Written by Dan Cregg, CTO, INSTEON
If you've been paying attention to all the news of late, the smarthome industry appears to be heading for mainstream adoption with all the major technology players placing their bets on the space.
What’s missing in all this, unfortunately, is a focus on simplicity. What has driven smartphone adoption by average consumers over the past several years is simple, intuitive interfaces with easy connectivity. But in the smarthome space, every technology provider and device manufacturer is selecting their own favorite network protocols to connect devices in the home - and almost all of them use radio frequency (RF) communications exclusively.
If the industry wants a chance to succeed in the consumer mass-market, these networks better all work seamlessly together, not cause any headaches and be relatively inexpensive.
That hasn't been the case with networks in the home historically. From dial-up to broadband to Wi-Fi, network connectivity has often started out as too complex, not very dependable and pricey.
But turning on lights or turning down thermostats remotely doesn’t require the network bandwidth that our Internet-enabled computers do. Network protocols with low data rates are better for suited for the simple command and control functions of connected home devices. In addition, a network using lower data rates can transmit over both RF and the home’s existing electrical wiring or powerline, making it highly cost-effective and far more reliable than either transmission alone.
Check out our white paper that compares the pros and cons of the many network protocols on the market. We believe the best home automation solution for consumers will feature home automation devices that use a combination of the best network technologies for specific purposes, much like our phones use a variety of connectivity solutions such as GPS, Bluetooth, WiFi, cellular, etc.
Connected homes are the world the consumer wants to have and it’s up to all the device manufacturers, technology giants and network protocol companies to work together to make sure it happens.
A big thank you to Dan for speaking at Tech in Motion Orange County.
About Dan Cregg
Dan Cregg, CTO of INSTEON, has been in the smart home space for over 20 years. He began his tenure at INSTEON as the director of engineering and product development. Cregg was part of the team that gave the world the first network-controlled bulb in 2012. His contributions have made INSTEON’s dual-mesh technology one of the most widely used and reliable protocols available. Before contributing to the advancement of INSTEON technology, Cregg founded HomeRun Automation and SmartLinc, which were purchased by INSTEON’s corporate entity, SmartLabs, in 2000. Cregg holds a master’s degree in engineering from California State University, Long Beach and is an adjunct professor as well as a member of the engineering school's executive advisory council.