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Nayan Raheja's home, in South Delhi's Sainik Farms, seems straight out of a hi-tech Hollywood flick. The lights come on as you walk in, the temperature settles into a comfortable mode, while the blinds come down automatically to shut out the evening sun. He doesn't need to go from room to room, putting on switches or pulling down the curtains. All he needs to do is press a button on his iPhone and it's done.
Raheja, who got his home fully automated two years ago using the Wiser Home Control software from Schneider Electric, can't stop praising the technology. "You can manage everything sitting in one place. Take the access controls for instance. If someone rings the bell, you can see the face of the person on the iPad while sitting in your bedroom. You don't have to get up to open the door; just click on an icon on your gizmo and it happens," says Raheja, who is the executive director of Raheja Developers.
Like him, Karan Khanna, managing director of real estate consultancy Apex Acreages, got his house in Gurgaon automated a year-and-a-half ago after seeing a similar system at a friend's house. "His bathroom had sensors that could tell the body heat. So the moment you walked in, the lights and the exhaust would come on and switch off when you left. The sensors could differentiate between the body heat of a dog and a human being, so if a dog walked into the bathroom, the lights would not come on," he smiles. Khanna is currently using an automation system by Berker and the Pro Knx application on his iPad. "Say, if I need to take a shower at 8.30, then I can schedule the geyser to start heating the water at 8. I can decide which lights I want on and what percentage of lighting I want. I can dim the lights by 50 per cent or 70 per cent and even bring them to night mode," he says.
What was earlier the fantasy of Bill Gates is now becoming affordable and more commercially available. Technologies by Cestron, Lutron, Samsung, Schneider and Honeywell are the most popular ones, with more and more international brands joining the bandwagon. "The technology has gone from being a wired solution, with a native frontend screen device, to a wireless solution which can be controlled by touch screen switchboards and your smartphone or tablets," explains Raheja who offers home automation system by Honeywell at Raheja Revanta in Gurgaon and as an optional service in Raheja Oma in Dharuhera. Pretty much anything which runs on electricity can be controlled through this. "Over the year, companies which manufacture blinds and ACs have also made their systems compatible to be automation ready," he adds.
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The market for home automation is witnessing collaborations between developers and technology firms. Mantri Developers, that have projects in Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad, have collaborated with Cisco to integrate technology in two of their projects: Mantri Espana and Mantri DSK Pinnacle. "Technology solutions such as integrated data and voice and wireless services, digital signage, common area IP video surveillance and energy management systems will transform each residence into a state-of-the-art home-fulfiling the need for security, energy conservation, enhanced productivity and digital lifestyle," says Snehal Mantri, director (marketing).
Bangalore-based Total Environment have come up with its own software, eBuild, that integrates technology across various functionalities that covers visitor management, comfort and entertainment. Then there is the immensely popular Tuxedo Touch technology by Honeywell that allows you to set the scenes in your home. For instance, a goodnight scene would lock the doors and switch off the lights when you arm your security system at night. You could also create a schedule to have the hallway lights on and the thermostat set to a specific temperature. "There are icons made for light, climate control etc, so even our house help, who can't read English and isn't much tech savvy, can operate it," says Khanna.
An automation system could set you back by Rs 5 lakh to Rs 50 lakh. It used to cost a bomb earlier because of the use of in-wall panels. Today the systems are synced wirelessly with gizmos, thus bringing down the cost. "To access your automation system from anywhere on the globe, an IP address needs to be taken for your home. Every company has its own software - mostly either web addresses that can be accessed from anywhere or native apps on the app stores of most smartphones," says Raheja. He feels that the technology might become cheaper in the next two years and developers might offer it as a standard feature even in mid-segment projects.
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However, there is a bit of a glitch to this rosy picture. Security could be an issue if your smartphone gets stolen or the software gets hacked. The developers, however, brush aside these concerns. While Mantri hires professional workers to configure and set up a network that has minimal security threats, Raheja feels that the maximum harm that anyone can do by hacking into the system is to switch on your air conditioner, thereby raising your electricity bills. "For access and security, there are various levels of password protection; so that mitigates the risk," he says.
Security concerns are not stopping people from opting for a smart home. "It's the wow factor that is motivating people," says Veena Gupta, founder and CEO of Gurgaon-based Seam Group. In the past two years, the demand has gone up steadily, with Gupta working on automation systems for four to five luxury villas and bungalows every month. Her entire office is automated with scene and schedule control technology by Honeywell. "People often say that comparing conventional homes with fully automated ones is like comparing a Maruti 800 with a BMW," she grins. It is the young tech-savvy individuals in the age group of 40 and below who are opting for smart homes.
Experts say the next five years will spell wonders for the home automation technology. With billions of dollars being poured into research and development, features like voice activation will become a reality. "The day you will be able to speak to your home will be the zenith of home automation technology. The house will recognise the name that it is being addressed by. For instance, if you name your home John, then you can speak out commands like 'John, switch on the lights' or 'John, put Discovery channel on'. And your home will recognise these commands and fulfil them. This technology will be available across the world in the next three to five years," concludes Raheja.
BRAINS FOR THE HOME
Home automation systems offered by these companies operate a wide array of domestic devices. They can be customised to handle functions of your choosing. Costs depend on what you choose to install
- Tuxedo Touch by Honeywell Security
- Wiser Home Control by Schneider Electric
- eBuild by Total Environment
- Home automation systems by Samsung
- Berker by Hager India
