Smart Home World -July 2021 | E-Magazine

INDIA'S ONLY DIGITAL MAGAZINE FOR THE SMART HOME INDUSTRY.

SMARTHOME WORLD

VOL 1 • No 3 JULY 2021

www.smarthomeworld.in

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Industry story Evolution, development and current overview of Smart Lighting Industry in India.

Adam Merlino

Vishnu Reddy

Senior Director, Asia Pacific & South Africa, Snap One, speaks on the company and its presence in Indian and global market.

CEO, Hogar Controls opens up about the global customised Smart Home industry

Ongoing Trends

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Aniruddh Bapat, Head-MEP, L&T Realty, shares his opinion on-“Are smart homes the future of the Real Estate Industry?”

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Case Studies JULY 2021

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Interior Designer Sanjyt Syngh elaborates SMARTHOME WORLD on one of his1 Smart Home Projects

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CONTENTS

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Industry Story A complete overview of the Smart Lighting Industry

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Cover Story

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Featured Interviews

An exclusive interview with Mr. Srinivas Shanbhogue, Vice President, Home and Distribution, Schneider Electric, India

Conversations with the eminent personalities, immensely contributing to the Smart Home Industry

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Trending Tech for Home Owners

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Ongoing Trends

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Case Studies

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Product Gallery

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News

About devices that transform homes into futuristic smart abodes.

Articles on the most popular Smart Home trends

Detailed illustrations of Smart Home projects

A display of the latest Smart Home devices

Latest updates on the global Smart Home industry

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FROM THE EDITOR

Smart Homes: For both the “class” & “mass”!

In this “Tech-savvy Era”, people are spoiled with options, convenience and comfort. Smart devices and even entire Smart Home setups today, are not limited to the affluentials. Budgetfriendly broadband/internet packages, availability of smart devices at pocket-friendly prices, the growing popularity of a platform like YouTube, where one is exposed to a plethora of SNEHA KANRAR SOM

ideas, techniques and all recently launched products with reviews and rapid urbanisation have immensely contributed to the development of the smart home industry in India.

Smart Lights, the most popular among the smart home devices, were initially introduced to offer the consumers an energy-efficient option and it is still thriving in the market for the same reason.

With an option of adjusting the light intensity, smart lights make sure it conserves energy to the utmost level. Today, technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) are transforming light fixtures into multifunctional interactive systems that not only communicate with their environment but also observe and understand your repetitive behaviour or action and work accordingly to offer maximum comfort with the least human intervention.

Editor: Sneha Kanrar Som sneha@smarthomeworld.in

Marketing Head: Sandeep Singh sandeep@smarthomeworld.in

Associate Editor: Adora D’mello adora@smarthomeworld.in

Assistant Manager - Sales: Monika Agnihotri monika@smarthomeworld.in

Published by: WORLD MEDIA & EXPO LLP. WORLD MEDIA & EXPO LLP

505, D-Definity, Jay Prakash Road no.1, Goregaon(East), Mumbai- 400063 | www.smarthomeworld.in

Smart Home World thanks the various companies that have submitted information. For any editorial submissions, please contact Ms. Sneha Kanrar Som, Editor, at sneha@smarthomeworld.in. The information published in News, Ongoing Trends and Product Gallery is as per the details furnished by the respective manufacturer/distributor. It does not reflect the views of Smart Home World or of the management of WORLD MEDIA & EXPO LLP.

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INDUSTRY STORY

An overview of the Smart Lighting Industry Owing to the Indian government’s initiatives like ‘Smart City Mission’, ‘Digital India’ programs, growing awareness, global exposure and availability of smart devices at pocket-friendly prices are constantly fuelling the Smart Lighting Industry

Primarily to conserve energy, Smart Lights are briskly replacing conventional lights like incandescent bulbs, CFLs, halogens etc with energy-efficient LED lights and sensors. India is one of the highly populated countries in the world and hence one of the largest electricity consumers. In the last few decades, the country has been observing an increasing gap in the demand-supply chain of electricity. As a result, regular power cuts/ shortages and blackouts are often witnessed all over the country. Eyeing the current lighting sector, which is approximately 18% of the entire nation’s electricity consumption, the government has taken purposeful initiatives to introduce more energyefficient products to the lighting industry.

This has considerably aided the lighting industry and is expected to fuel it in the near future. Smart lights not only reduce energy consumption but also offer convenience and a feel of opulence.

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INDUSTRY STORY

Industry Outline Smart bulbs use LED technology and can be remotely controlled via smartphones to switch off/on or change colours as per the user’s mood. Also, they come with motion sensors powered with artificial intelligence(AI) that makes sure your room lights are not unnecessarily on when no one is inside. “The smart lighting concept started from Residential segment but today the hospitality segment has started seeing huge advantage in terms of power-saving & ambience with regards to smart lighting”, says Arjun Shahani, Founder & COO, Svarochi.

Images: Svarochi Arjun Shahani, Founder & COO, Svarochi JULY 2021

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INDUSTRY STORY

Images: Syska

Gurumukh Uttamchandani, Executive Director, Syska “Smart LED lights help in creating an ideal type of illumination for any event or occasion.

The wide diversity of colours and applications of smart LED lights can further convert a home into a party place. It can also build an ambience that enhances productivity while working from home or creates sophisticated lighting for commercial requirements as well as offer beautiful lighting design in hospitality that can create an unforgettable experience for every guest”, says Gurumukh Uttamchandani, Executive Director, Syska.

“Smart & connected lighting has touched almost all aspects of human life. Be it for personal usage in the residential sector or for commercial usage in offices, hospitals, manufacturing plants, warehouses, hospitality sector and smart outdoors; all sectors have been adopting smart lighting technologies for improved quality of life and higher energy savings. Each of these verticals have their specific use cases of smart lighting relevant for their industry.

However, there is one aspect of lighting which is common across all segments – the “human centric lighting” or the “Biodynamic lighting” which is directly related to human well-being. There is an enhanced focus on human centric lighting intended to

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promote a person’s well-being, mood and health. It can improve concentration, safety and efficiency in workplaces or educational environments. By changing color of light and/ or intensity of light, Wipro’s inSync™ range of lighting products provide bio-dynamic light based on human circadian rhythm for increased employee concentration, cognitive performance, alertness and contribute to general well-being”, says Ramakrishna Puranam, Workplace IoT Technology Expert, Wipro Lighting.

Ramakrishna Puranam, Workplace IoT Technology Expert, Wipro Lighting.

INDUSTRY STORY

Smart lights are available in a wide price range and hence act as a budget-friendly device to start designing a smart home with.

“Today home users are looking at Simplicity, Flexibility & Ease of operation. The use cases are growing every day as home users need his house not only to look better with the right kind of lighting but also functionality with respect to lights, says Arjun.

The Inception Concerns for the well-being of “Mother Earth’’ is one of the main reasons the smart lighting industry came into existence and is still thriving. Today, energy conservation is the motto of the world.

Images: Wipro Today, in India, due to the increasing use of smartphones among all age/economic groups and the availability of pocket-friendly internet/broadband connections, even a layman is capable of setting up a smart light at home. “The Smart LED lighting segment has been gaining momentum among consumers and the adoption of smart lighting products is consistently growing in India. Owing to the accessibility of affordable data connectivity packs, there is an increased interest in the purchase of smart lighting products not only from metro cities but also from tier 2 & 3 towns. Consumers are looking for innovative products that are innovative, technology-led that add value and aesthetics to their home décor. Voice command and contactless technology are some of the most revolutionizing discoveries in the domain of AI/IoT which are also pushing the demand for smart products as they can be operated seamlessly from any place with internet access”, adds Gurumukh.

“The volatile scenario caused due to global warming as well as the added fear triggered by the pandemic has caused an alarming need to conserve natural resources and shift to sustainable products and solutions. The Indian LED lighting business is on an accelerated growth path, slowly replacing inefficient incandescent, halogen, fluorescent lights with modernized LED lights that contribute to energy conservation and can be controlled through automated technology. Environmentalfriendly features and energy-saving abilities are some of the fundamental aspects leading to the growth of the smart lighting industry. Today’s digitally-savvy consumers are warming up to the idea of smart home automation, owing to the multiple benefits and the aesthetic value it offers. A couple of years back, home automation systems were considered to be luxury products to be bought only by the affluent class. However, with the passage of time, they have become available to the wider audience base”, says Gurumukh. Besides, the constantlychanging work culture and lifestyles of the new-age urban mass have given birth to certain requirements in daily lives. Among them, convenience and the ability to control home devices have become a necessity.

“Technological advancements have given birth to numerous fascinating innovations that define the words “convenience” JULY 2021

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INDUSTRY STORY

America is considered to be one of the most conceivable markets in the lighting industry for smart lighting solutions in the world. The outbreak of COVID-19 has turned the global work culture upside down. Today, numerous companies all over the world have adopted the concept of Working-From-Home(WFH), which is beneficial for the companies, as they can cut down costs on logistics and for employees as well, as that helps them save a lot of money by eliminating the daily travelling expense. As a result of that, people are spending more time indoors which is eventually creating a necessity for convenience, energy efficiency and finesse.

This is when the demand graph started rising like never before.

Bijoy Alaylo, Vice President, Channel Sales, TP-Link, India. and “customizability”. From the past few years India has been going into a Digital Revolution. Smart Lights have gained popularity for the past couple of years in India”, says Bijoy Alaylo, Vice President, Channel Sales, TP-Link, India.

However, at the initial stage, the industry faced a setback due to the lack of standardization. But now several companies are working towards creating a common platform on which smart lighting systems of diverse brands and categories can be controlled. An initiative, IFTTT, is taken to standardize the IoT platform. Though there is a limited number of brands supporting the initiative, its capability of building a common hub for controlling multiple smart devices through a smartphone is likely to flourish the industry by creating opportunities for new entrants in the industry.

Global market scenario Valued at USD 12.72 billion in 2020, the global smart lighting industry is anticipated to reach USD 37.41 billion by 2026, registering a CAGR of approximately 20.26% over the forecast period of 2021-2026. North 12

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“The COVID-19 pandemic has made us realize the importance of safe and germfree workspaces and the environment. This has increased the popularity of germicidal lights or UV lights in a lot of commercial spaces, be it hospitals, modern workspaces, or educational institutions. UV lights are highly effective in disinfecting and sterilizing the workspaces quickly. They can damage the RNA and DNA of viruses, bacteria and other microbes to curb virus transmission.

There’s likely to be a lot more play of software, smart apps and mobile first approach with all connected devices, for example, lights, sensors etc., All the devices will be software defined”, says Ramakrishna.

Currently, energy-efficient LED technology is witnessing maximum demand globally.

“The booming interest for energy-efficient lighting, the increasing amount of smart city initiatives, and overall infrastructure advancement are accelerating the LED lighting business globally. Globally, the use of a Li-fi (Light Fidelity) network is the latest trend in the lighting market. Li-Fi is a wireless optical networking technology that uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for data transmission. 5G is yet another technology that will play a role in the growth of the smart lighting segment. The next-generation cellular 5G technology will provide further fillip to the IoT business and amplify the demand for smart lighting solutions. Several technology-led wireless and voice-controlled tools have been introduced such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Alexa, Google, etc which have paved the way for the smart lighting segment in India. These advanced technologies have simulated the surge in the demand for the smart LED sector in India”, says Gurumukh.

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INDUSTRY STORY

be one of the top growing industries within a decade”, says Bijoy.

“A decade later, most lighting will be smart, replacing the conventional lighting. It will be akin to LED lights outdoing CFL lights”, says Arjun.

Images: Svarochi Recently, the Asia-Pacific region witnessed substantial growth in the smart lighting industry. Increasing financial support by the government, scaled installation of smart lighting framework in both private and commercial sectors are immensely backing the smart light industry in the particular region. In India, Smart lights are getting accepted slowly and steadily in residential, commercial and also hospitality sectors. “However, commercial will have more demand for smart lights due to the ease of use and continuous requirement of innovation in the workspace”, says Bijoy.

According to GSMA, China might possess approximately 4.1 billion IoT connections, which is estimated to be almost one-third of the global IoT connections by 2025. In India, the initiated “Smart City Mission” for 100 cities is predicted to drive the smart light industry to a considerable extent. On the other hand, in July 2020, UK’s lighting industry trade body issued a clarion call for smart lighting to be considered as a part of a EUR 750 billion European Union pandemic recovery proposal that comprises renovating buildings across Europe. “Global markets in Europe & USA have taken the lead with respect to Smart lighting. India is still at a nascent stage but growing rapidly”, says Arjun. “The Indian market is yet to evolve in terms of smart products. Hence, the current demand can be taken as a minuscule one as compared to the actual demand which will come in the years ahead. Currently, the global market is more mature in terms of understandability. But the Indian market has great potential for future endeavours”, agrees Bijoy.

“With respect to beyond lighting solutions, Li-Fi will be the next happening thing in future workplaces. Li-Fi, being a highspeed bidirectional fully networked, wireless communication using visible light rather than radio frequencies, can offer significantly greater security, data speed and densities to support more robust and reliable wireless networks that complement and enhance existing cellular and Wi-Fi networks. Li-fi is likely to open up avenues for the Service Business model viz., LaaS: Lighting as a Service which bundles Lighting & Bandwidth.

Wipro Lighting, has partnered with pure Li-Fi - global leaders in Li-Fi technology and commercialization, to harness their LiFi technology to develop applications for the wireless communications and lighting market in Asia”, says Ramakrishnan.

“Current market for smart lights is very buoyant, despite the pandemic. With remote Work & Hybrid Work becoming the order of the day, we have exciting times ahead of us.

We are likely to witness a spurt not just in the metro cities but also in smaller towns”, he concludes.

Years Ahead “The forecasted growth is seen at around 25% YOY, which is a huge leap and within a decade we may see a lot of new advancements and it will be an everyday thing with many pocket-friendly options available. This has to 14

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Images: Syska

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COVER STORY

In conversation with Srinivas Shanbhogue, Vice President, Home and Distribution, Schneider Electric, India Smart Homes have been a default system for most of the homes in the US and Europe for quite a time. But in India, it is yet to be a part of every home. There are numerous challenges the country’s mass has been facing to completely switch to smart homes from conventional houses.

The list of challenges comprises budget, unavailability of stable internet/Wi-Fi connections, need for wireless systems that won’t require troublesome wiring and most importantly people’s vague ideas about retrofit solutions. “Understanding the challenges and aiming to develop a one-stop solution was the first step taken towards the conceptualization of a product that we launched with the name-Wiser”, says Srinivas Shanbhogue, Vice President, Home and Distribution, Schneider Electric India. “Before designing the product, we did a lot of research to understand the consumer psyche and know what exactly an individual consumer means by the term Smart Home. Schneider’s R&D centre is located in Bangalore and that is where the research was done seamlessly”, he adds.

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COVER STORY How do you think Wiser is disrupting the current smart home space?

The smart home is the trend we wanted to set for the mass and establish leadership in the industry. Each one has a different concept about smart homes and different requirements. For some, security is important and for others, entertainment or lights or any other aspect. After a lot of research, we found out that there are 4 major problems people face when it comes to getting smart homes.

• In India, people build homes once or twice a lifetime. So those who had built houses long before the concept of smart homes existed, are not sure if they can get their houses upgraded with the latest technology without doing major changes in the infrastructure and the wiring system.

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Most people in the metropolitan cities of India reside in one, two or three-bedroom apartments with families comprising retired elderly people, working couples and kids. Therefore people get sceptical about the user-friendliness of smart home systems. These are often considered complex for an elderly person or a kid to operate.

• For the Indian mass, setting up a smart home controller is a long process involving designers, integrators and timeconsuming installations.

• The Indian middle-class segment is very much budget conscious. Smart Homes setups once used to be quite expensive starting from INR 5,00,000 onwards and were targeted to a niche crowd. Hence, the mass always felt that smart homes are out of reach.

With a unique IoT technology, Wiser is efficiently solving the above problems by being wireless, reasonably priced(INR 35,000 onwards), easy-to-operate for everyone in the family and allowing devices of other brands to easily integrate with it. Also, the entire installation requires not more than 4 hours and can be done in both new and old houses. This is how I believe it is creating a disruption in the smart home industry. It is specifically designed considering the needs, requirements of the Indian mass. Wiser is a product that we can proudly claim to be “Made in India and Made for India”.

What extra value are consumers going to derive from Wiser?

Firstly, Wiser offers the convenience of monitoring and controlling all connected devices and appliances through an app on your smartphone, Alexa and Google Assistant. Schneider offers a unique security device called Skybell. It plays the role of an intelligent doorbell informing you who is outside your door. Also, you will be able to talk to the visitor and open the door through your phone. Wiser can integrate remotes of multiple devices at home to a single intelligent remote on your smartphone. Using that, you can control and monitor devices sitting at the office as well.

Due to the pandemic, a huge number of people have started working from home, which leads to 2X or 3X energy consumption.

This is when energy management started becoming a necessity.

By installing Wiser, one can keep a track of which all electrical devices are on and need to be switched off. You will get a notification message on your smartphone informing you that maybe your geyser is on for more than 2 hours. Then you can switch it off through the phone only. With an in-built AI, it also gives a real-time status of energy consumption. Keeping in mind

the unstable internet/Wi-Fi connections, Wiser is developed using a mesh network technology so that network is available to operate devices fitted in any corner of a house.

What according to you is going to be the future of the Indian Smart home industry?

Covid-19 has helped this industry very much.

Like in the western countries, Smart homes will soon become a default setup for homes in India as well. Earlier, it used to be a luxury but will become a necessity in 5 years down the line.

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INTERVIEW

Ar. Sourabh Gupta elaborates on Smart Homes and their major benefits on the new-age nuclear families.

Smart home technology changes the way people interact with a space. Today, technology means convenience, interactivity and ease of accomplishing tasks.

These factors are interlaced with the spaces with help of smart innovations which further enhance the comfort of home.

“These technologies allow users to control all devices like refrigerator, air conditioners with just a smartphone. Such user-friendly features embedded in homes increase efficiency, security and sustainability”, says Ar. Sourabh Gupta, Principal Architect and Managing Director, Studio Archohm, Noida.

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INTERVIEW

Who(consumer-groups) are opting for smart homes the most?

Nowadays, people with nuclear families which have two or more working professionals prefer to opt for smart homes. With the help of voice assistant technology and remote-control access to all devices, users become empowered to perform their tasks as a faster pace with more accuracy and efficiency.

The sensory and adaptive nature of these smart systems allows users to personalise the devices to their own needs numerous times with ease.

What according to you are the must-have smart home products in today’s contemporary homes?

The market houses a wide range of products today, but with more intelligent smart systems equipped with machine learning and Internet of things, people look forward to buying more personalized devices.

Smart home devices by Google Nest

such as voice assistant speakers, intelligent thermostats, protection and security systems are providing an interconnected system of selflearning devices. These devices not only enable users to control smart technologies remotely but also adapt to their routine and behaviors and increase convenience.

What role does system integrators play when it comes to designing a smart home?

How important is their role?

The system integrators play an important role in identifying the suitable technologies for interior architectural spaces and creating an interconnected system of smart home devices. Users can buy and install these technologies on their own in space themselves but they lack potential knowledge on the collaborative potential they offer.

The system integrators also help customers in finding more economic deals which enable them to integrate more smart devices in their homes.

Products of which category (lighting, security, entertainment etc.) witness maximum demand when it comes to integrating smart home devices while doing the interiors? Why? A decade ago, people did not have access to technology which remotely enabled them to protect their own houses and ensure the safety of their loved ones. Today, with the help of smart sensors, cameras, doorbells, fire extinguishers and many more smart systems, people have the capability to equip their homes with best security and ensure the well being of their families without their presence. This capability of smart systems has not only gained huge popularity but also increased the demand for such systems.

What according to you are the major benefits of Smart & connected homes in the current “tech-savvy-era”?

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INTERVIEW

Convenience is a major reason for the purchase of smart home devices today. The users have the capability to control their heating and cooling systems, multimedia devices and lights through a cell phone. All these smart home technologies enable users to streamline their common tasks. One of the major benefits of smart systems is their efficient universal design which improves accessibility of elderly and differently abled people. The voice command assistant provides them an opportunity to have control over all home systems and perform tasks like controlling lights, lock doors, operate a phone or a computer. The smart home also enables the users to schedule tasks beforehand which will automatically be executed such as watering the lawns. This reduces the need for users to do labor-intensive tasks. Such products also ensure a control over energy consumption which aid in saving water, fuel and electricity.

How would you define the current demand for smart home integrations?

Recently, there is an unprecedented demand for smart home systems.

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by factors such as improved lifestyle and enhanced awareness about these automated systems. With the growth and development of the industry, more economic and efficient solutions are available in the market. The new technologies such as Internet of Things and Machine Learning are further transforming the smart home products for the future generation.

Which sector (hospitality, commercial, residential) according to should be inclining more towards Smart Technologies? And why?

Even though the smart home systems enhance comfort and efficiency, the users still remain apprehensive of the security and privacy threats it poses. Therefore, the utilization of these automated systems in the commercial industry can influence a positive change in opinions. The commercial sector attracts all economic groups and allows people to experience the technology first-hand without any personal threat. Technology as a sixth sense provides the designer with the capability to augment the experience of space with digital

tools. Hence such commercial experiences can help users develop an emotional response and trust towards smart home technologies.

Its presence and accessibility will influence more people to change their perception and adopt these solutions in their homes.

In what ways do you think the concept of smart homes has contributed to the lifestyles of the working professionals?

With the increase in small families which consist of both husband and wife working and their homes being locked for a substantial period of time, it becomes very important to install security and smart devices.

Smart devices also ensure safety and ease of accomplishing daily tasks for independent individuals who live alone. The need to install smart home systems has become a necessity rather than a luxury for them. Such systems provide the working professionals a greater flexibility in life.

How do you foresee the Smart home industry 5 years down the line?

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INTERVIEW As the world transitions into the new age where the lines between the physical and digital become indistinctive, interior design re-shapes as an active participant in people’s lives due to smart home technologies.

With the addition of technology as a tool of innovation in the internal architectural realm, factors such as responsiveness and adaptiveness are added to the program of the space. This transformation is influencing a change in lifestyle and experience hence creating a huge need for the growth of the smart home industry.

Would you like to share with us any of your interesting projects where you have integrated smart home products/ solutions? Kindly share images of the project as well.

In one of our recently completed projects, Terracotta Villa, architecture relies heavily on technology in order to make it work efficiently and safe. The Terracotta Villas employ technology in various forms from interconnectivity of objects and fixtures to automation via gestures and so on.

All mindful choices that enhance the architectural experience of the space and don’t overwhelm it.

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INTERVIEW

Vinay Shetty – Regional Director, Components Business – India and South Asia, ASUS speaks on the Wi-Fi 6 revolution Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) is the latest standard in wireless technology (earlier Wi-Fi 5 802.11ac), it has 4 times the speed of Wi-Fi 5 and better network performance and lower latency than its previous technology 802.11ac. “This means close to 30-50 percent faster data exchange between devices without slowing down the overall network. Asus has a wide spectrum of Wifi-6 product offerings ranging from wireless Routers, PCE cards and USB Adapters that cater to a varied range of consumer requirements and needs”, says Vinay Shetty – ASUS Regional Director, Components Business – India and South Asia.

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INTERVIEW

How does Wi-Fi 6 ensure users receive a reliable, secure, and interoperable experience with Wi-Fi 6 devices?

Wifi-6 has 4x speed of its predecessor Wi-Fi-5, 10X the number of device connectivity capability, +3DB coverage capacity with higher throughput speeds along with its power saving features ensures of a secure reliable experience for the end user. It is also backward compatible for nonWi-Fi 6 devices with the highest industry standard of security and interoperability.

Smart home devices are so integral to everyday life that customers demand reliable Wi-Fi that covers the entirety of their house. How do you think Wi-Fi 6 will provide a betterconnected home experience?

It is projected that we will have over 30 million devices connected globally by 2025. Those include Smart homes, wearables, appliances and devices and also vehicles. Like I mentioned earlier the data exchange between so many devices would need to be much higher and Wi-Fi -6 is equipped to handle that. In addition to the above mentioned Wi-Fi-6 advantages, features like MU-MIMO (low latency) helps to provide strong and seamless signal strength ensuring devices can share data quickly and more reliably.

As India is ready to get 5 G soon, do you think it will give a competition to Wi-Fi 6?

which in layman terms means that Wi-Fi can be distributed equally to multiple users simultaneously without down slowing the network.

We are one of the first brands to embrace Wi-Fi 6 across all product categories. With our proprietary AI Mesh feature across independent and dedicated mesh routers the user can experience faster speeds, increased networking flexibility, and more importantly, a greater connection range. The existing line-up, meanwhile, sees the highperforming RT-AX88U leading the charge. We then have the ROG GTAX11000, ASUS RT-AX58U and ASUS ZenWi-Fi AX model of dedicated mesh routers. We added a bit of flare keeping gamers and PC enthusiasts in mind with the world’s first RGB AX router with the RT AX82U

I would not say 5G is directly competing with WiFi-6, both are complimentary wireless and cellular technologies. One won’t negate the need for the other and vice versa. 5G offers a tremendous boost in performance and speed but the limitation is range vs a wired Wi-Fi 6 connection. Service providers can offer consumers an alternative choice by bringing wireless broadband through 5G connectivity to their homes. In this space, 5G may compete with cable or fibre net offerings.

How is Asus contributing to the Wi-Fi 6 revolution? Give us a glimpse of WiFi 6 products from Asus.

All our Wi-Fi- 6 products are Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 6™ by the Wi-Fi Alliance®, passing a series of strict Wi-Fi 6 capability tests for features such as WPA3 and OFDMA-related transmission.

Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access

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INTERVIEW

In conversation with Interior Designers Sachin Gupta & Neha Gupta

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INTERVIEW

Smartphones have brought the whole world to the tip of our fingers. There is no end to the ways in which we can use them to make our life easy, and save time for indulging in things that we like to do. A similar theory applies to the Smart Homes concept. People understand how smart homes take away the boredom involved in doing certain routine chores. Moreover, they help one achieve a task on time, as well as save time. You can switch on the AC to cool the home before you reach, or heat water for a bath, that too to the right temperature you’re used to while being away from home. “Such conveniences are a blessing in a fast-paced urban life. Plus, Smart Homes offer sound security through video doorbells or alarm systems that alert homeowners to any unwanted activity around the house, or break-ins. All these functions and comforts bring a lot of peace of mind”, says Sachin Gupta & Neha Gupta - Founders & Interior Designers, Beyond Designs.

Which segment of the society do you think is inclining more towards smart home solutions?

Why? Professionals, working couples and even children, who have grown up in a connected world, today want smart solutions to everyday living.

Nobody wants to do the mundane tasks like getting up to switch on light/fan / AC, or play music, adjust the surround sound and ambience lighting, or even open and close the curtains, etc. They want to be able to do this using a remote.

What role does system integrators play when it comes to designing a smart home?

System integrators need to work closely with interior designers so that the smart home facilities are incorporated in an aesthetic and seamless manner.

What according to you are the major benefits of smart & connected homes in the current “tech-savvy-era”?

One major benefit is that even when you’re away from home, you can know what’s happening around it. You can be relaxed knowing that your home is safe and secure, and when you get back home, you don’t have to start doing menial chores.

You know that a lot can be achieved by just pressing a few buttons.

In what ways do you think the concept of smart homes has contributed to the lifestyles of working professionals?

help you save valuable resources like electricity and water. You can switch off the power and water supply efficiently. Sensory switches can detect human presence in a room and switch on and off, accordingly. You can set the geyser for heating and you can time the duration as well; no question of forgetting to switch off fans, ACs, geysers, etc, before leaving home.

With smart tech, you can turn off usage from the remote. All these factors make smart homes very sustainable.

Smart home concepts have obviously made life simpler and seamless for working professionals.

A lot of work gets done by just using a remote / phone/tab. This is just what they always wanted. To let technology do all the boring work.

Which sector(hospitality, commercial, residential) according to you should be inclining more towards Smart Technologies? And why?

Do you think smart homes are environmentally friendly? Can you please elaborate on the relationship of smart homes with sustainability?

Smart homes are definitely environment friendly, as they

All of these sectors have their own specific need for smart technology, so they all must make use of it. For example, all the above sectors use natural resources. Smart technology can help them save on the cost of using resources, as well as the resources themselves, which makes the industries sustainable.

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INTERVIEW

In conversation with Adam Merlino, Senior Director, Asia Pacific & South Africa, Snap One. “2020 was an interesting year, the world had to adapt to new and unprecedented challenges. The second half of 2020 was good for the industry, we have seen that momentum continues into 2021”, states Adam Merlino, Senior Director, Asia Pacific & South Africa, Snap One.

What are the challenges the company faces while operating in India? What suggestions would you give to improve the scenario?

Challenges we see across the globe are new entrants in the IoT sector posing as Smart Home platforms. There are many new entrants (especially in lighting) which over promise and under deliver.

To improve things integrators must utilise due diligence when selecting products and vendors utilised to implement their ultimate customerfacing solution

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INTERVIEW

As per reports in Media, Snap One files for an IPO to list on Nasdaq, how do you think it will help Snap one in future?

Currently, we can’t go into too much detail on this point. However, would like to mention that our plan is to continue proceeding. It will enable us to further invest in our solution offerings to deliver products and platforms which will help our

partners to be more productive, efficient and deliver end-users more value and satisfaction with their smart home.

What sets Snap One apart from other smart home solutions providers?

Snap One is a one-stop shop for integrators to deliver a smart home

experience for consumers, our only route to market is via certified and trained professional integrators. Our two platforms Smart Home OS and OvrC deliver the tools required by our partners and end overall the unified end-user experience to provide the simplicity expected of a smart home.

Smart home OS directly supports/ integrates over 14,000+ devices and our manufacturer program “Connects with Control4” has over 2500 members with embedded technology to directly integrate with Control4.

What benefits do the Control4 dealers get across the globe? a. Follow the sun support b. Exclusive offerings

product/solution

c. Direct line of communication for product recommendations and enhancements

How would you describe the current global demand for Custom installed smart home solutions? What according to you is the major push factor?

Strong overall, the global pandemic

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INTERVIEW

has seen many people invest in their existing homes. Also, the smart home is now becoming a reality and expected in new builds.

Can you please elaborate on who do you think to influence the smart home business more, System Integrators or Architects/Int Designers?

What according to you, the word “sustainability” signifies? How does smart home technology vouch for a sustainable lifestyle?

Architects and designers play a big role, however, this varies across the globe. System integrators build relationships with homeowners, architects and designers. Specifiers also play a key part in technology direction utilised within homes, multi-res and communities.

Sustainability refers to the responsible use of resources. Smart homes can monitor energy usage.

However, ultimately it is up to the homeowner to make lifestyle decisions with that information.

What is the strategy that Snap One follows to build and successfully maintain the company’s market presence worldwide?

By providing the exclusive products and solutions required by our partners to deliver, we manage and maintain smart homes.

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According to you, which category of smart installations falls under “Smart Home Essentials”? And why? a. Network is the foundation and core building block of a smart home or a loosely coupled IoT home. b.

Lighting is infrastructure. c. Security brings peace of mind.

the

Core

homeowner

d. Comfort and control over high energy consumption devices. e. Entertainment is something we all love! f. Smart Home OS unifies the technology in the homemaking devices aware of each other and their state. Also, Smart Home OS provides an exceptional “easy to use” experience for homeowners.

Would you like to give us a glimpse of any of the ventures the company is soon going to undertake for the Indian market?

Continued offerings

product

and

solution

INTERVIEW

“The world has never been this flat” - says Vishnu Reddy, CEO, Hogar Controls, describing the Global customized Smart Home industry Earlier, it appeared as if only the wealthy would be able to afford smart homes. But rising income levels have narrowed the gap between the wealthy and the urban middle class. These are the economic factors. But the unseen factor according to me is that we are dealing with an expression generation. The generation also has instant access to design schools like Instagram and Pinterest. The overall aesthetic sense has improved hence. People want to personalize their spaces and make a statement now.

“Conversations about smart homes have been happening for the last decade. I think we are now at the tipping point. For any tech to go past the tipping point, there are two essential milestones – simplicity and impact. Smart voice assistants like Google Home and Alexa have made operations simple. Brilliant innovations in the smart lighting industry and energy savings have created an impact. With this ecosystem in place, smart homes are ready to take off”, states Vishnu Reddy, CEO, Hogar Controls.

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INTERVIEW

Would you like to explain the evolution of the concept of Smart Homes from its inception?

It was all bits and pieces to start with. But as IoT started taking shape and innovators figured that devices could talk with each other, I think the floodgates opened. As a race, we always figured a way for someone else to do our heavy lifting.

We employed horses then. We are delegating it to the machines now.

The intent remains the same. The execution has taken wings, that’s all.

“The Smart Home industry has come a long way.” What are the challenges the industry faced during the journey?

We had our roots in the fully wired models to start with. When we went wireless is when the challenges started. We had to make a choice on the wireless protocols. We had to make sure the chosen protocol would be secure. We had to figure out how to keep the network stable. While fixing all that, we had to make it easily accessible for the end consumers. It also helped that innovations started happening across the spectrum and helped the

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industry evolve into the robust and secure network that it is today.

What is the global market scenario of customized Smart Home solutions?

The world has never been this flat.

Distances have disappeared. What’s possible in Wisconsin is also possible in Vijayawada. Everyone across the world takes pride in unleashing their individuality. The endless customizations are helping them express their individualities in unique ways. Until now the expression was limited to permanent or semipermanent outlets like wall paints, wallpapers, pieces of art, etc. In smart homes, you can toy with your expressions, based on your mood at that point in time. To enable that, we offer everything from color options in devices to customizable UI on mobile apps. We are living in the future.

How does Hogar stand apart in the industry? What are its USPs? We realized that there would be as many retrofit homes as there will be greenfield projects. If not more.

So we made smart homes easier to build. All our products are one hundred percent retrofitted. We are completely wireless and the homes need no physical changes. You should look at our Cerebro series.

It’s the smallest in size but the most powerful among its peers. Our Prima touch panel range is designed to seamlessly blend into the ambiance.

They look super premium too. Hogar offers 360-degree automation solutions in Smart Lighting, Smart Security and Access, Smart Curtains, and Smart Sensors.

What are the recent initiatives taken by Hogar? What were the basic ideas behind the initiation?

We are fully focused on Z-wavebased ecosystems with our premium products and solutions. To recruit the early adopters, we have our Hogar Smart Extension series. With this, young urban adults can smartify their personal spaces. In the next few months, we are also bolstering our distribution, installation, and service network. To grow, we realize the ecosystem needs to be fully ready.

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www.hogarcontrols.com | info@hogarcontrols.com | +91 844 844 0789

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INTERVIEW

“Smart Homes Solutions are environmentally friendly”- Can you share your opinion on the same?

Environment friendly seems to be every industry’s buzzword. Smart homes walk the talk. The users have total control of their home’s energy consumption. We have built multiple mechanisms to prevent power wastage in our solutions.

This ensures that every watt sweats it out. This is the hardworking side of a smart home. In absence of widespread clean energy, this is the next best way to save our planet.

Which among the smart home solutions(light, security, entertainment) witness maximum demand in the Indian market? Why? Lighting and security have always been the heroes in India. For the last 18 months, since COVID, we are slowly seeing a shift to home entertainment too. We have never stayed home as much as we have in the last few months. Everyone wants their entertainment. I think this will be mainstream in the coming 6-12 months.

Which sector (residential, commercial, or hospitality) do you think needs automation or smart solutions the most?

Why? Though each will flourish, we are betting on smart homes the most.

As it is, the lines between home and offices have started blurring. With

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people spending long periods of time at their homes, we think they will go the extra mile to make sure their homes provide all the comforts.

In almost all Indian offices, office help is always round the corner.

People are used to asking for things.

Now that the action has shifted homewards, they need a substitute for those peons. Smart Home won’t be able to serve you coffee but can help with plenty of other things.

Where do you foresee the growth of the industry 5-8 years down the line?

Worldwide all the major cities are struggling to cope with the number of people flowing into them. Governments are aware of this and have been taking steps to decentralize this growth by allotting new industries / SEZs to smaller towns. This will also mean that infrastructure, residential and commercial buildings will follow suit. New spaces mean up-to-date spaces. Up-to-date with the best in the world. I think that’s where the growth is going to come from. The industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 11.08% until FY 2027. I think we are firmly on our way.

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SPOTLIGHT

Devices That Transform Homes Into Futuristic Smart Abodes

Technology continues to invade every space in the home, connecting all the appliances in our lives. Our devices can now communicate amongst each other, and stay in touch with us, while we are away from home.

As the era of the Internet of Things (IoT)descends upon us, more and more interior designers and realestate developers are embracing smart home trends, and even making provisions for such appliances in newer constructions.

We can thank the Internet Age, for not just our computers and smartphones, but now include everything in our homes from speakers, lights, doorbells, security cameras, windows curtains, blinds, home theatre appliances, and an ever-growing list of more. The allencompassing feature of such connecting devices changes our everyday home lives into smarthome living, by activating various processes with a few clicks of our fingers.

Automating the ability to control items around the house—from window shades to lights —with a simple tap (or a voice command) sounds like something out of a dream. While some plug-and-play devices, an example of setting up a led bulb to change colours at our whims, are simple and user-friendly.

Others, like security cameras or home theatre systems, require more serious analysis and consultation.

Here’s are some intelligent additions to any house, apartment, or building complex.

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Sony - Dolby Digital Soundbar[HT-RT3 5.1 ] This Sound Bar from Sony possesses all the necessary features to provide the user with an unmatched audio experience. In comparison to other brands in this price range, the 5.1 channel Dolby Digital gives the user an immersive experience.With its massive 600 Watts sound output, owners can experience a cinema in their homes. It comes with rear speakers as well as an external subwoofer that works with a 3 channel soundbar to deliver perfect cinematic surround sound. The S-Master digital amplifier ensures every sound is in perfect sync every time.

It also comes with USB ports along with an optical input for easy

SPOTLIGHT

connection to USB devices & DVD or Blu-Ray players that provide optical output.

At a size of 47mm X 145mm, it can be wall-mounted and users have a choice of 2 finishes (pure & silver) that can match all decors. Having a

Somfy- Remote TELIS 16 RTS PURE

frequency of 433.42MHz and a 200m range(open area), which reduces to 20m through two concrete walls.

This easy-to-use, centralized remote, assist the user to manage all house applications. With the presence of 16 channels, the user can name and assign icons to each group of applications. Telis 16 RTS proposes a large screen detailing all information for each application.

It can close all motorized applications with a single click. The ‘MY’ button, memorizes the often used position/ functions of any product and allows the user to find it instantly by pressing the button. Making the choices for all appliances simple to program and easy to modify.

a package. Over all designed to give consumers a better way of looking out the front door than ever before.

Ring -Video Doorbell Pro 2 Proving that video doorbells help view the world differently, the Video Doorbell Pro 2 comes with a silver faceplate (called Satin Nickel), with are 16 other colour options.

The Pro 2 has a rectangular design, with a camera at the top and a lighted button below. Its camera has a square aspect ratio along with a 150-degree field of view both vertically and horizontally. The vertical FOV is the most critical one; meaning users can see much closer to the foot of their door. Some practical features include 3D Motion detection that uses radar, to detect any movement( up to 30 feet away).

While the Bird’s Eye View feature, overlays an overhead map of the property, and when the camera detects an individual, it displays a track of where that individual has been.

Another interesting feature is a Pre-roll video, its camera records a 4-second loop, and when any motion is detected, it tacks those four seconds to the front of that event assuring a clear image with every time.

The Ring- Video Doorbell Pro 2 works with the Neighbours apps, allowing owners to see other incidents in the area. Owners can also use Alexa Greetings using Amazon’s voice assistant to either take a message or tell a delivery person where to leave

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ONGOING TRENDS

Intelligent Home Security Systems Benefitting the new-age working professionals by offering centralized control over the home security devices while away from home!

The smart home security industry is flourishing at a lightning speed with the advancement of technology and innovation taking place in different corners of the world, almost every day.

There was a time when leaving home for work every morning meant a lot of inevitable chores that needed to be completed to ensure utmost security for the house and the loved ones in there. But today, due to the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its integration with home security devices, life has become easier.

Smart home security systems with in-built AI make sure that you get all updates about anything unusual happening in or around your house. In other words, these offer complete surveillance and control over your house.

Intelligent home security devices come with real-time video/camera monitoring and motion sensing attributes. If any unusual movement takes place in front of the camera, the motion sensor captures it and immediately sends a

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notification to the user’s smartphone or any other paired device making him/her aware of the recent activity at home. Today, manufacturers are coming up with sensors that can differentiate between an intruder exploring your house and your pet freely moving inside your premises.

Wireless theft protection sensors are designed to alert you when someone attempts to move any valuable belongings attached to those.

Besides, intrusion alarm systems are also gaining tremendous popularity among the working professionals who have to leave homes locked for more than ten hours a day. Ideal for basements, bathrooms and kitchens, environmental sensors detect floods, leaks and extreme temperatures to avert fatal accidents. For those who have to leave behind their aged family members for the entire day alone at home, an emergency button is mandatory. By pressing the button, one can send signals to the central station to call the police or hospital when the alarm is triggered.

ONGOING TRENDS

• Smart Home apps are available that helps you to authenticate a visitor(delivery boys, postman etc) and approve their entry. This is beneficial for those staying in apartments or gated residential societies. Where CCTVs can merely capture the image of a visitor, the app with an approval-based feature can reduce crimes to a great extent.

•

The reasons why Intelligent home security systems are gaining huge popularity are: •

Intelligent home security devices require the least human intervention. One doesn’t need to have the technical expertise to use or handle these devices as they are designed to be circumspect on your behalf. Therefore, all the operations go smooth and steady.

• These systems cut down your expenses as well. Hiring a trained, efficient and trustworthy security guard is a costly affair these days.

You will have to bear a recurring expense of paying his salary every month but can’t have complete control over how earnestly he is doing his job. On the other hand, if you set up an intelligent security system, you will only have to make a one-time payment of the installation charges. Also, you can stay worry-free about the accuracy with which these devices secure a house. Besides, even a layman can be taught or trained to operate these devices.

Features like attendance reports and digital tracking empower a user with all the data required to create the home premises safer.

• One of the recent innovations, SpotCams, can record in full HD and offer a facility of continuous recording and saving on the cloud. The concept of cloud-based connected technology provides unparalleled access to the home security system irrespective of the location you are in. These devices can be controlled through Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Nest and more.

Cloud AI can easily get processed remotely, whereas, edge AI takes place on the hardware.

The gap between cybersecurity and physical security is bridged by the edge AI’s real-time analysis, lack of latency issues, encryption and storage of biometric information. The AI technology performs tasks like unlocking a smartphone using facial recognition. However, to do edge computing and run all algorithms, one requires a zealous server.

Making security a cohesive part of a smart home, AI brings in a higher level of user-friendliness. The concept of intelligent home security systems has slowly shifted from a futuristic idea to a new-age status symbol.

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ONGOING TRENDS

Are Smart Homes the future of the real estate industry?

Smart Home industry growing globally by leaps and bounds over the years.

The real estate industry has undergone several metamorphic evolutions with rapid technological advancements. We are currently living in a generation where traditional homes are briskly getting transformed into smart homes, equipped with IoT technology. Such homes feature interconnected devices and offer ultimate comfort, convenience and security by enabling the users to remotely monitor and control every aspect of the house, ranging from lighting, temperature control, entertainment to security.

“A smart home comprises various features and

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technologies that are interconnected by the Internet of Things (IoT). On the other hand, home automation is an enabler for a smart home. It is like having a manager for your interactive devices. The devices in such a home are ‘smart’, in the sense that they use microprocessors, sensors and software that run autonomously and are capable of performing multiple actions. In a smart home, all interconnected devices communicate with each other. It can communicate with you, irrespective of whether you are inside the house or outside”, says Aniruddh Bapat, Head-MEP, L&T Realty.

ONGOING TRENDS

Current Scenario The work culture in metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi is drastically turning hectic and dynamic like never before.

With a changing work-life, people are slowly altering their personal lives accordingly. Today,

people have hardly any time for mundane housechores like switching off the lights and fans before leaving the house, turning on the home theatre system, pulling curtains every morning to allow the first morning-ray of the sun to touch your skin, switching on/off the washing machine, struggling with a huge mop to make the floor spotless and many more. Eyeing the current demand for smart homes among the new-age home buyers, numerous renowned real estate developers are investing in smart home automation to enhance their offerings and seize a perch in this competitive market. The prevailing automation trend is the main push factor for the integration of technology in the real estate domain. Artificial intelligence(AI), Augmented Reality(AR), Virtual Reality(VR), Voice assistants like Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri and Smart meters are promptly making their way to the homes of the working millennials. With cutting edge technology like IoT, curtains, windows, door locks, touch switches, video doorbells, air conditioners and even garages have become automated and remotely controllable with connected smartphones or other similar devices.

Today, many home controllers come with builtin monitoring systems through which one can calculate and record the usage of all connected devices. . “Increased awareness for efficient energy usage, rise in electricity prices, water scarcity, increase in safety and security concerns and technological advancements leading to cost competitiveness bringing affordability are the key drivers of smart home market growth”, he adds. .

Real estate developers are inclining more towards building smart apartments/homes with an aim of making the lives of the buyers/dwellers easier, more comfortable and palatial. These apartments comprise features like programmable thermostats, leak detectors in the bathroom or kitchen faucets, automated curtains, smart door locks, video doorbells and integrated touch switches. All of these can be interconnected through a smart home hub and seamlessly operated and controlled via specific apps on a paired smartphone. Besides, the concept of smart buildings is also getting viral speedily. Redefining the trend and certain fundamentals, numerous giant builders are integrating smart buildings with components like energy and technology.

Aniruddh Bapat, Head-MEP, L&T Realty.

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ONGOING TRENDS

The way forward: • Due to the integration of technology with the construction industry, an accurate and substantial amount of data will be available.

The data will enable the stakeholders to better understand the property and its surroundings. Also, with the help of technology, site selection, planning and execution can be done seamlessly. Smart buildings that offer the facility of tracking and managing energy, environment, security are expected to witness huge demand in the near future. Smart apartments/houses are beneficial even for those property owners who want to monetize them by renting out.

This is because houses with such attractive features will fetch an extra premium due to the sophistication it adds and the low operating/maintaining cost it incurs.

• Though smart homes are opted by the millennials but are easily accessible by the notso-technologically-sound elderly members of the family. The only thing they have to do is give voice commands and the devices will obey the orders and function accordingly.

Therefore, the concept is anticipated to get accepted more widely in the coming years.

• “To begin with, we just need to focus on smart energy and smart water usage in every home, every complex, every building to save wasteful uses as this will give us an edge in reducing global warming and support India’s cause for UNDP’s Sustainable Development Goals” says Aniruddh.

The world is briskly stepping towards a more environmentally friendly approach to every aspect of life. Smart Homes are extremely energy efficient and sustainable as they encompass automatic lighting setups with motion sensors that automatically switch off the lights, the moment

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you walk out of the room. This substantially saves electricity as your forgetfulness can no more be the reason your room lights are unnecessarily on.

Conclusion “Smart homes have moved beyond a luxury to convenience. Leading Real estate developers are increasingly providing buyers value-added smart homes which are scalable and can make our lives far more convenient, while also allowing us to save our depleting natural resources. In the larger context, smart homes/automated homes are helping homeowners to fight some of the challenges of today, Not only can these homes provide a greater sense of safety, security and wellness but also contribute towards overall efficiency. The last benefit is especially significant, given that our planet is in dire need of technologies that can help us to reduce our carbon footprint and minimize wastage. So we can say beyond any doubt that smart homes are going to dominate the real estate in India in near future. This demand is also accelerated further due to the current pandemic scenario leading to Work from Home practices adopted by almost all the companies in areas of their operations wherever possible”, concludes Aniruddh.

CASE STUDY

One-Bedroom Suite In A Luxury Penthouse By: Interior Designer Sanjyt Syngh

A 3000 square feet private wing of an 18000sq. ft. sea-facing penthouse spread over 3 floors is located on the 12th floor of a high rise in Pali Hill, Mumbai.

Client’s Vision:

Initial Analysis:

The young couple desired a clean and crisp, yet bold and masculine room, with accents of orange. They needed a Bedroom Suite with His and Her closet space, enough to accommodate their love of clothes.

“There’s no mincing the style, it’s deliciously masculine with a refined sensibility. Not gruff, but sexy. The modern sexy man cave, no?” said Interior designer Sanjyt Syngh.

Although based in New Delhi,

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CASE STUDY

his approach to design is global, intending to create spaces that have an appealing identity to their inhabitants. By sticking strictly to the brief, they delivered a strong, bold space. One basic idea was to keep the space flowing by using similar materials throughout. The reflective surfaces used only further enhance the grandeur.

The entire bathroom is the same stone. From the floor to the counter to the walls. And amidst that, they have used gigantic mirrors to enhance the experience. It’s the same for the walk-in wardrobe. Even the doors are high gloss black so as you transition from one space to the other you already get glimpses of the room ahead.

“Designing this home was a complete delight. My general philosophy is that spaces need to be curated. Design should enhance your space. It should talk to you, it should work for you. I always try to put the inhabitants who own the space in the environment and think about how they would feel. Space should not feel boring.” elaborated Mr. Sanjyt Syngh. They have tried to maximize the view from every angle possible. To avoid any obstruction, they used mechanisms, like where

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CASE STUDY

the television disappears into the ceiling and when not in use is out of sight.

Automations integrated The lighting is designed in layers and keeping the natural light in mind. With a high-tech automation system in place, different moods have been programmed for different times of the day. Sensors are used to turn on the lights as the client enters the room. A meticulous design and a clever orchestration of lights transform this space into a harmonious and functional environment that is also a fabulous visual treat. And the automation of all mundane tasks such as switching on and off of lights, operation of curtains adds to the luxury.

Motorized curtain panels allow for an open or close curtain setting with a touch of a button. Also, the drapery is layered with sheer and blackout to cut light when desired.

The suite is also fitted with energysaving automated cooling systems integrated with HVAC, as well as fire sprinkler systems, making it a smart space that enhances luxury.

The Eventual Outcome – They had to tear down the entire space, before starting with a blank canvas. Taking advantage of the location of the building, such that there is a view of the sea from most sides. They allowed in natural light and kept the space open on all three sides. Taking about 9 months from conceptualization to execution.

Always finding inspiration in the surroundings and the client each project is a story on its own. Interior designer Sanjyt Syngh believes that it is his job to write the story based on a client brief that’s expressed through different mediums. While some designers often shy away from dark colours, claiming that they make space look smaller, Mr. Sanjyt JULY 2021

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CASE STUDY

Syngh dares to actualize this dark space, solely designed to create the feeling of volume, with the use of the right elements. Besides the layout, they envisioned the use of colour in certain proportions. With dark colour the tendency to get carried away was overcome to create a truly balanced color palette.

“I’m excited about every project of mine. The reason being I never repeat design. So it’s always a new baby. The fact that every project is so distinct, it gives the client and me this sense of pride that it’s one of a kind”, says Mr. Sanjyt Syngh.

Final Take Away: Two of the designer’s favorite light pieces are an exquisite pendant light by Edward Van Vliet and the other is a Kevin Reilly light fixture in the dressing, both sourced from HIGHLIGHT, New Delhi. Everything from the furniture to the carpentry to the wardrobe to the rugs / soft furnishings is a bespoke mix of places from Europe to India.

Interior Designer Sanjyt Syngh

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CASE STUDY

Ar. Prateek’s Smart Home The French Connection Residence By: Ar. Rudraksh Charan & Ar. Priyanka Khanna 42MM ARCHITECTURE

In this French-inspired home, the spectator is spellbound right at the entrance by a regal wrought iron door with motifs finished in gold leaves.

The use of gold was intrinsic to the design as it preserves the shine and adds timelessness to it.

On entering the home one walks into a light-filled gallery, this gracious entrance hall extends to a central foyer which is essentially the heart of the house. The common zones are embellished with elements, carefully crafted & curated to create a unique ethos of the space. Every bedroom is JULY 2021

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CASE STUDY

A timeless translation of luxury nurtures the solace of this 20000sqft household.

designed to embody an individual’s lifestyle and choices without deviating from the classical design lines.

The house possesses a unique and trendy character, enhanced by polished marble floors, decorative ceilings, and ornately carved furniture. The exquisite use of stone, mouldings, and carvings offers the occupants an experience of living in palatial luxury combined with the comforts of home.

The Client’s Vision: The client is well-travelled and accustomed to various luxuries around the globe. His vision for his house was to create a space that blends the line between sophisticated luxury living and the liberating nature of being home. Mr. Prateek is passionate about procuring statement pieces of furniture, lights, or gadgets that make any space unique and amplifies a representation of oneself.

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CASE STUDY

The classical French style was the perfect take as it returns to tradition and comfort yet does not compromise on style and glamour. Every space allows for a picturesque frame that captivates the beholder’s eyes. The client’s multivalent excursions nurtured his urge to own a house that defines luxury without compromising on the warmth & coziness in a home.

This manor holds many world-inspired architectural elements and elegant design details to create a rich and formal look.

The Scope of Work: 42MM approached this project by first developing the style for the project. The design process was to create a reflection of the end-user. An aspiration to understand, interpret and reflect the client’s personality into the built form is what embeds meaning to any house. Once the volume is formulated to complement the client’s lifestyle while enhancing the overall living experience, the indepth detailing of each space begins.

The design emphasis lies highly on spatial arrangement/ planning. Here the crafting of every encounter between the individual and the built form is created. An overall story reflects within the experiences designed on the walls, ceiling, and flooring.

Automations Integrated: This elegant French mansion is brought into the 21st century with the use of various automation throughout the dwelling. The intensity of light and air- conditioning can be controlled with a simple tap on the smartphone. Each washroom/bath is equipped with electronic diverters, a smart water closet, and an audio-video media system. The automation and JULY 2021

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CASE STUDY

electronic fixtures provide a high level of comfort and control to customize the ambiance settings according to various times of the day & personal preferences.

Perfect collaboration with various teams, including a smart home system integrator, led to the execution of this house, a well-balanced haven between classical & modern times. Spoon Lighting Consultants executed the complete lighting design, and the luxury brand Kohler’s products were equipped with the home’s electronic devices/fittings. Various other local vendors and artists worked together to achieve the finished look.

Eventual Outcomes: The most challenging aspect of the project was the short duration in which it needed to be completed. A target of full-scale interiors for an area of 20,000sqft, in a short span of 1.5 years maintaining luxurious standards was achieved.

The site execution team meticulously worked 24*7 till the handover of the project. The work was distributed into different packages to ensure

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CASE STUDY

different people could work on different aspects of the project at the same time. Persistent work and artistic detail for a long duration of time was the main completion strategy.

Ar. Priyanka Khanna & Ar. Rudraksh Charan 42MM ARCHITECTURE

Client’s Feedback : The client was extremely ecstatic about his vision taking shape. He proudly boasts that his manor features unique pieces of art that represent his style and also allows sufficient scope for any future artistic possessions. Mr. Prateek often describes his home as a dream come true.

Final Takeaway: “The key learning in this project is that short timelines do not pose a challenge, provided the execution stages are well planned. The key to increasing efficiency is to identify the critical stages of the project. Then understand the verticals/ aspects that can function independently, while ensuring that the quality is not compromised”, concludes Ar. Rudraksh Charan & Ar. Priyanka Khanna.

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PRODUCT GALLERY

Lutron’s Alisse Wall Control

Intesis AC Interfaces These Ac Interfaces are designed for Residential, Commercial, and VRF systems, they possess the following features : • Allowing control and monitoring of the AC units from any BACnet, KNX, Modbus, or Home Automation system • Allowing full bi-directional communication, including the AC manufacturer error codes, and offering consistent solutions regardless of the AC brand.

• Allows for huge compatibility covered with brand-specific interfaces, along with a universal one based on IR communication.

Other benefits include energy savings while increasing the end user’s comfort and the development of reliable solutions with the AC manufacturers. They offer competitive solutions for small to large-scale projects and their easy-to-use interfaces allow for a fast commissioning process. It is a one-stop-shop for integrators, with the largest portfolios in the market.

Optoma UHD33, India’s first affordable 240Hz 4K UHD Home Theatre Projector

The Alisse wall control is reimagined with a thin profile, range of hand-crafted finishes, and subtle illumination around the buttons. Lutron has succeeded in creating a precisely balanced design, with meticulous attention to detail and offering several personalization options, including custom engraving and multiple button configurations.

Features include: • Handcrafted metal finishes and painted metal colours designed to fit a range of interiors.

• Resistance to wear, fingerprints, and stains.

• Personalized with precise engraving, giving homeowners the ability to name and set their favourite scenes.

• Flexible mounting options, all column controls mount within a European, singlegang, square backbox.

• one-, two-, and three-column button configurations, adapting to the needs of any space.

• A seamless integration with Lutron’s HomeWorks system.

• Flexible mounting options, all column controls mount within a European, singlegang, square backbox.

UHD33 is a true blood 4K UHD projector which is affordable yet delivers superior picture quality for the home theatres. Incorporating 8-segment wheel to achieve vivid and stunning colour performance, the UHD33 also features colour calibration and adjusting technologies to present the truest and the most accurate hue scheme for authentic, and in-depth images for the finest movie watching and gaming

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experience. With 3,600 ANSI lumens of brightness and an impressive 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, along with HDR10 and HLG (Hybrid-Log Gamma) compatibility, the Optoma UHD33 produces rich, life like colors and delivers accurate, sharp, and high-quality images by leveraging its XPR technology & latest 4K UHD Texas Instruments DLP Chipset 7541, even in environments with high ambient light.

PRODUCT GALLERY

Thinnest Mirror TV MirrorVue is the most versatile and the thinnest Mirror TV in the market. It comes with endless possibilities. It is perfect for premium residences, bathrooms, offices, gyms and many more locations. A mirror when turned off, but changes into a beautiful showpiece when you want it to. With MirrorVue, any space will come alive. Customization is our specialty. Each MirrorVue is made to size and comes complete with a mirror, TV, and mount.

No project is too hard for us. Order any size, shape, and quantity. Its engineered in the USA with cutting edge technology and exceptional customer service.

Zemote Smart Touch Switches Zemote has launched its touch switch range, a completely modular solution where users can customize icons, text, and finishes (Glass, Polycarbonate, Marble, and Wood) on the switch.

After 5 years of R&D and successful installation of retrofit solutions. This touch switch is designed for the Indian household, making the installation easy without any rewiring or masonry work.

Zemote app allows consumers to set backlight intensity and colour along with the touch sensitivity of any switch. In addition, to control via the switch, app, and voice control these switches come with a 5-year warranty.

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NEWS

Comcast announces an exceptional Olympic viewing experience to Xfinity customers on X1, Flex, and the Xfinity Stream app. destination bringing all the Olympics-related programming, on the platform into an integrated experience. Made accessible by simply saying “Olympics” into the Xfinity Voice Remote.

As the world eagerly awaits the most anticipated Olympic Games in recent history. Comcast will be rolling out new features on Xfinity X1, Xfinity Stream, and Xfinity Flex.

“For years, X1 has set the bar as the most innovative and technologically advanced Olympics viewing experience. This year, new features make navigating the Games even easier and more personalized, taking the Olympics experience to a new level,” said Rebecca Heap, Senior Vice President, Video and Entertainment Services, Comcast Cable. “And now with Flex, we have the opportunity to leverage some of the best features of X1, like our voice remote and aggregated guide, to introduce the Olympics and all its passion, exhilaration, and glory to even more Xfinity customers.”

The Olympics hub on Xfinity Flex is displayed on a TV. Anchoring the destination will be all of Peacock’s free live and on-demand programming, seamlessly curated alongside any other Olympic-related programming from other streaming services such as YouTube, Prime Video, and more.

Comcast elevates the Olympics viewing experience, setting a new industry standard. These new capabilities mean more engagement and personalization.

set a new industry standard for how we bring consumers the live events they care about deeply,” said Mac Budill, President, Networks Distribution, NBCUniversal. “We know these capabilities mean more engagement, personalization, and time spent with arguably the most anticipated sporting event of our lifetime.”

“Comcast’s work elevating the Olympics viewing experience has

On Xfinity Flex, Comcast offers viewers a robust X1-like Olympics

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X1 continues to offer Xfinity TV customers the premiere Olympics viewing experience, offering aggregated, curated, and personalized access to all 7,000 hours of NBCUniversal’s live, ondemand, and streaming coverage of the Games on the TV and across mobile devices with the Xfinity Stream app. A tablet displaying the Xfinity Stream app, with the X1 destination features, a fully personalized experience across devices, including notifications for must-see moments,100 editorially curated playlists, live coverage in 4K HDR, and much more.

NEWS

Crestron Home AV comes with Voice Control Solution by Josh.ai Crestron Home clients can now enjoy, intuitive control of their AV content using natural voice commands.Josh. ai received exclusive development access to expand its audio and video distribution capabilities to Crestron Home systems. Crestron Home customers can enjoy intuitive control of their AV content using voice commands. All performing without requiring a professional installer to pre-program scenes or quick actions.

A hardware-agnostic approach allows Josh.ai to support any system design, no matter the complexity or specific brands that are installed.

While Crestron Home acts as the control backbone, Josh.ai will be able to communicate with a home’s devices, using its intelligence to find specific content with compatible service providers.

Josh.ai announced the deployment of Crestron Home projects.

Integrators will continue to follow the same process as was previously used with one addition.

After connecting to the network, Josh.ai requires the authorization of the Crestron Home hub. A second authorization token is now needed to support AV distribution, set by the installer. After both authorization steps are taken, Josh. ai will begin auto-populating all compatible devices programmed within Crestron Home’s interface. In addition to AV source distribution, Josh.ai natively works with Crestron Home’s lights, shades, thermostats, locks, scenes, and quick actions.

In addition to the convenience of voice automation, users will interact with Josh.ai’s stance as a privacy-

focused assistant dedicated to the smart home. Clients benefit from the peace of mind that Josh. ai is committed to providing an

elegant experience without selling or leveraging customer data for marketing purposes.

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NEWS

Dizo focuses on the Indian Market - in the smart accessories & smart home segment.

Consumer tech brand Dizo proceeds to focus on product categories like smart home, smart entertainment, and accessories as it builds a global AIoT (Artificial Intelligence of Things) brand with a “great deal of focus in India” said a company spokesperson.

Dizo has launched its first set of products, including wireless neckband earphones and TWS earbuds in the Indian smart accessories market. ‘’Dizo, the first partner under the Realme TechLife ecosystem, has been launched with an aim of creating a variety of AIoT solutions to meet the varied needs of the young and vibrant generation of the world.

We are looking to be a long-term global AIoT brand with a great deal of focus in India,’’ elaborated the Dizo spokesperson.

Further adding that the company is focused on understanding consumer needs better and offering innovative and high-quality products with trendy designs at a competitive price. ‘’We will focus on entering into four major product categories -

smart entertainment, smart home, smart care, and accessories. With our association with Realme and their support in three key aspects Industrial Design, Supply Chain, AIoT experience that works perfectly with Realme Link App, we aim to bring the best of both the brands,’’ the spokesperson further added. The brand has a presence in over 320 service centres’ across more than 310 cities in India via the Realme network.

In the March 2021 quarter, it had an 11 percent market share, as per industry reports. Smartphone players across the spectrum, have

introduced accessories like TWS earbuds, neckband earphones, and smartwatches to tap into the growing demand for smart wearables in the country. “There is a huge portfolio of differentiated products, in terms of specifications, product design, pricing, consumer target, etc being planned across varied categories...

It has its own manifesto, own market strategy, and is centered around its own mission and vision,’’ claimed the Dizo spokesperson.

A Realme spokesperson said the idea of bringing in brands like Dizo is to provide more qualified and trustworthy options to consumers.

Ecobee Won Energy Award for Innovation in Technology - AESP 2021 Ecobee’s thermostat optimization software, eco+, is awarded the 2021 Energy Award for Innovation in Technology from the Association of Energy Services Professionals (AESP). The AESP Energy Awards recognize individuals and organizations at the forefront 56

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of energy efficiency, customer programs, resilience, and innovation.

Ecobee’s thermostat optimization software, ECO+, has been recognized as a leading technology that brings load flexibility to the grid. It allows utilities to improve the demand response program participation

rates by streamlining the enrolment experience. It also delivers savings across various program types, including energy efficiency, demand response, and time-of-use rates.

The ECO+ uses advanced technology to gain an understanding of each home’s HVAC efficiency, thermal

NEWS

properties, and individual customer preferences to achieve maximum savings and personalized comfort thresholds. This is achieved by

intelligently precooling homes, at times of day when electricity prices are low, and reducing cooling when electricity is costlier.

“We launched eco+ with the goal of reimagining how utilities bring integrated demand-side management solutions into the home to truly elevate the customer experience.

With eco+, we’re leading the evolution of flexible load management solutions by introducing new capabilities that make program participation easier than ever – and we’re grateful to have our efforts recognized by a leading organization like AESP through this award,” said Chris Carradine, Executive Vice President, ecobee Energy.

Ecobee also recently announced the company’s partnership with select utilities across the U.S. The ecobee3 lite smart thermostat is now available for customers(at no cost) who pre-enroll in their utility’s demand response program. Yet another example of how ecobee is involved in removing the friction in the demand response program participation. They work with utilities on innovative approaches to help customers reduce energy and save more on their bills.

Epson retains No. 1 position in India by Futuresource Consulting Digital imaging and printing solutions provider Epson has been ranked the No. 1 in the Indian projector market for the sixth consecutive year, as per the latest data published by Futuresource Consulting for FY20.

The Futuresource Market Insight Report is said to be accepted as the worldwide projector industry standard. According to the report, Epson sold the most projectors out of the overall projectors sold in India in FY20. They have captured a 25.95% share of the market and reinforced the position of the leading projector brand in the country. The pandemic has fuelled the demand for projectors for entertainment, work, and learning from home needs.

Harish AK, senior general manager - visual products, Epson India, said, “At Epson, our vision has always been to create superior products that offer unmatched value to our customers.

Thanks to our 3LCD technology, Epson projectors provide images that are up to three times brighter than competing technologies.”

Futuresource

Consulting,

the

market specialist in visual displays, confirmed that Epson is also the worldwide market leader for 20 straight years, with a worldwide market share of 41.3% in the previous year. Epson’s most recent projectors elevate the user experience with 3LCD Reflective Laser technology and 4K enhancement for their home theatre projectors.

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NEWS

Eureka Enhances The Cycle Luminaire Family.

A leader in decorative lighting solutions, Eureka has announced enhancements to its Cycle family. The luminaires provide diffused direct/indirect illumination creating a luminous halo that fills large spaces with elegance and simple style. The Cycle family offers a multitude of finishes, mounting types, illumination options, and versatile diameters(sizes) ranging from Ø24” to Ø 72” as well as two XL formats of Ø 115” and Ø 152”.

The gold finish is available for all sizes, and Cycle XL is also offered in anthracite finish which improves performance by 60%. It is available with acoustic panels in felt (30 colors) to improve the sound quality of a space.The variable color temperature and lighting intensity are controlled with white tuning from 2700K to 5000K, powered by nTune™ digital control technology.

Designers can select the full range of Cycle luminaires with optional nLight® or nLight® AIR network lighting

control systems. They can further choose between three mounting options for ceilings or walls, and all three light outputs ranging from 1,526 to 25,942 delivered lumens.

Hitachi Launched A New Line Of Controllers To Amplify The Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF).

Hitachi has raised the bar for Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) control, by featuring intuitive designs and robust capabilities, with its latest line of controllers. The new models can control multiple systems. These systems make ideal applications for hotels, schools, offices, and restaurants. The controllers are designed for HVAC professionals and building occupants. They include airCloud Pro, a VRF central touchscreen controller, and an advanced color wired remote controller.

Some other features include a simplified menu with userfriendly language and images for intuitive selections and on-screen installation and maintenance instructions.

It also comes with a hotel mode with specialized functionality that enhances both guest experience and energy savings. The controller’s thoughtful design has granted it the 2020 European Product Design Award.

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NEWS

great-white.in

A GREAT ACTOR. A GREAT GO-GETTER. A GREAT HUMAN BEING. Tiger Shroff - Now the face and brand ambassador for GreatWhite Global Pvt.Ltd. GreatWhite is proud to unveil its new marketing campaign, in association with one of India's finest youth icons and actors. With a passion for perfection, distinguished moves, international style, timeless elegance and an eye for edgy creations, Tiger's personality and traits reflect that of GreatWhite as a company.

Commenting on the association, Tiger Shroff said: “Passion, excellence and trust are the principles of life which I strongly value.

I always strive to achieve that little bit extra which makes my performance great. GreatWhite as a brand believes in achieving a level of greatness in their products, I am very honoured to be a part of the GreatWhite world."

On having Tiger Shroff as a brand ambassador for India, UAE and Africa, Hemang Shah, Managing Director, Greatwhite Global said: “It is great to have Tiger Shroff on board. He is young, dynamic and has a great future, his personality and values strongly resonate with the GreatWhite brand. We are looking forward to the association and are sure that his presence will take our brands to higher levels."

Here's to doing great things together through trust, quality and innovation!

SWITCHES & AUTOMATION

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LIGHTING

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MCBs & RCCBs

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WIRES & CABLES

| FANS

LifeLong ventures into IoT products category Home-grown consumer durable company LifeLong has ventured into the Internet of Things (IoT) category with its smart home solutions. LifeLong’s IoT products are designed to manage electrical appliances and are launching in three main categories: sensors and detectors, lights and fans, and gadgets and appliances.

While the products will initially be sourced from China, the company plans to shift manufacturing to India once revenue picks up.

“What makes the Lifelong IoT range different is how our

products address common problems. They manage electrical appliances, ensure judicious usage of electrical appliances, and make homes more secure. For example, Lifelong was the first to address a common lacuna in smart bulb designs. We designed our smart bulb to automatically light up once the electricity is restored after a power failure. Even the smart water leakage detector uses a simple design to address the common problem of the overhead water tank overflow,” Lifelong Online India CEO and co-founder Bharat Kalia said.

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NEWS

The sensors and detectors category will include gas, door, water leakage, and smoke detectors, while the lights and fans segment includes switches, plugs, IR blaster, and strip lights. The company also plans to launch a robot clear and smart body fat scale under its gadgets and appliances categories. The IoT products are built for India and tailored to meet local conditions, Kalia said. According to the company’s in-house research, there is a high demand for these products in tier 1 and tier 2 markets. With aggressive pricing, the company anticipates a quick penetration in tier 3 and 4 markets.

Join the VLD (Virtual Lighting Design) community and become a VLD-ER The Virtual Lighting Design (VLD) Community - a new online platform www.vld.community – offering various opportunities for exchanging information, encouraging innovation and drawing inspiration from within and beyond the lighting industry has finally been launched!

The VLD Community is the next generation in lighting social media that puts a global conglomerate of lighting designers, experts, academics and industry partners on the map. This ground breaking social networking platform is on a mission to foster real-world connections by providing a sense of place situated within a virtual space. Exchanging and sharing commonalities is a basic psychological need, which in today’s world is becoming harder than ever.

This platform provides a social unit with commonalities for exchanging views (via interactive chats, posts, etc.) and sharing knowledge (via educational blogs, videos, etc.), thereby building a vibrant virtual community!

The VLD Community comprises three types of VLD-ers: Thought Leaders, Supporters and Members.

Thought leaders are VLD-ers who present ideas and thoughts to the community so as to stimulate a

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discussion. It is leadership in, for and by the community, although it can also represent its common interest, purpose or practice. Thought leaders also determine the general feeling within the community, and act as points of liaison between the community and the general public. Supporters are VLD-ers with common experiences or interests who provide the community

with various types of help and financial support. Their primary goal is to promote development of the community through pooling resources. Supporters may also work to inform the general public or engage in advocacy. Members include all VLD-ers who learn, work and play within the community and are the heart of the community.

Member participation in the

NEWS community activities is key to its success.

The platform allows VLD-ers to create their profiles with tags to mark their personal and professional interests, and search for connections with shared interests. VLD-ers can then access the platform to connect with other VLD-ers. VLD-ers include everyone from individuals such as architects, builders, consultants, designers, developers, educators, engineers, sales reps and students, to groups like government agencies, hospitality chains, manufacturers, museum authorities, NGOs, retail brands, and universities, who

can benefit from this platform.

The platform operates on a paid subscription basis providing access to insightful, relevant and valuable content developed by the best VLD- ers in the lighting industry. A minimum membership fee of only US$4.99 enables the platform to run professionally and financially compensate all contributing VLDers for their valuable contribution and time. Membership benefits include access to useful information in the form of industry-specific educational videos as seasons comprising series of episodes on set topics that culminate into open

discussion forums.

Six VLD-ers – Martin Klaasen, Martin Lupton, Sharon Stammers, Amardeep M. Dugar, Katia Kolovea and Ingmar Klaasen – founded this platform around three main activities: Information, Innovation and Inspiration. Information about latest products and services is shared by Supporters to update the Members. Innovation towards newer products and services is the driving force between Thought leaders and Supporters. Inspiration is drawn by Members from the ideas and thoughts shared by Thought leaders.

Introducing the World’s First 11.1.4 Channel Soundbar; Samsung Launches 2021 Soundbar Lineup in India.

India’s largest and most trusted consumer electronics brand, Samsung, has launched its 2021 Soundbar lineup.

Introducing SpaceFit Sound that analyses the TV’s physical environment and provides immersive sound tailored specifically to space.

This includes the world’s first 11.1.4 channel soundbar ushering in a never before rich and immersive surround sound experience. The new Q-series, A-series, and S-series soundbars are tuned at the Samsung Audio Lab in Valencia, California.

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This epitome in audio technology innovation, the world’s first 11.1.4 channel enables consumers to enjoy the most realistic three-dimensional audio.

The Q-series soundbars possess Samsung’s signature Q-Symphony technology, playing surround sound from TV and soundbar simultaneously, creating incredible audio synergy.

All models of the new lineup have Amazon Alexa built-in, making it easy to be in control of the listening experience. Addressing the demands of Indian consumers for high wattage soundbars, the A-series soundbars come with enhanced wattage.

The S-series soundbar comes stylishly wrapped in a premium fabric along with smart usability. It delivers a mind-blowing sound experience, making it a perfect

addition to any living room. This series includes a central speaker allowing it to replicates a room-filling cinema-style environment.

“In-home entertainment is one of the most important stress busters today as work and play boundaries continue to fade. Our 2021 Soundbar lineup has been designed to offer a premium sound experience with stylishly elegant looks. With innovative features and industry-first technology that are truly game-changers, the new lineup is designed for those looking for the sound of perfection. In a time when consumers have access to an endless range of content, soundbars help elevate their audio-visual entertainment experience,” said Raju Pullan, Senior Vice President, Consumer Electronics Business, Samsung India.

Soundvision Technologies Expands its Growth in the Indian Market with National Distributor Smato Technologies Soundvision Technologies, the parent company of TruAudio, a global leader of premium turnkey audio solutions, has recently announced its national distribution partnership with Smato to expand its presence in the Indian market.

TruAudio provides world-class professional audio solutions, designed in the USA, representing the absolute best-in-class experience for home & commercial audio users. Soundvision’s goal in its partnership with Smato is to leverage their innovative approach on engineering and design services and their custom home automation products and specialties.

“Smato Technologies is a newer international company to us, but they have managed to impress us quickly with their extensive approach to home automation and recent love of the A/V industry,” says Bryan Garner, CEO of Soundvision.

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“We are excited about our new partnership and see Smato’s strength in the India market as a huge asset as we grow the TruAudio brand in the years to come.”

Shreyans Chowdhary, Director and CEO at Smato Technologies said: “Smato is ecstatic to have this opportunity to partner with Soundvision Technologies and to expand our knowledgebase of the home automation industry while specializing in audio/video technology and really making a splash on the professional AV market.

Given Smato’s extensive experience in groundbreaking technology, we believe TruAudio will be a powerful

new addition that can only attract our customers to the endless opportunities. We are currently partnered with many impressive vendors in automation and audio/ video but TruAudiowill help to close that gap when it comes to premium sound and audio technologies.

Smato Technologies can now offer everything to any home or business project from universally remote controlled home automation (lighting, security, wifi, and even curtains) and audio video solutions that include projectors, mirror TVs, speakers and amplifiers. We are the one-stop-shop for any needed home/business upgrades.”

EVENTS

Name of The Event: Smart Home + City Indonesia 2021

Name of The Event: Smart Home Expo

City: Indonesia

City: Mumbai

Details: Indonesia’s largest trade show for smart home management system, city management system, smart lighting control system, building management, smart communication system, smart energy & many more.

Details: 100 + renowned exhibitors will display an array of Smart home technology solutions, Home Automation Systems, Smart lighting & Switches, Thermostat, TVs, computers, entertainment audio & video systems, security, and camera systems, and hardware connecting and voice recognition technologies. The focused event for the future of smart technologies, showcasing the latest innovations in the Smart Home industry, IoT use for Home Automation, Energy Saving, Futuristic home solutions, and more.

Date: 30 Sep - 02 Oct (2021) Name of The Event: C-Smart - Shenzhen International Smart Home Exhibition 2021 City: Shenzhen Details: The 10th China (Shenzhen) International Smart Home Exhibition is referred to as “C-SMART2021”.

The exhibitor profile comprises Intelligent Lighting Control System, Home Heating, Ventilating And Air Conditioning System, Home Audio & Video And Entertainment System, Home Security and many more.

Date: 03 Nov - 05 Nov (2021)

Name of The Event: Global Sources Smart Home & Appliances 2021 City: Hong Kong Details: Global Sources Smart Home & Appliances 2021 will be the world’s only smart home & appliances sourcing show, with 500 booth of smart home, security products, smart lock, smart lighting, IOT products and home appliances, co-located with Mobile Electronics Show, Home & Kitchen Show, Tech Gifts and Startup Launchpad.

Date: 18 Oct - 21 Oct (2021) Name of The Event: SES - Smart Electronics and Security 2021

TM

2021

5 - 6 OCT NEHRU CENTRE, WORLI, MUMBAI

Date: 05 Oct - 06 Oct (2021) Name of The Event: Cedia Expo 2021 City: Indianapolis Details: It covers audio, video, control, security, automation, networking, energy management and more.

Profiles for exhibit include electronic systems for the home - typically media rooms, single or multiroom entertainment systems, home automation and communication systems, as well as integrated whole-house subsystems providing control of lighting, security and HVAC systems.

Date: 01 Sep - 03 Sep (2021) Name of The Event: Integrate Expo Sydny City: Sydney Details: It is Australia’s premier annual AV and Integration trade show. This three-day event is a hub of activity for local and global brands to showcase solutions and products to AV technicians and corporate end users, meet with buyers, integrators and distributors while celebrating the latest industry developments.

Date: 21 July - 23 July (2021)

City: Johannesburg Details: Smart Electronics & Security Show (SES) will feature a variety of state-of-the-art electronic products and smart technologies, e-design and the latest trends in security systems and software.

Date: 27 Jul - 29 Jul (2021)

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TM

Announcing

NEW DATES

3 rd

2021

5 - 6 OCT

International Exhibition & Conference on Smart Home Technology, Home Automation, Audio -Video & Intelligent Building

NEHRU CENTRE, WORLI, MUMBAI

(IN-PERSON) Explore the

TECHNOLOGY for CONNECTED HOMES EXHIBITION NETWORKING PRODUCT DEMO CONFERENCE TRAININGS

BOOKINGS OPEN Title Partner:

Smart Home Technology Partner:

Smart Automation Partner:

Smart Home Integration Partner

Sandeep Singh +91 7506017744 | sandeep@smarthomeexpo.in

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Associate Partner

Associate Partner

AV Connectivity Partner:

FOR BOOKINGS, PLEAE CONTACT:

Vinayak Paradkar +91 7506503881 | vinayak@smarthomeexpo.in

Associate Partner

Motion Partner:

Media Partner:

SMARTHOME WORLD

I SMARTHOME WORLD I JULY 2021 www.smarthomeexpo.in

Organised by:

WORLD MEDIA & EXPO LLP