"automation" articles

Amena Ali , Senior VP and General Manager at WeatherBug Home , answers several industry questions about issues that are currently affecting the connected entertainment and smart home markets: What is the most important next step to engage consumers in smart home solutions, connected entertainment services, and/or value-added services like tech support and connected health? When it comes to engaging consumers in smart home solutions, we need to first consider their...

George Land , Business Director, Nexia Home Intelligence at Ingersoll Rand , provides industry insights for his upcoming CONNECTIONS  speaking engagement: What is the most important next step to engage consumers in smart home solutions, connected entertainment services, and/or value-added services like tech support and connected health? Right now, many people consider a smart home as a novelty or luxury item rather than a stable, viable lifestyle upgrade that...

Staples will launch a new home automation system, called Staples Connect , which will be sold online and in its U.S. stores. The new system is similar to Lowe’s Iris , but has more than the DIY offerings from other mass marketers. The Web-connected hub can communicate with thermostats, lights, door locks and other smart devices for remote monitoring and control over the Internet. The system is powered by Zonoff , the cloud-based home-control platform that also drives Somfy’s...

Tricia Parks , CEO & Founder of Parks Associates , has authored an article entitled "How Dealers Are Protecting Their Home Turf" in Security Sales and Integration (SSI) publication. Parks Associates and SSI regularly survey installing security dealers to look for emerging trends in residential security systems and services.  In the current marketplace, there is continued movement toward professionally monitored security by telcos and cablecos and...

Parks Associates is pleased to announce that Tom Kerber will lead the company’s Home Systems and Energy Management research practice.Tom  brings to Parks Associates a wealth of strategic planning and product management knowledge derived from his experience in the automation, controls, electronics, and HVAC industries. He comes to Parks Associates from Lennox International, where he served as Director of Engineering and Director of Product Management. Prior to Lennox, Kerber spent...

Obviously, a byproduct of the growing number of consumer electronics devices in the digital home will be increased power consumption. We've heard about some initiatives in Europe regarding standby power requirements for devices such as appliances and televisions, but this is the first I've heard of efforts aimed at CE equipment such as routers, modems, adn residential gateways. According to a press release from the Home Gateway Initiative, they played an important role in developing...