Smart Homes -Technologies and Markets

EDRA 32 Conference

4 July 2001

Tim Venables

SPRU – University of Sussex

t.j.g.venables@sussex.ac.uk

Outline

• From the 60s to today

• New players and technologies

• People, markets and services

• Potential Barriers

• Conclusions

Smart homes - the big bang view

• It has often been held that it is necessary to integrate systems in order to provide the types of functions that people will want to use

• Many demonstration projects have followed this model and involved major capital investment to deliver a utopian vision of the ‘home of the future’

Smart homes - market failure?• This has stimulated interest and specific

products have been developed

• However, it has not provided consumers with a realistic model for that can be immediately implemented in an affordable manner

• This picture may now be changing ...

ICT trends and the smart home• The emerging role of major ICT players in promoting

smart homes products and systems

• Continuing increase in the ownership of personal computers

• Voice, data and image (VDI) media are increasingly being digitised

• E-commerce is leading to the development of services for the residential market

New ways of thinking

• Intercommunication instead of integration

• Modular and scalable

• Accessible but secure

• Bandwidth and intelligence appropriate for application

Social & Economic Trends

• Ageing population

• Changing work patterns

• Diversity of lifestyles

• From social structure to network structure

The Future

• Niche markets

• Focus more on customised solutions

• Bundled products and services

• Value-added in service delivery

• Coordination of systems

Consumer Concerns

• Lack of information• Cost of installation and use• Complexity in use• Reliability, susceptibility to breakdown

and foreseeable servicing costs• Standards compatibility across

applications and when upgrading within specific applications

Organisational Structure

• Is there a need for an installation industry?

• What role will new players take?

• What will be the business models for services delivery?

Conclusions

• Various factors could promote the diffusion of smart homes

• Lack of coherence in industry

• Lack of information for consumers

Further Information

• http://www.sussex.ac.uk/spru/imichair/• http://www.rethinkinghousebuilding.org/• Gann, D. Barlow, J. & Venables, T. (1999). Digital

Futures: Making Homes Smarter. Coventry, Chartered Institute of Housing.

• Venables, T. & Taylor, C. (2001). Smart Homes; a Specification Guide. York, The Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

• Venables, T. & Taylor, C. (2001). Smart Homes; A Users Guide. York, The Joseph Rowntree Foundation.