The Hindu Business Line : Home smart home

There are growing possibilities that in the 21st century, more and more people will harness the ever-expanding power of the Internet to turn the home into a heady mix of luxury, security and a comfortable workplace. Both concepts and applications rolled out by global companies point in this direction. So what would it take to convert your `sweet home' into a `sweet and smart' one? What would be the key features of the intelligent, smart, futuristic home?

Such a home will, of course, have to be built with conventional building material; but the great leap ahead will come through the blend of `click and access' technology. The communication infrastructure will distinguish a smart home from a traditional one. The technology is already in place, and all it requires are service providers, availability of broadband and defining utility applications.

Just imagine a cocktail of gadgets such as the TV, camera, PC, Internet, PDA and mobile phone linked through a network acting in `symphony' or independently, both at home and while you are on the move. The result would be the realisation of services that would make your life both secure and comfortable.

You would have entertainment through the Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) and gaming; could make the home secure through surveillance that relevant gadgets can carry out with the help of a security firm; ensure the best of healthcare and advice for the family by getting connected to remote healthcare services. And finally, when on the move, communicate with functional utilities such as refrigerators, lighting systems, heaters etc to make things easy when you return home.

In short, a smart home would rely on a number of small computers, which are distributed around the house. They will be involved in either turning on gadgets and appliances or turning them off or to send and receive important information. These computers would be networked using a cable or through signal processing using electricity wires or other means.

This is no longer science fiction or in the realm of dreams. Most of the ingredients are ready. All it needs is seamless connectivity. In the Indian context, most of these ingredients are getting ready; the big challenge will be to provide an integrated network service direct to home in the near future.

Globally, the experience of smart homes is now emerging. The 13.14-billion-euro Siemens Communications, one of the pioneers in developing the smart home, announced significant new steps recently. The company said the growth of the IPTV and the increasing capacities of broadband will drive the early realisation of this concept, first unveiled in March 2005.

Christian Unterberger, President of Siemens Communications (Fixed Networks), says, "We have the technology and gadgets ready to make the smart home real. What is required is a sound, broadband network, service providers and a revenue model to reach it at a cost-effective price."

Countries such as Belgium, Holland, Thailand, and China have already made progress in their efforts towards building such smart homes with the launch of the IPTV in the last two years.

While the entertainment aspect of the smart home is getting clearer to most of us with gadgets such as fixed-to-the-wall TVs, home theatres, and DTH telecasts, the utility features that could be handy in the Indian context are those relating to healthcare and security. For example, a typical healthcare feature could be: You have a personal physician to monitor your health status through routine tests for your sugar and BP levels and give suitable advice. This could be done remotely. An Internet health-service provider will extend the linkage between physicians, clinics and hospitals to bring the facilities to the patient's doorstep. The net result would be a very convenient facility for the elderly, the busy executive or those who want to avoid the hassle of visiting hospitals frequently for minor ailments. All these can be achieved through video, SMS, or e-mail.

Similarly, your home can be secure, once a professional security service provider steps in.

When you are travelling with your family, it would be possible to keep a vigil on the home through this service provider, who would have facilitated surveillance and security to the house. Using sensors that can detect smoke, gas and water, and cameras, the security company from its control room can update you about the safety of the house. So the day perhaps is not far off when a network of service providers, select gadgets and sensors, and a solid communication system, allow you to lead a `smart' lifestyle.

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