DMi D&M Installation Europe is expanding the functionality and capabilities of its Escient Zone home control system with major new additions to the product range at Integrated Systems Europe 2010. New Zone products to be introduced at ISE include a new video media player, adding video streaming to Zone, an AV I/O extender, and a range of DIN Rail lighting modules.

Escient Zone is a powerful, cost / performance competitive, integrated CI home control system exclusive to D&M Europe. Zone is positioned to provide fully featured, high performance home automation and control at a lower price point than current market leading systems. The new Zone MP400 media player extends the renowned multiroom audio distribution capabilities of current Zone media players into the video domain. The MP400 enables distribution of video from a central hard drive throughout the home and can handle a wide range of video formats, up to an including HD, with the highest quality playback and upscaling of SD signals. Supported video codecs include MPEG2, MPEG4, H.264, DivX, and WMV. AV connectivity includes HDMI, component and S-video, analogue and SPDIF digital audio, and two USB 2.0 ports. The player uniquely introduces IT based capabilities to CE and CI at its 600 Euro (ex-vat) SRP. The Zone IO Extender is a perfect add-on for any large Zone system. Providing additional inputs and outputs for simple control and integration of audio-video components.

The new range of Zone DIN Rail lighting modules enables the wired control of leading edge and trailing edge dimmers, and ballast, in conjunction with relay switching, and a multifunctional I/O extender. These provide steering and integration of motion sensors, and feature rich control capabilities comparable with current leading conventional control systems, at an extremely competitive price point. Installers can programme Zone DIN Rail products and systems via the Escient Zone control software, providing the customer with the required preset controls and lighting scenes.

Verizon’s 4G Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network is slated for commercial launch in 2010. 4Home, the category-creator that has developed a carrier-grade software platform for connected home services, is working with Verizon Wireless to develop the first of these services over a 4G LTE network.

"Home control services have typically been considered value-added services running over a traditional high-speed internet connection,” said Jeff Crews, senior vice president, service provider rollouts at 4Home. “Verizon Wireless' continued leadership leveraging the higher bandwidths of 4G technologies opens up an entirely new market for our platform and applications. Verizon Wireless will provide the infrastructure and innovation in wireless connectivity and 4Home is providing the expertise and platform in home control services."

Home control services are broadband-enabled services that currently include energy management, home security and monitoring, home health, and media management. With the coming availability of 4G LTE mobile broadband networks, these services will integrate seamlessly into the mobile experience, allowing consumers to better manage their media, energy usage, home security and health, on the go.

Verizon is working with 4Home to develop home control services designed specifically to take advantage of its planned 4G LTE network, scheduled to roll out in 25 to 30 markets later this year. These services and their underlying software are the result of a collaboration fostered at Verizon Wireless' LTE Innovation Center, which provides an environment for diverse companies to work together in developing innovative products that will leverage 4G LTE technology. During CES, Verizon Wireless' LTE Innovations Center are showcasing 4Home's home control applications and platform software, running on the award-winning SheevaPlug plug computer reference design.

Is this relevant for CAT-iq, light bulbs? Yes, but read this first.

Supplier of networking products and computer accessories Eminent Europe BV shows to be highly involved with energy saving products by introducing environmentally friendly LED lighting. Next to low power consumption and long life span, the LED lamps have dimming capabilities. This specific combination of features will make the Eminent lamps the first true replacement for traditional bulbs and halogen lamps. The Eminent professional LED lamps are ready for mass production and will be available in stores in October 2009.

New product category for a growing market
Eminent presents a new product category: dimmable LED lighting. Developing energy-efficient LED lighting is in line with Eminent's objective to create environmentally friendly consumer solutions. Earlier Eminent announced e-Domotica, an innovative home automation system focussing on energy saving. The new LED lamps again underline Eminent's commitment to environmental sustainability. Especially in the field of lighting, there is a growing need for replacing traditional bulbs and halogen lamps with energy-efficient lamps. Thanks to research and development of new-generation dimmable LED lamps, Eminent is able to enter this growing market.

To come back to our initial question, what has lighting to do with CAT-iq.
There is a (potential) relation, as the LED lamps use electronics. These electronics can be used to control the LED lamp remotely. And here comes CAT-iq as a possible solution.
Eminent sees the LED lamps as part of their e-Domotica solution. Others like Sharp and Philips supply LED lamps with remote control.

So ladies / gentlemen of the CAT-iq industry, look at this huge potential market. 

Here you can see the Sharp LED lamp with remote control.

Allthough using another wireless standard, z-wave, this vendor starts with domotic products for the retail market.

Convenience, safety and energy saving are the basis of the new e-Domotica system by Eminent. The supplier of networking products and computer accessories adopts another course with the advanced home automation system. Instead of separate systems, Eminent offers an integrated solution using the innovative Z-Wave technology. e-Domotica automatically switches on and off devices and secures the house at the same time. The system consists of a control unit with touch screen, switches, alarm devices and surveillance cameras.

Electronic devices react on scenarios
Turn off the lamps in the kitchen and dining room and dim the floor-lamp when watching TV. Obviously, these actions repeat whenever the TV turns on. And so are the actions when having dinner and going to bed. Supplier of networking products and computer accessories Eminent is developing a home automation system that switches electronic devices separately, or together, like in scenarios. Part of the so-called e-Domotica system will be a control unit. This control unit wirelessly connects to e-Domotica switches and dimmers in the house. It is fitted with a touch screen – touch the ‘watching TV’ button and all lamps and electronic devices will switch in accordance with this predefined scenario.

Alarm calls per phone or sms
Next to switching devices, Eminent integrates an advanced alarm system in e-Domotica. Eminent will provide motion detectors and door contacts, that are connected to the control unit. As soon as a motion detector observes motion, e-Domotica alarms the user by email, phone or sms. The door contact is activated when a door or windows opens while nobody is home. Since e-Domotica alarms by phone and sms, the user is notified immediately when burglars break into the house. If an e-Domotica camera is installed, live images are available via the Internet.

Everything under control in the house
Eminent e-Domotica enables consumers to fully check on what is happening at home. Switching devices with the control unit is convenient and it saves energy at the same time. e-Domotica dims multiple lamps at the same time and will never forget to switch off a lamp. It is possible to use time schedules, so that e-Domotica switches off all electronic devices at 11.30pm. These features plus the integrated alarm function results into a complete, reliable and innovative system.

Available from September 2009
Eminent e-Domotica uses Z-Wave technology and has a multilingual user interface. Various members of the Dutch TKH Group have coordinated efforts for the Eminent e-Domotica project. As a result, Eminent has the opportunity to launch a system, combining technical knowledge with a consumer oriented approach. Eminent e-Domotica will be introduced on the Dutch market in September 2009 and is expected to be available on other European markets in January 2010.