Ilevia launches what it says is building automation's fastest building automation system-- EVE, a system working with components from most manufacturers through most mobile and tablet devices.

To ensure maximum speed, the EVE system does not require connection with a web server. Instead, it communicates in each connected device's specific language. Communication languages include EIB/KNX, Vimar, Bticino and ModBus, amongst others, covering all under a single UI.

The device itself is also small and energy efficient, needing less than 200 mA to operate.

While it comes with its own dedicated remote control, Ilevia also supplies apps for all major PC and smartphone operating systems-- Symbian, Windows Mobile/CE, iDevices and Palm, as well as Mac OS and Windows.

Go Ilevia EVE

While more and more of our homes are connected to the mainland of internet, the rooms in our homes (with their various devices) remain the world's largest archipelago. Millions of rooms, hundreds of millions of devices that can't talk, won't talk with each other-- and remain like islands without digital bridges to one another.

So many companies, so many groups, so many associations have tried and failed to integrate home appliances via a home network...

Now Google wants its turn as bridge-maker: The masters of Android will offer open source libraries that will enable developers to build apps that can discover, connect and communicate with devices and appliances in the home.

Google announced its new platform in a keynote address at Google I/O 2011: Android@Home will be a system for connecting home devices via Google protocols and APIs.

GE Energy introduces HabiTEQ's home and building solutions portfolio to the European market-- a range of pre-wired distribution boards designed for modern electrical installations.

The HabiTEQ boards are "plug and play" for easy installation, meaning even a competent electrician get get an installation up and running. Installers can configure the system itself PC program and USB or ethernet ports, giving control via a choice of interfaces on all areas of automation, including security, lighting, climate automation and shutter/blind control.

The system also allows the addition of automation blocks for intelligent switches, detectors, displays and SMS/web interface devices. Installers can also link the HabiTEQ system with GE Energy's SVT-photovoltaic system, aligning consumption with generation.

Go HabiTEQ Solutions

Honeywell adds home automation to its security system portfolio, allowing customers to manage both with a single device, the 6280 graphical touchpanel.

Carrying a 7" touchscreen, the 6280 not only acts as a UI for Honeywell's Vista alarm systems (with ethernet port and built-in web server for security monitoring) but it can also handle an entire home automation sytem (including lighting, door, shades and HVAC systems) via RF technology and Z-Wave.

It will be available in 3 models-- a basic model with built-in SD card, a home controller with Z-Wave capability and webserver, and a wifi version.

Honewell will also be showcasing the system at ISC West 2011.

Go Honeywell Showcases Connected Home Solutions

The European home automation market will go towards a positive track in the next 4 years, reaching estimated revenues of €228.7m by 2015 (at a CAGR of 5.1%) according to Frost & Sullivan.

Such growth is thanks to recent advances, most significant of which being the tablet computer's rise. Whereas before vendors needed to dedicate resources and R&D efforts for UI development, today's tablet computers provide an inexpensive touch-based control system via easy-to-develop apps.

Currently tablet-based home control systems have a major impact on the market's luxury segment, and as their prices become cheaper (due to the tablet market's becoming indunated with an endless variety of models) they'll become largely affordable to the market's mid-range segment. Frost & Sullivan says using a tablet as a control interface helps reduce home automation system prices by up to 50%.

Today's customers live increasingly connected lives, and advances in smartphones and tablets will increase opportunities for manufacturers to develop interesting UIs without the need to break the bank.

Also causing price decline is the increasing competition within the home automation market itself, together with economic pressure on manufacturers to reduce profit margins-- thus increasing affordability.

Go Frost & Sullivan

With customers eager to live life wire-free, it's no surprise analysts expect a market for wireless video devices to be big-- ABI Research expects 50m devices to ship into consumer markets by 2015.

ABI says that while there are a number of wireless video technology in the works-- including wifi (802.11n and 802.11ac) + video compression, UWB + video compression, WHDI, 60 GHz (WirelessHD and WiGig/WGA)-- the market's winners will be "hybrid" solutions based on 2 or more technologies (so as to complement one technologies weaknesses with another's strengths).

Wilocity and Atheros have a WiGig/802.11n hybrid solution, while WirelessHD has one with WiGig (both based on 60GHz).

Companies can also pair such wireless solutions with wired platforms such as MoCA and Powerline.

The emerging market's real problem is a lack of standardisation and interoperability, together with range (some technologies work best with line of sight between devices). But with consumer education and future seamless user-friendly systems, ABI says the wireless video market has potentially good long-term prospects.

Go Display Applications to Generate 50m Unit Wireless Video Solution Market