Home automation is getting popular in the UAE

Smart home, or intelligent homes, technology is no longer just for the technophile hobbyist. It's right on the cusp of becoming mainstream.

Of course, some of this stuff has been around since the 1970s in the form of X10, the industry standard for TV remote controls.

But new wireless standards (like Insteon, ZigBee, and Z-Wave) and cheaper chipsets have enabled two-way, low-cost communication between devices.

'Smart home' is an alternative term for an intelligent residential building, or an intelligent home. A few years ago these concepts were considered futuristic, fanciful and only indulged the rich and the famous.

Now they are reality and very affordable. These terms are now commonly used to define a residence that uses a control system to integrate its various automation systems.

Before the average homeowner opts for such technology, however, he'll need a little convincing. It all still seems kind of Star Trek to most people. But is home automation going to grow and become more mainstream?

Yes, on both counts

Analysts have high hopes for the burgeoning smart home market: Now an estimated $1.3 billion, it's expected to balloon to nearly $10 billion worldwide by 2010, according to research firm Frost & Sullivan.

Real estate developers in the UAE have been quick to spot the value-add smart home automation provides their tenants. They have already wired in the technology to make smart home come to life.

They are supported by several smart home technology providers who have already set up shop and who source products from pedigreed electronics manufacturing giants.

All this augurs well for the smart home market because I truly believe that within the next few years, an intelligent home will be the norm rather than a mere value-add technology.

The people in this region already know what smart home technology can do. And guess what...they like it. They've seen it in the movies and on the web.

They've seen it first hand at exhibitions and product demonstrations. They understand what it does for their lifestyle and the social statement it makes.

What we need is to talk to them up front and personal. And talk to them in a language they all understand.

Phrases and descriptions of home technology should emphasise the environment they create within a home. Language that emphasises comfort and efficiency should also appeal to potential customers.

It is important to keep in mind that customers are looking for ways to make their home a source of comfort and relaxation for themselves and their families.

For these reasons, phrases that are not overly technical but are still descriptive will be the most effective. There is still a lot of space to educate consumers and help shape these product concepts in the mind.

What providers of Smart Home technology should now do is to formulate a credible, consumer friendly best practices standard that covers product quality certification, consumer affairs and development of technical standards.

Real estate developers, telecom service providers and consumer electronic manufacturers should be part of this discussion group.

Deciding factors

There should be survey that explores consumers' decision to purchase smart home technology systems. The study should focus on five main home technologies, including distributed audio systems, structured wiring, automatic lighting and temperature regulation, designated home theatre rooms and media servers.

The study should conclude that regardless of whether a homebuilder himself offers these technologies or refers customers to an outside vendor, homebuilders should strive to educate consumers and communicate the possibilities these technologies provide.

For some, the move to a smart home might only consist of controlling a few lights remotely. For others, security might be the central application. Still others might choose to install advanced controllers or use a voice-recognition system to control their home.

Adding home automation to an existing dwelling has become surprisingly affordable and simple. And the smart home market is beginning to take off, with local providers and internet sales sites popping up everywhere. Even major retailers like CompUSA and Best Buy are getting into the action.

With an ever-increasing range of home and personal electronic gadgets available, many major corporations in the consumer electronics industry consider the user-friendly integration and combined control of multiple devices as crucial to their future success.

If a market does develop, it seems less likely to come from impetus in the building, construction or property sectors. The greater opportunity for growth in the use of smart home technology appears to be from its addition to the burgeoning array of consumer electronics - especially home entertainment and personal communication systems - and initial demand from the more technology-literate early-adopter households.

If we want the iHome concept to develop and support the construction or property sectors, we should, let's cut the mustard.

This, as many of you already know, effectively means: let's achieve the standard of performance necessary for success.

The writer is group director - electronic, engineering & technologies, Al-Futtaim Group.