Please note: the JRF no longer conducts any research into this area of work. The information provided in this section is kept here for historical purposes.
Devices
The following section looks in detail at the major devices in the home and how they can be operated.
Remote controls
All the devices in the house have manual controls next to them. Devices can also be operated by remote control, using either an infrared controller or a telephone.
Infrared controllers
A wide variety of handheld devices are available that can be used to operate the house. These controllers can be programmed to operate any device or group of devices that you wish. They can be taught to operate your television, video and stereo, providing a single control point for a room or the whole house. The person who designs and installs the system, the systems integrator, will be able to advise you which controller is the most appropriate for your needs.
Telephone control
Any telephone, including the ones inside your home, can be used to control the house. If you ring from an outside telephone, you have to dial into the house and enter a PIN number. Voice prompts will guide you through a series of menus where you will be able to press buttons on the phone to turn devices on and off or to check their current status. Details of these prompts are illustrated in the diagram below.
Doors
All the doors in the house have a motorised door opener fitted to them. These allow the door to be opened either by a switch located next to the door or by a remote control unit. These controls can be set either to open the door and then close it automatically a few seconds later, or to open or close each time the button is pushed. The doors also have an in-built obstruction alert. If something blocks the door as it tries to close it will open fully, then re-close, slowing as it reaches the obstruction point. If it encounters the obstruction again, it will stop until activated again. The motorised openers feature battery back-up so the doors can still be opened and closed if the power fails. If there is a power failure, the switches next to the door will not work but pushing the door or using a remote control will open the door.
External and internal swing doors
External and internal swing doors can be opened and closed manually, by turning the handle and giving the door a small push or pull. The doors will then automatically open or close fully. The doors can also be opened and closed using a push button located on the inside of the door adjacent to the door handles, or by a remote control unit. Both of these methods can unlock the door and then re-lock it after it closes.
Internal sliding doors
Internal sliding doors can be operated by using either the push buttons located on either side of the door or through a remote control unit. The door can be opened or closed manually if required.
Windows
Window openers
All of the windows in the house are fitted with motors to open and close them. This motor can be operated using the switch located next to the window or through any of the remote control devices. Windows can be opened partially or all the way. In case of power failure the motors have a battery back-up that will allow them to be moved if required. There is also a safety release pin mounted on the windows in case of mechanical failure.
Curtain and blind openers
The curtains and blinds are fitted with motors to open and close them. This motor can be operated using the switch located next to the window or through any of the remote control devices. Curtains can be opened partially or all the way. In case of power failure, the motors have a battery back-up that will allow them to be moved if required.
Cupboards and sinks
The wall cupboard and the kitchen sink are both mounted on lifting mechanisms. This allows them to be moved to the most appropriate position for use by different family members. For example, if it is hard to reach the sink or the cupboard they can be lowered to a more usable height. The cupboard and sink lifters are controlled using the rocker switches located to the side of them. The sink or cupboard will only move while the switch is depressed - letting go will stop movement. Both the sink and the cupboard can also be moved from outside the kitchen using one of the remote control devices. In this case they will move to a pre-set position. The lifting mechanisms can also detect any obstruction. If something is left under the cupboard, the lifting mechanism will stop to avoid damaging what is beneath. Both lifting mechanisms also have a battery back-up. In the case of power failure, the switches next to them or a remote control unit will allow them to be moved a small number of times.
Water
All the taps in the home can be turned on using either the buttons on an adjacent panel or a remote control device.
Kitchen and bathroom sink
The kitchen sink can be filled to one-third, two- thirds or full up with water at the required temperature using the buttons on the panel. Pressing stop will turn off the tap and holding down the stop button will allow you to top up the sink.
Bath
The bath can be filled to half and full levels at a predetermined temperature. Pressing stop will turn off the tap and holding down the stop button allows you to top up the bath. Pressing any of the fill buttons will automatically put the plug in. To empty the bath, there is a 'waste open' button on the control panel. A top-up button is located on the wall for you to use when you are in the bath.
Shower
A button on the wall controls the shower. This will run the shower for a predetermined time or until the button is pressed again. The shower is set to the same temperature as the bath.
Toilet
The toilet is operated from the panel next to it and can either be fully or partially flushed. Both of these flushing options will use less water than a conventional toilet.
Lighting
All of the lights in the house can be switched on and off using the conventional light switches or any remote control device. Using the light switches in the room will bring the bulb on fully. Using a remote control unit will allow dimming. Other systems in the house can operate lights in the following ways:
- The doorbell and telephone can be made to flash the lights for the hard of hearing.
- The fire alarm can switch lights on to guide you towards an exit.
- The security alarm can use the lights to make the house look like it is occupied.
- Movement detectors can turn lights on or off when you enter or leave a room.
Heating
Each room has a temperature sensor that maintains the room at the temperature set on the main controller. On and off times for the central heating system and hot water boiler are programmed through this controller. The central heating can also be turned on and off from any remote control device. This will override the current programme but the central heating will return to its normal schedule the next time it is programmed to turn on or off.
Detection devices
Externally there is a detector that measures wind speed and light level. Internally each room has a multi-function detector head, which looks similar to a smoke detector. The detector measures smoke, temperature (for fire and heating), light level, movement (using passive infrared), and carbon monoxide. This detector also has an infrared receiver, emergency light, siren, and microphone. A 360o digital camera can also be fitted. These detectors are used to allow the house to respond to changing conditions and to remote control devices. (See 'What the house can do' for examples.)
Alarms and security
Telephone
When the telephone rings, it can send a signal to the network to activate another device such as the lights. The telephone does not use a conventional handset but features a hands free system that you can operate by using the speed dial or conventional buttons. The phone can also be answered by pressing the button on a wearable pendant. If the phone is not in use, you can use this pendant as an alarm and send a call to a control centre if you experience any difficulties.
Door entry system
The front door is fitted with a door entry system. Pushing the doorbell can do a number of things.
- If the security alarm is not set, the door entry system can turn on the TV or interrupt the current TV channel to show the person ringing the bell, using an outside video camera. Any remote control device can then be used to open the door if required.
- Any or all of the telephones can ring and the lights can be made to flash. The phone can then be used to speak to whoever is at the door and pressing the 7 button on the phone will open the door.
- If the security alarm is set, the house can call another phone, such as your mobile. Answering this telephone will allow you to converse with the caller and, if you wish, allow access by pressing the 7 button on the phone.
- The caller could leave a message on the answer phone if no one answers the doorbell.
- Any remote control device can also be set up to open the front door if required.
Fire alarm
The fire alarm detects fire by rapid increases in temperature or by sensing smoke. If a fire is detected, the alarm will sound a siren, flash all the lights in the house eight times and then leave all the lights on in the house to aid escape. At the same time, the alarm can call the care centre and notify them that the alarm has gone off. The system can be configured to unlock the front door automatically if someone is in the house.
Security alarm
The security system is controlled from a panel in the hallway. This panel also acts as the answering machine for the house. There are a series of voice prompts on the alarm panel that will lead you through its operation. These are summarised in the diagram below.
Setting the alarm will activate the central locking system. This will close all windows and doors and can switch off any devices. For example, you may want it to turn off any lights left on during the daytime. The security system can also be operated through the internal telephone or by dialling into the house from an outside line. In these instances, the voice commands work in the same way as using the panel directly. Any of the remote control devices can also be used to operate the alarm system.
Existing appliances
Some of your existing electrical products can also be linked into the smart home. Special replacement plugs can be fitted that will allow remote control of the appliance. These adaptors can be turned on or off from buttons on the plug, or through any of the remote control devices.
