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"HOME IQ"
A “Smart House” that responds to the dweller’s needs and desires by adjusting lighting, temperature, even ambient music, has appeared in science fiction for much of the twentieth century. From LeCorbusier’s vision of the house as a machine for living, to Negroponte’s Architecture Machine, home automation technologies are the latest extension of a century-long fascination with housing and mechanism. However, with the development of new electronic technologies and their integration with older, traditional building technologies, the intelligent home is at last becoming reality, and the KEPT Solutions team can make it your reality.
The basic idea of home automation is to employ sensors and control systems to monitor a dwelling, and accordingly adjust the various mechanisms that provide heat, ventilation, lighting, and other services. By more closely tuning the dwelling’s mechanical systems to the dweller’s needs, the automated “intelligent” home can provide a safer, more comfortable, and more economical dwelling. For example, the electronic controller of an automated home can determine when the dwellers have gone to bed and turn off the lights and lower the thermostat; it can monitor burglar and fire alarms; it can anticipate hot water usage and optimize the operation of the water heater.
"HOME IQ” technology is the realization of home automation ideals using a specific set of technologies.
In "HOME IQ” technology, the dwelling is wired with a cabled (and or wireless) communication grid, including communications cables for telephonic interaction and video, and also integrates other appliances and lamps with electronic devices into the control grid.
A principal benefit claimed for the " HOME IQ” technology is safety. Instant and pre-programed actions designed for specific emergency situations can be triggered automatically in some cases and easily without much thought by a panicked person, without the need for performing a complex process such as looking up a number and dialing a phone. In addition, when sensors detect gas and water leaks, smoke, and other abnormal conditions the electronic controllers can shut down the appropriate devices and trigger the alarm. A second benefit is convenience. Traditional wiring 240 volt power outlets, with occasional 110 volt service for heavy shavers. However, most of today’s consumer electronic appliances such as radios, personal computers, and even some power tools step the line voltage from 240 down to 6, 9, 12, or 24 volts. " HOME IQ” technology can provision for power at several voltage levels, eliminating the need for numerous small power adapters at each appliance. In addition, " HOME IQ” technology can automatically control the temperature, humidity, and lighting in the dwelling on a room by room basis. A third benefit is economy. The "HOME IQ” technology can make provision for alternative means of power supply such as Solar and Wind. In the traditional scheme, each appliance is provided continiously with Eskom power to provide for its peak use. In " HOME IQ" scenario appliances requiring low amperage would run almost eclusively on alternative power while the conditions enable it to be supplied. In addition " HOME IQ” controllers could schedule the operation of heavy power consuming appliances (such as dishwashers, electric water heaters, and air conditioners) to take maximum advantage of off-peak electric rates. These adjustments could result in lower utility costs.
   The ideal time to integrate " HOME IQ" is as a house is being built as a great deal of groundwork needs to be done to coordinate the building contractor, electrician and plumber in preparation for integrating “ HOME IQ” technology into a new home. That said there are many "work-arounds" for integrating 'HOME IQ" into an existing home. These "work-arounds" are rather more costly though. Whether the “ HOME IQ” technologies succeed at changing standard perception of the residential construction process or not, at least some of the “ HOME IQ” innovations are ready for instant integration into the standard home at a moderate cost. The “ HOME IQ” information infrastructure being developed offers the possibility of broader participation in civic and community activities, access to educational resources, as well as work, shopping and entertainment. Already the fax, the modem enable people to work at home and browse information databases over conventional ADSL. The “ HOME IQ” Higher bandwidth and higher speed communication technologies can provide electronic community town meetings, distance learning, home shopping, and video on demand. Each “ HOME IQ” installation comes with an online interface for that home. In other words your “ HOME IQ” home would have its very own interactive website, which the home owner would be able to use to enhance communications, share information and even manage access to the house. Yes, “ HOME IQ” integrates to the core of home security, access authority. KEPT is premier Biometric technology developer, and this allows “ HOME IQ” to integrate the very best in Biometric Technology into all installations. |
