale Security www.yaleresidential.com United States
Telguard GDC1 Garage Door Controller • Garage door controller supporting Binary Switch command class. • Easily installable, and operates with garage door openers for any sectional garage door that fulfills entrapment protection regulations. • Integrates with Z-Wave based home automation platforms for remote status monitoring and operation scheduling. • Adheres to UL safety standards for the unattended operation of a garage door. Telular Corporation www.telguard.com United States
Kwikset www.kwikset.com United States
HomeSeer HSM200 Z-Wave Multisensor / Night Light / Indicator Module
Schlage Connect
• Sensorac cessory compatible with any HomeSeer HS3-based home automation and monitoring platform, including the HomeTroller series. • Monitors motion, temperature, and light, with functionality as a night light and an indicator for household conditions and alerts. • Plugs into 120v outlet and automatically joins existing Z-Wave network via button press, operating additionally as a repeater to expand the network's effective range. • Programmable light can be set to conditionally switch colors between red, green, blue, yellow, magenta, cyan, and white. HomeSeer www.homeseer.com United States
Aeotec Smart Strip • Smart power strip that offers Z-Wave control • 6 power outlets; 4 are wirelessly controllable • Saves money with energy monitoring and by automatically turning electronics off • Electronics are protected against power surges and over-currents • Acts as a Z-Wave network repeater • Supports Z-Wave Explorer Frames for simple installation, integration and use
• NSI Grade 1 Highest Residential Security • Resistive Touchscreen with matte finish to protect against fingerprints and smudges • Three alerts- activity, tamper or forced entry alert- and customized to meet fit security needs • Employs Z-Wave wireless technology • Built-in Alarm Technology senses movement of the door and alerts homeowners with an audible alert • Easy installation with just a screwdriver- no wiring required • Holds up to 30 user codes • Connect with homes via computer, tablet or smartphone Schlage http://www.schlage.com United States
URC Vivido Lighting • Two-way designer lighting solutions • Includes master and accessory light dimmers, switches, a lamp dimming module, an appliance switching module • Controllable with URC Mobile app and an Android or iOS device while away • With the battery powered, stick-onthe-wall-anywhere dimmer, ideal for retrofits URC www.universalremote.com United States
Aeon Labs aeotec.com United States
November/December 2014 mySMAhome.com 71
TALK
LG USA INTERVIEW:
SIMPLICITY WINS IN SMART HOME WINSINSMART By Weili Lin
LG surprised the smart home market with its HomeChat, using the IM platform LINE, a popular mobile messenger app, as its communication medium to let users easily communicate, control, monitor and share content with LG home appliances. SMAhome talks with David VanderWaal, Head of Marketing of LG USA about their view on smart home development.
What is the design idea behind HomeChat? LG’s goal always is to make smart appliances easier to use. We’ve employed NLP (Natural Language Processing) technologyand the popular messenger application LINE to allow users to communicate, control, monitor and share content with LG’s latest smart appliances. It’s a language that just about everyone is
familiar with these days – simple texting. That was a big improvement from the year before in terms of being able to use the code that allows you to make an instant app right on your phone. Instead of having to go and download any kind of app, you'll be able to hold your phone right up to the appliance. It will instantly recognize and then download the app right on to your phone for you. It’s been a great improvement since you can now use our QR code to download the HomeChat app instantly to your smartphone. Simply hold the phone to your LG smart appliance to establish personal recognition and connectivity.
What is the most promising product in the LG smart home lineup? I’d have to say, smart television with LG’s new webOS platform that makes smart TV truly simple and intuitive for the first time. But looking at the appliances we currently offer, believe the thing that’s brought the most consumer benefit is the fridge, because its features are helping families solve some of the most common problems. For example with built-in internal refrigerator camera positioned at the top of the main compartment, users can monitor exactly what’s inside their refrigerator on their smartphones or tablets at any given time.
Your views on the smart home market? The Internet of Things, which is the vogue right now because a lot of people are talking about it, is still primarily for early adopters. I believe the more people talk about it, the more it will allure bigger brand makers from entering the smart home field. Beginning from the early stages of market demand followed by product design and eventually development, these are the phases needed to make smart home popular. NEST, which is currently one of the most recognized names on the market, started out the same way. So as long as there is something to talk about it, the trend will not go away. Smart home is actually not moving quite as fast as predicted, but certainly, within the next decade, it will become a reality. It's hard to know exactly what that reality will look like, so that’s why LG is 72 mySMAhome.com November/December 2014
constantly reinventing itself. Nobody really knows what the future has in store But LG is going to develop our appliances and televisions to work within that evolving ecosystem.
What is holding consumers back? Smart home is still kind of complicated for the average consumer, and frankly, I don't think we've made a tremendous amount of progress as an overall connected home industry in the last 18 months. There are a lot of choices and a lot of complicated things for the user to comprehend. With those options, as a consumer, you're going to end up an early adopter who doesn’t really understand the technology well. Right now, I think we're still kind of stuck in the same spot. Somebody's got to make this whole thing much easier for the consumer with just plug n' play, but that solution just isn't there yet. In the aspect of marketing, as long as retailers and brand makers start telling stories and all the benefits smart home brings, the adoption curve will accelerate. People are simply frightened of technology, and although they want it, they want it to come in simple forms. For it to prevail, simplicity is the key factor. Apple figured that out early on, and to a certain degree Google also did get it right. I believe we are on the right track. Looking from the price perspective, having Wi-Fi and smart capabilities will not drive the price range up as much as consumers
might think. Take our smart refrigerators and washing machines as examples, integrating smart solutions into those appliances didn’t drive up our price tag, and yet on retail they can be had for around two hundred dollars. It’s fair to say that price isn’t the real issue that hinders smart adoption. As a marketer, I find that worrisome because of the misconception it conveys. On the flip side, growing consumer interest in energy efficiency and reducing GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions should factor prominently into the future of the smart home. Connected Energy Star appliances, paired with whole-home energy management systems and even demand-response Smart Grid/Smart Meter capabilities, will be part of the mix. What’s really important is getting the technology to a point where it can be understood by the mass public, and to convey the message that smart home can mean fun, simple and attainable.
November/December 2014 mySMAhome.com 73
COLUMN
TWO BUYOUTS OF SMART HOME HUBS: GOING DIFFERENTLY By Jason Lin
With Google’s purchase of Nest earlier this year and by using the latter as a pretext to buy out Dropcam, the web giant’s subsequent move was the acquisition of home automation hub specialist Revolv in late October. The series of moves are evident of Google’s ambition to grab a lion’s share of the worldwide home automation market. And Samsung? The world's leading mobile phone, consumer electronics, and core component provider hasn’t been sitting idly on the sidelines either. With its August buyout of Revolv’s major competitor – SmartThings, Samsung succeeded in closing the gap between the latter two, picturing new business opportunities for its mobile phone and home electronics divisions. The Revolv hub costs a lot more than SmartThings, but in terms of compatibility and ease of use, the SmartThings hub is better matched. Although the overall rate of system and firmware update and support for Android users and IFTTT aren't quite there yet, Google and Samsung should bring about some fundamental changes in performance. The assimilation of SmartThings with the Samsung family provides the latter
with a platform it has long sought, which it couldn't have achieved on its own. For SmartThings, the merger grants access to Samsung's international distribution channels – an instrument of rapid and widespread market penetration, especially in the early stages of market growth. Google's procurement of Revolv, on the other hand, led to an immediate cessation in the distribution of the Revolv Hub – suggesting that the motive of the purchase wasn't to exploit the inherent potential of the Revolv product or its market worth, but to acquire the Revolv team's experience and expertise in wireless communications for the growing diversification of the “Works with NEST” ecosystem. The next-generation of NEST’s product is not yet known, but in terms of communication with smart devices, it will undoubtedly make use of Revolv’s best ideas. The battle between Revolv and SmartThings has come to an end now, but a war between Apple, Google and Samsung may be lurking on the horizon.
Let’s compare the two leaders of smart home gateways: Revolv (Google)
SmartThings (Samsung)
Price (Hub Only)
$299
$99
Compatibility
Support 7 Different Standards
Z-Wave/Zigbee/Wi-Fi
Rate of Update
Slightly Slower
Fast
Ease of Installation
Supports FlashLink Quick Installation
High
Supported Client-Side Platforms
iOS / Android
iOS / Android / Windows Phone
IFTTT Support
Coming Soon
Yes
Jason Lin has served in various product management roles for more than 10 years, covering cameras, DVRs, NVRs and software. He is also experienced in several smart home project designing. Jason can be reached at jason.yuchi.lin@gmail.com or smartofeverything.blogspot.tw
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SHOW CALENDAR
2014~2015 WORLDWIDE EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS RELATED TO SMART HOME a&s SMAhome magazine provides bonus distribution at the checkmarked shows. AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS
MOSCOW, RUSSIA
NOV
Interlight Moscow is the sole trade fair dedicated to the domains of decorative and technical lighting, electrical to 14 engineering, and home and building automation that serves the Russian and Eastern European CIS region. Bearing a history of 17 years, it is an ideal platform for international companies active in the area or interested in approaching the local market.
EUROPEAN UTILITY WEEK
An annual event attended by the major stakeholders and players of the European energy community. From to 6 transmission to end-user engagement, event coverage includes the areas of power distribution, metering and energy management, renewable integration, energy grid security, and smart homes, among a variety of other domains.
4
• +31 346 290 789 • www.european-utility-week.com
INTERLIGHT MOSCOW 2014 NOV
11
• +7 495 649 8775 • www.interlight.messefrankfurt.ru
TORONTO, CANADA
HOME CONNECT NOV
A home automation conference that serves the needs of the Canadian
20 connected home market, gathering in one forum 250 representatives to 21
from major appliance manufacturers, telecommunications and utility operators, and other businesses and organizations that play a key role in providing home solutions and market innovations. Themes covered this year include connectivity and content delivery, energy and utility management, home security and monitoring, and smart home health care. • +1 416 645 3756 • www.homeconnectcanada.com
CHICAGO, USA
CONNECTED WORLD CONFERENCE FEB
A global expo for connected technologies that
14 provides access to the players and products to 22
operating in the market for the Internet of Things. It generates awareness for connected devices in the domains of transportation, health/fitness, energy, and home. • +1 312 791 7000 • connectedworld.com/conference
LAS VEGAS, USA
INTERNATIONAL CES 2015 For more than 40 years, the International Consumer Electronics Show (International CES) has served as a proving ground for innovations to 9 consumer technologies – a hub and launch platform used by industry leaders to showcase the state-of-the-art and cutting edge. At roughly 2 million square feet of exhibition space, CES is the largest event of its type, providing due representation to nearly every facet of the CE industry. Gathering the key players of the $1 trillion international CE industry under a single banner, the 2014 show was attended by 160,498 visitors. JAN
6
• +1 703 907 7605 • www.cesweb.org
List your exhibitions here if they are related to smart home. Email your show profile, website and a 60-word introduction to a&s SMAhome Editor: SMAhome-pr@newera.messefrankfurt.com 76 mySMAhome.com November/December 2014
BARCELONA, SPAIN
FRANKFURT, GERMANY
MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS
LIGHT+BUILDING
The largest mobile industry exhibition and conference, gathering over 85,000 visitors from over 200 nations to 5 during its 2014 show. This year, the event is being run in conjunction with Mobile World Capital project, which consolidates the city of Barcelona as a benchmark city and test-bed for cutting edge mobile technologies.
themed about the subject of energy efficiency, Light + Building invites industry players to present innovative solutions to cut down energy consumption while increasing the level of end-user comfort.
• +34 93 274 6373 • www.mobileworldcongress.com
• +49 697 5750 • www.light-building.messefrankfurt.com
MAR
2
HANNOVER, GERMANY
The largest trade fair dedicated to the domains of lighting
to 18
HONG KONG
CEBIT MAR
MAR
13 and building-services technology. A semi-annual event
HONG KONG ELECTRONIC FAIR - SPRING
The largest and most diverse of the international computer
16 exhibitions, and a barometer of the state-of-the-art in the to 20
APR
A spring electronics fair serving the Asian region,
13 covering the domains of audio and visual products, to 16
IT sector. Comprehensively showcasing up-to-the-minute industry trends and innovations, the lead theme of CeBIT 2015 is the "d!conomy" -- the ubiquitous digitization of our everyday lives, and the integration of such within business and society.
brand electronics, eco-friendly products, packaging and design, navigation systems, telecommunications products, certification services, and a variety of cutting-edge innovations.
• +49 511 893 7777 • www.cebit.de/home
• +852 1830 668 • www.hktdc.com/fair/hkelectronicsfairse-en
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
CONNECT APR
A large annual trade show
21 run as a part of a series of 10 to 22
TAIPEI, TAIWAN
SMAHOME BY SECUTECH APR
An exhibition that aims to function as a hub for smart home products manufacture,
28 and to assist smart home professionals in meeting the ever-changing demands to 30
concurrent business summits in Melbourne, Australia. The show is designed to communicate the impact of technological megatrends to business leaders, and to convey an understanding of its disruptive influence on business and everyday life.
of the international community. Exhibitors are to fall primarily in the category of competent original manufacturers able to provide bespoke solutions and robust technical support. SMAhome is a new show, launched concurrently with Secutech International 2014 in Taiwan – designed to unite quality manufacturers of innovative smart home solutions and global merchants, procurement officers/ managers, and executive-level buyers.
• +61 2 8908 8505 • www.con-nect.com.au
• +886 2 2659 9080 • www.secutech.com/15/SMAhome
Aside from the above, SMAhome Magazine will also attend the following security shows. Sicurezza
12-14/11/2014
Milan, Italy
Secutech Thailand
26-28/11/2014
Bangkok, Thailand
International CES
06-09/01/2015
Las Vegas, Nevada
Intersec Dubai
18-20/01/2015
Dubai, UAE
Mobile World Congress
24-27/02/2015
Barcelona, Spain
CeBIT
16-20/03/2015
Hannover, Germany
Hong Kong Electronics Fair 13-16/04/2015 - Spring
Hong Kong
November/December 2014 mySMAhome.com 77
PREVIEW
INTERNATIONAL CES 2015:
NOW WITH A DEDICATED SMART HOME MARKETPLACE The International Consumer Electronics Show (International CES) is one of the largest and most important trade events in the consumer electronics industry. Gathering the key players of the $1 trillion international CE industry under a single banner, the 2014 show was attended by 160,498 visitors.
For more than 40 years, the International CES served as a proving ground for innovations consumer technologies – a hub and launch platform used by industry leaders to showcase the state-of-the-art and cutting edge. At roughly 2 million square feet of exhibition space, CES is the largest event of its type, providing due representation to nearly every facet of the CE industry. Of the 160,498 attendees that attended the 2014 show, there was an international presence of 40,828 attendees from more than 140 countries. Asia was the most strongly represented at 9,517 visitors, occupying 5 of the top 10 slots for nations by registration volume. The Americas were second at 6,332 visitors, with Canada alone contributing 3,555. European visitors numbered at 5,124. 10,093 visitors (6.29%) were employed in the Connected Home sector. Buying organizations represented numbered at 30,578, with 10,784 visitors in retail and 5,311 in institutional procurement. 30,223 (29.9%) visitors were the final decision makers for procurement within their organization. Over 20 thousand products were launched.
A NEW MARKETPLACE FOR SMART HOME PRODUCTS In acknowledgement of rapid growth in the smart homes sector, a new, dedicated marketplace for the domain will be launched at CES Tech West in the Sands Expo (Sands) at the CES 2015 – showcasing home automation solutions and the integration of smartphones and other mobile devices with
Dates: 6-9 January, 2015 • Locations: - Tech East: Las Vegas Convention and World Trade Center (LVCC), Westgate Las Vegas, Renaissance Las Vegas - Tech West: Encore at Wynn, Wynn Las Vegas, Sands Expo, The Venetian, The Palazzo - ARIA • Website: http://www.cesweb.org/home • Organizer:Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)
the management of home appliances. As of September, over 25 thousand square feet of exhibition space were sold in the Smart Home Marketplace, with a key exhibitor entourage of ADT, Archos, Bosch, Control4, Honeywell, Lowe’s, Lutron, Logitech, Wink, and Zigbee. In a press release, CES senior vice president Karen Chupka stated, "With the rapid growth in the smart home category, we are creating a dedicated area where attendees will find the range of smart home technologies coming to market. More than ever, homeowners are embracing the convenience and comfort that technology can bring with customized access to appliances, lighting and heating, window coverings, irrigation, entertainment systems and more." On the front of technologies pertaining to home security, the CEA has also launched the Sensors Marketplace – a sampling of the latest in motion and gesture recognition, with highlighting of product positioning in the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem. Additionally, Boo-Keun Yoon, the president and CEO of Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., will be delivering a keynote address on trends in connected devices and the Internet of Things (IoT) – detailing Samsung's vision of the smart home and its plans to attain the next big industry breakthrough via strategic partnerships.
GROWING FOCUS IN IOT Press release coverage for the CES 2015 has thus far provided a significant amount of focus to the interconnected smart home, and may well underscore an increasing awareness among industry leaders of the role of the Internet of Things (IoT) as a centerpiece of the home appliances and consumer electronics market.
78 mySMAhome.com November/December 2014
For four days, what’s next is here now. The 2015 International CES.® With the who’s who of innovation, business and technology, it’s the one show on Earth that promises the future. And delivers it in ways you never imagined. Register today at CESweb.org.
JAN. 6-9, 2015 LAS VEGAS, NEVADA CESWEB.ORG #CES2015
NEWS
WHAT HAPPENED News, launches and views from the world of smart home in September and October 2014
ON YOUR SMART PHONE. Scan the QR code or see mySMAhome.com/news for more info.
M&A
CORPORATE
Nest acquires smart home hub maker Revolv
Samsung announces collaboration with Earth Networks to provide an energy management solution
Google's smart home group, led by Nest, has acquired the smart home hub maker Revolv in late October. According to Nest co-founder and VP of engineering Matt Rogers, they are not fans of yet another hub that people should have to worry about, but added that Revolv is a great and unbelievable team. Although Nest said the home automation hub will no longer be available for sale, it will continue to provide support for existing Revolv customers and still honor its oneyear warranty. It will also keep its data under the Revolv Privacy Statement separate from Nest and Google. Revolv’s team is joining the Works with Nest program, Nest’s developer program for integrating other connected devices into the Nest platform, presumably where they’ll take their automation hub know-how and help build it out.
M&A
Qualcomm buys Bluetooth® chip maker CSR for $2.5 billion Qualcomm Incorporated announced last month that it has reached agreement with CSR plc (“CSR”) regarding the terms of a recommended cash acquisition through which the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of CSR will be acquired by Qualcomm Global Trading Pte. Ltd. The acquisition complements Qualcomm’s current offerings by adding products, channels, and customers in the important growth categories of Internet of Everything (IoE) and automotive infotainment, accelerating Qualcomm’s presence and path to leadership. The acquisition is subject to a number of conditions in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the UK Takeover Code, including the receipt of U.S. and other regulatory approvals and the approval of CSR’s shareholders. Subject to the satisfaction of the conditions, the transaction is expected to close by the end of the summer of 2015.
80 mySMAhome.com November/December 2014
Weather information provider Earth Networks and Samsung have announced an upcoming collaboration that will integrate the Earth Networks WeatherBug energy auditing service with the Samsung Energy Control and Optimization System (ECOS), a smart metering and energy management solution to be provided to the smart home market. Operating in conjunction with Earth Networks to analyze patterns of household electrical usage in the context of demands created by climate and microclimate conditions, WeatherBug and ECOS will jointly provide a personalized, actionable monthly energy report that include recommendations for specific energy service plans – with coverage of the Time-of-Use (TOU) and Real-Time Pricing (RTP) plans released by utility providers for households that don't utilize electricity 24/7. It is estimated that around 50% of energy use in a typical American household arises due to the impact of weather conditions on the efficiency of ventilation, heating, and HVAC.
CORPORATE
CORPORATE
Panasonic to License HD-PLC Unified IP Core
Amazon tests smart home gadgets, expands hardware lab
Panasonic has announced that as of January 2015, critical intellectual properties pertaining to the implementation of its high-speed power line communication technology (HD-PLC) will be presented as a unified IP core for purposes of external licensing. HD-PLC is a technology that utilizes existing power lines as a medium for communication. Consumer electronics or appliances built with HD-PLC support are able to obtain stable wired access to a network simply by plugging into a power outlet. With better cost effectiveness per volume, weight, and energy utilization versus its predecessors, single-chip HD-PLC is projected see a higher rate of adoption in a larger variety of applications, more completely connecting the household and enabling the development of services with greater sophistication.
CORPORATE
Icontrol Networks partners with Japan cable operator iTSCOM According to Icontrol CEO Bob Hagerty in late October, the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s partnership with Tokyu Group's iTSCOM is a critical step in its strategic approach to international expansion. The Internet of Things is one of the fastest growing segments of the already robust technology industry in Asia, he exclaimed, adding that the market opportunity for the smart home in the Asia-Pacific region is significant. The partnership with iTSCOM continues Icontrol's global expansion momentum and solidifies the company as a world leader in home automation. Icontrol's platform, which is now available in the U.S., Canada, Japan and parts of Europe, manages more than 22 million sensors and devices, representing the most widely-used connected home platform in the industry. Last year alone, more than 66 billion events, alerts, and commands were collected, processed, and made accessible by Icontrol platforms. Icontrol Touchstone provides users with advanced home monitoring, automation, security and energy management.
Amazon.com Inc. said last month that it will boost staffing at its secretive Silicon Valleybased hardware unit by at least 27 percent over the next five years as it tests Internetconnected "smart" home gadgets such as a one-button device to order supplies. The plan, detailed in a little-known government document and by people familiar with the matter, signals Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos's intentions to double down on the No. 1 U.S. online retailer's hardware strategy. The Lab126 division, which developed Amazon's Kindle and other consumer electronics devices, plans to boost its fulltime payroll to at least 3,757 people by 2019, according to the agreement reached with California in June that would give Amazon $1.2 million in tax breaks. Amazon will invest $55 million in Lab126's operations in Sunnyvale and Cupertino, the agreement posted on the California governor's website showed.
CORPORATE
Honeywell and Constellation deliver savings with smart thermostats Honeywell and power provider Constellation recently introduced an energy-saving service plan available to millions of homeowners and small businesses across 23 states. By enrolling in the plan to meet their gas and electricity needs, customers can lock in competitive prices and receive up to a $200 gift card from Constellation for buying any Honeywell Wi-Fi thermostat, including the new Lyricâ&#x201E;˘. These modern, app-driven thermostats provide comfort, convenience and an opportunity to reduce energy consumption every day through
easy programming and remote connectivity. The plan builds on the companiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; regional efforts in Texas, bringing the thermostat offer to residents and business owners in states where Constellation does business, which covers an estimated 30 million homes alone. Constellation customers can choose from a variety of Honeywell Wi-Fi connected thermostats available online and in retail stores, as well as through local contractors.
November/December 2014 mySMAhome.com 81
NEWS
MARKET
TECH
One-fourth of UK, German and Spanish interested in smart home devices
STMicroelectronics to Commercialize Thin-Film Piezoelectric MEMS
Parks Associates’ third-quarter 2014 European consumer data revealed that approximately 25% of broadband households in the U.K., Germany, and Spain find individual smart home devices “very” appealing, with smart devices such as smoke, water, and CO detectors as the most appealing. The research finds 43% of U.S. broadband households are interested in purchasing a smart home package, compared to 22% of broadband households in Germany, 30% in Spain, and 34% in the U.K. Security companies have an advantage in this early market, as 80% of broadband households in the U.K., Spain, and Germany rank home security companies as one their preferred providers for a smart home system.
MARKET
Wireless sensor networks are defining a trillion IoT market According to global technology research firm ON World, wireless sensor networking (WSN) is one of the most disruptive and essential technologies for the Internet of Things. Within the next ten years, the IoT market will grow to billions of sensing points, transforming cloud computing infrastructure and mobile device form factors. Industrial WSN early adopters have driven advances such as wireless mesh networking, power management, time synchronization, IP smart objects and energy harvesting. Smart lighting is another emerging market with dozens of startups and new entrants. Many of these are focused on wireless LED light bulbs and wireless mesh lighting control systems, smart LED drivers and IoT platforms that are support a growing number of WSN applications.
STMicroelectronics, a major manufacturer of Micro-ElectroMechanical Systems, has announced the intent to commercialize its ThinFilm Piezoelectric (TFP) MEMS technology, which utilizes the 1-axis expansion and contraction that certain materials exhibit in response to electricity to provide small-scale mechanical actuation. TLens by poLight is among the first to incorporate the above technology within a commercial product, utilizing the piezoelectric effect to modify the structure of a transparent polymer film in the manner of human eye adjusting focus. The poLight product is expected to serve as a smaller, lower cost, lower energy consumption alternative to Voice Coil Motors (VCM), the currently predominant camera auto-focus (AF) technology. STMicroelectronics expects large-volume production for the TFP product to be ready for pilot customers as of mid-2015.
CORPORATE
Schlage ushers in "The Keyless Era" with launch of newest electronic lock Schlage® has announced the arrival of "The Keyless Era" with the introduction of Schlage Touch™, its latest electronic lock innovation. As part of The Keyless Era and the launch of its newest product, developed to address consumers’ increasing demands for convenient, secure and technologically advanced locks, Schlage is announcing the findings of a nationwide survey that unlocks Americans’ attitudes and opinions about keyless electronic locks. 82 mySMAhome.com November/December 2014
Designed to make the day a little less complicated, Schlage Touch™ provides easy, key-free access, so people with active lifestyles and busy schedules can simplify their day. With the ability to store 19 unique access codes, Schlage Touch™ provides homeowners with exceptional convenience. Schlage Touch™ joins the brand’s suite of keyless electronic products, which are among the top choices for homeowners, remodelers, builders, property managers and security integrators.
TECH
Xped creates world’s first device browser that changes home automation forever Xped has announced in early November the world’s first device browser targeted at home automation. The device uses near field communication (NFC) to connect a smartphone to any appliance by simply tapping the phone to the device. Once connected, consumers can control any connected device from anywhere in the world with an internet connection. Developers are also excited by this technology. Many companies are developing devices that can be connected to the Internet, forming the Internet of Things (IoT). According to the founders, because this device is based around Arduino (like the Lego of electronics) it will make extra development for low-budget developers, hobbyists and even students affordable.
TECH
NETGEAR unveils world’s first fully wireless HD smart home camera NETGEAR®, Inc. has announced a breakthrough in self-monitored home security with its new Arlo™ Smart Home Security Camera. Arlo is the first and only 100 percent wireless Wi-Fi security camera with crystal-clear, high definition video. It monitors your home from every possible angle, inside or out, with these outdoor-ready cameras that are equipped with night vision to give you HD video around the clock. The combination of easy installation, battery-operated true wireless design, and weatherproof construction provides you with the ability to set up a camera wherever you want. With the intuitive free Arlo app, you can watch live streamed or recorded videos, see motion event recordings, customize activity alerts and arm/disarm motion-sensors. Arlo will alert you instantly if an event occurs, and you can tap into as many as four simultaneous camera streams to watch from your desktop, notebook computer or favorite mobile device.
Oort has announced the release of its first smart devices based exclusively on Bluetooth Smart, that can be controlled with a single app. Users can control oort’s smart devices from the smartphones and tablets that they already own, such as Android or iOS devices, or with any Internet-enabled browser when devices are used in conjunction with oort’s SmartHub. By picking which elements of the system are the most useful for them, users can build their own customized smart home environments. Oort’s system will provide users with myriad options, such as the ability to remotely control connected devices, create custom actions based on “if this then that” conditional statements, microfencing or even locating belongings. The first available product in oort’s online shop is SmartLED. It’s an energy-efficient smart light bulb that can be controlled from oort-compatible mobile phones, with over 16 million color options available to choose from. The online store will also offer a variety of other smart devices for pre-order that will ship in late-November 2014.
London-based Pelipod recently announced a smart home-parcel box with built-in proof-of-delivery that saves time, money and worry for consumers, couriers and retailers. Designed and funded in Britain, it is a pod with an in-built electronic keypad that communicates to a central system, so only authorized users have access, and smart sensors and a camera to give all parties proof of delivery (POD). When buying online, Pelipod users can add a unique parcel code to their address. The courier uses the code to open the pod and place the parcel inside before securely closing it. A camera provides ‘delivery audits’ (POD) with photographic evidence of the opening, parcel placement and lid closure. The shopper then receives an email to let them know their delivery has arrived, with details and times. On their return home they simply open the pod with their unique user code. The pod can also be used to return parcels, removing consumer hassle.
Include us in your media list. We want to know what you launch or are involved in smart home. Email your press releases to a&s SMAhome Editor: SMAhome-pr@newera.messefrankfurt.com
November/December 2014 mySMAhome.com 83
PRODUCT
HOME CAMERA XIAOMI
Xiaoyi
Email: service.hk@xiaomi.com
• • • • • •
111 degree wide viewing angle 4X zoom with a double-tap HD resolution, 1280x720 pixels@20fps Glass lens with F 2.0 aperture Two-way audio, built-in 16-bit sound Local storage: up to 32GB micro SD card; compatible with Xiaomi router for up to 1TB storage size on the hard drive. • Motion-activated video recording and push notification to user’s mobile phone • Wireless standards: 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n Draft
HOMEBOY
Homeboy
Email: mark@homeboy.com
• Wireless self-contained security system with Wi-Fi connection • Records a video upon motion detection • Can be charged via an USB outlet and can last around 3 months on a single charge • Magnetically anchored for easy mounting, removal or repositioning • Supports multi-way alerts including push notifications, Twitter or Facebook messages, or a ping to your crew • Can be paired with other services and devices including Dropbox, Nest Protect, and Wemo to perform preset tasks upon motion detection
KUNA
Kuna
Email: contact@getkuna.com
• All-in-one smart light fixture, wireless HD camera and intercom • Built-in microphone and speaker • Supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 • Remote light control • Timer light mode • Motion activated light mode • IR motion sensing
84 mySMAhome.com November/December 2014
• Acts as an alarm siren
LOOPCOMM
LPC-2011C
Email: sales@loopcomm.com
• • • • • • • • •
Cube HD IP camera 2-megapixel CMOS sensor Real-time H.264/MPEG-4/MJPEG streaming Up to 30 fps at 720P resolution Built-in IR illuminators that are effective up to 5 meters Two-way audio communication MicroSD/SDHC slot for local storage Compliant with 802.3af PoE and 802.11n wireless connectivity Supports mobile device (iPhone or Android)
ZILINK
Cobell
Email: sales@zilink.cn
• Wi-Fi doorbell equipped with a 720P HD camera that records video with H.264 format • Two-way audio and ringtone • Relay output to unlock the door • P2P for easy remote access • Motion detection alarm via E-mail • Uploads snapshot to FTP when the alarm is triggered • Free iOS and Android App for control • Supports IEEE 802.11b/g/n wireless connection • Supports WEP, WPA and WPA2 encryption
VTECH
BM3500
Email: faq@vtechkids.com
• • • • •
Baby monitoring system Supports FHSS technology and 2.4GHz radio band 2.8 inch (QVGA 320 x 240 pixels) color display 270 degree motorized pan and 124 degree tilt One display supports up to 4 cameras • Temperature sensor and monitoring • Digital zoom • Built-in microphone and speaker for two-way intercom
• Built-in infrared night vision capabilities
RDI
WF532
turn on/off an appliance depending on the whether the user is walking in or walking away • Measures and views both real-time power (Watts) and energy (kWh) usage for the past day, week and month
Email: sales@rdichina.com
• P2P for easy setup • 720P video resolution • Pan and tilt remote control • Video recording and snapshot • Two-way audio • Motion detection • Push notification
GATEWAY /
INTEGRATED SYSTEM HOMESEER
HomeTroller-SEL Email: sales@homeseer.com
ENERGY MANAGEMENT LANDING
Ivylink Ivyplug
Email: sales@landinghome.com
• An outlet accessory that permits remote power management via Wi-Fi communication • Plug-and-Play installation, requiring only access to household Wi-Fi, and registration with cloud service • Communications with cloud are encrypted for security purposes • Smart metering and schedule-based activation • Permissions can be set to limit access to management features • Includes surge protection, short-circuit protection, fire-proofing, and childproofing features
• Home automation gateway communicates with other devices via Wi-Fi and Z-Wave • Controls light switches, thermostats, door locks, garage doors, water valves, energy monitors, environmental sensors, cameras • Compatible with Apple and Andoid smartphones and tablets • Includes voice control and programming features • Issues spoken messages for alerts, announcement and reminders
GLOBAL CHINA TECHNOLOGY
Home Automation Hub Email: enquire@globalchina-tech.com
• • • •
• •
REVOGI
•
Smart Meter Email: info@revogi.com
• Supports Bluetooth Low Energy V4.0 • Can be controlled via smartphones • Individual socket schedules: Can be programmed to
•
Internet access (P2P) 868.5MHz/433MHz RF frequency analog 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi Supports smoke detector, motion sensor, magnetic open sensor, flood sensor, and shock sensor Supports power bars and light switches Room monitoring by IP cam video Alerts users by pushing messages or engaging with siren accessories Supports Z-Wave
November/December 2014 mySMAhome.com 85
PRODUCT
CHITONGDA
ADVANCED LUMONICS
Wolf-Guard YL-007WM2
ORBneXt
• • • • • •
• Wi-Fi connected LED data display • Monitors outdoor temperature or UV index • Controllable via iOS or Android app, or from Web application • Supports IFTTT • Powered by a Mini-USB connection and can be used while connected to a computer or plugged into the wall with a USB wall adapter • A self-contained computer built with WiFi module and a Cortex M3 processor
Email: security@yl007.com
PSTN/3G/WIFI modes Built-in 2.0MP CMOS camera Real-time video monitor /intercom Smartphone App control Notification pushed onto App Contact ID protocol available
MAXKIN
X1 Email: sales@maxkin.com
• • • • • •
Wireless GSM alarm system, DIY installation Customized zone names Alarm management by different groups Cellular communication – text control Battery backup lasts for 18 hours Immediate alerts for low battery status • Supports iOS and Android Apps
SENSOR
Email: media@earthled.com
SK TELECOM
AirCube
Email: globalbusiness@sktelecom.com
• Portable air quality meter for indoor and outdoor uses • Measures the fine dust, CO2, temperature-humidity index • The alarm goes off when AQ reaches stage 4 and 5 • Measurements and statistical data are available on the AirCube app • Connects to the Bluetooth-enabled smartphone
DOOR RELATED
LEEO
Smart Alert Nightlight Email: support@leeo.com
• A sensor device and LED nightlight • Remote monitoring of smoke, temperature, and humidity via an iOS 7+ device • Powered directly by plugging into wall outlet • Monitors existing smoke and carbon monoxide alarms by sound recognition • Built-in light, microphone, temperature, and humidity sensors • Provides real-time audio monitoring. • LED nightlight functionality is remotely controllable / dimmable via web or Bluetooth • Hue adjustment between 16 million color choices
86 mySMAhome.com November/December 2014
DAHUA TECHNOLOGY
DH-VTH1560CS
Email: overseas@dahuatech.com
• A video doorphone with a 7-inch TFT LCD touchscreen display • Real-time video streaming at H.264 800x480 resolution and 2-way audio talkback • Communicates with remote devices via single-channel 10/100 Mbps self-adaptive Ethernet • Supports outdoor station and IPC monitoring • Capable of local storage to SD card, with video recording and picture snapshot • Free communications between indoor monitors • Supports information publishing, emergency calling and message recording
Global Brand. Local Footprint. With professional recognition and 20+ years experience, Messe Frankfurt New Era Business Media (MFNE, formerly a&s Group) is regarded as a well-known and trusted partner for the security and smart home industry. MFNE provides optimal marketing options in both global and regional markets to meet the needs of security players.
Europe Market Asia Market
Global Market
mySMAhome.com
International Security Expo
14 a&s Magazines 5 sites under asmag.com 2 pad-version magazines 4 Secutech in 5 cities 6 GDSF(global digital security forum) in 10 cities
Brand yourself with our global reach of the integrated marketing network.
STATS & FIGURE
ON YOUR SMART PHONE.
Scan the QR code or see mySMAhome.com/market for more info.
HOME AUTOMATION MARKET: 4- TO 5-FOLD INCREASE BY 2019 The home automation market will be valued at 455% of its 2012 value as of 2019. Between 2013 and 2019, the market is projected to expand at a CAGR of 24.6%.
Year 2019
wireless LED lighting devices will exist worldwide as of 2020. By the end of 2014, most major LED lighting manufacturers will provide ZigBee-based lighting solutions. Source: ON World
16.4 billion
$
Year 2012
100M
3.6 billion
$
GLOBAL SHIPMENT OF SMART THERMOSTATS: 20-FOLD GROWTH BY 2023 In North America and Europe, interest in smart thermostat technology is growing among consumers and utilities / energy retailers. Small businesses are increasingly adopting solutions intended for residential buildings as a low-cost method of managing energy use in HVAC systems.
Source: Transparency Market Research
Âź OF BROADBAND HOUSEHOLDS IN KEY EU MARKETS INTERESTED IN SMART HOME PACKAGES Willingness to consider Smart Home packages reaches approximately 25% in key European markets. 80% of broadband households in the U.K., Spain, and Germany designate security companies as their preferred provider for smart home systems.
Proportion of Interest in Smart Home Packages Among Broadband Households by Region 50% 50% 40% 40%
Worldwide Shipments of Smart Thermostats (Units Shipped) Year 926,000 2014 19.2 million Year 2023 Source: Navigant Research
EUROPEAN ENERGY MANAGEMENT MARKET TO DOUBLE IN REVENUES BY 2018 The three major forces driving this growth are the heating requirements of Northern European countries, the decreasing cost of HEMS and BEMS components, and the need to comply with stringent EU directives designed to improve energy efficiency in buildings.
HEMS/BEMS Revenues in the EU
30% 30% 20% 20% 10% 10%
Year 2013
Year 2018
1.14 billion $2.01 billion
$
34% 30% 22% 43% UK
Spain
Germany
USA
88 mySMAhome.com November/December 2014
Source: Parks Associates Source: Frost & Sullivan