The key term here is Integration. If you have a cable, "always 0n", Internet connection, you effectively have a portal into your home. Now, what can you look at or control with that portal? Security system. HVAC. NannyCam. Turn the sprinkler on. It all depends on the "smarts" and level of integration of the home systems. This is where you can get very creative. VoIP? Here's a few pilot programs from the Internet Home Alliance:
OnStar at Home Pilot
Through cross-company collaboration, this pilot focused on the integration of OnStar's Virtual Advisor service with home security, control and telecommunications components provided by Invensys, Panasonic, ADT and Hewlett-Packard. The OnStar at Home pilot provided consumers with an easy to use, consistent interface to control home systems such as lighting, temperature and home security. In addition to OnStar's Personal Calling Service (PCS), homeowners were able to control their home operations from any PC, telephone, WAP phone or wireless PDA. The pilot, involving 80 homes in the greater Detroit area, wrapped in January 2003. Learn more
Structured Wiring Pilot
This pilot, led by Sears & Roebuck Co. in association with Home Director and Arvida, was examined the collaboration of three vital links in the home connectivity chain: retailer/distributor, homebuilder and installer. The pilot tracked the behavior of builders and consumers before, during and after new homes with structured wiring were built. The pilot was completed in the summer of 2002. As a result of the pilot, on March 1st of this year, Sears established an 800# for homebuilders to call in order to arrange for the design, installation, service and support of integrated networking solutions through Sears Connected Home. Learn more
Internet-Enabled Education Pilot
In conjunction with Internet Home Alliance, DeVry College of Technology and Panasonic designed a pilot that addressed Internet-enabled learning environment information access issues among a select group of students, faculty and faculty advisors. The platform provided for both audio and video communication as well as real-time electronic document editing. In short, the platform offered students and teachers with a shared and highly efficient anytime, anywhere means of communicating about school projects. The pilot concluded in June 2002. Learn more
Energy Management Pilot
This pilot, which wrapped in November 2001, tested the market viability of a remote-controlled thermostat solution in over 300 homes. Users could monitor and control their home's air-conditioning from any Web-enabled device, including PCs, cell phones and PDAs. This effort generated an array of actionable findings about the appeal of the technology under test, consumer behavior around energy management and the system configuration that promises the greatest consumer demand, among other things. Learn more
Give you any ideas?
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