Marthesh Nagendra, the Sales Director, India, MEA, and South-East Asia regions at NETGEAR, embodies dynamic and visionary leadership. Throughout his tenure, Marthesh has been instrumental in fostering high-performance teams that consistently exceed their business goals year after year. His talent for mentoring and empowering team members has been pivotal to NETGEAR’s sustained success.

In an exclusive interview with Smart Home World, Marthesh Nagendra discusses NETGEAR’s latest product line and the company’s future vision, showcasing his profound insights into the industry and his commitment to innovation.

Can you provide an overview of the latest product range introduced by NETGEAR for 2024?

I’d be delighted to provide you with an overview of our latest product range. Our recent introductions reflect our commitment to innovation and addressing the evolving needs of our customers.  We recently launched our Enterprise-Class AV M4350 Series Switches in India. These switches are engineered and certified for AVoIP with dedicated service and support. The M4350 is packed with more Enterprise-class hardware, redundant power supplies, and up to 100G uplinks. The revolutionary NETGEAR AV user interface and Engage Controller contain pre-configured profiles for all major audio, video, and lighting protocols. The M4350 Series features IGMP Plus with Auto-LAG and Auto-Trunk, NSF, Selectable Port-Channel/LAG, Advanced IPv4/IPv6 security, a variety of PoE+ and Ultra90 PoE++ options for up to 90W AVoIP endpoints, controlled thermal and acoustics with intelligent fans, NSF, and a lot more. 

NETGEAR M4250, M4300, M4350 and M4500 series managed switches are unique in the industry with an innovative AV-oriented interface. Removing all the complex menus filled with arduous IT network jargon, the NETGEAR AV OS provides a simple AV-friendly, template-based approach to switch configurations. The M4350 series incorporates this simplicity into enterprise-class hardware with redundant power supplies, Power over Ethernet (PoE), up to 90W per port, ultra-quiet fans and easy setup managed by the NETGEAR Engage Controller. The revolutionary NETGEAR AV OS contains pre-configured profiles for all major audio, video, and lighting protocols including: AVB, Dante, AES67, NDI4/NDI5, NVX, AMX, Q-SYS, ZeeVee, Aurora Multimedia, Kramer, Atlona, LibAV, Visionary, SDVoE and others. SMPTE ST 2110 is supported on the VSM4320C (copper) and XSM4344C (fiber) M4350 models with 10G to 100G ports and PTP synchronization.

What has been the response to the recently launched Enterprise-Class AV M4350 Series Switches? Please share the advantages it provides to the users.

The response to our product has been overwhelmingly positive and we’re grateful for the support and enthusiasm our product has received. We’re confident that our product is addressing key customer needs and making a positive impact. 

Advantages of NETGEAR Enterprise-Class AV M4350 Series is that it is designed for the most demanding AV over IP installations of up to thousands of endpoints. AV-centric User Interface allows for simple, profile-based, per-port configuration in a snap. Featuring robust Enterprise-class hardware, redundant power supplies, and larger switch fabrics with 25G and 100G uplinks. Simplify your multicast AV deployments with NETGEAR IGMP Plus for out-of-the-box functionality. Ideal for Commercial AV, Medical, Residential, Broadcast, Lighting installations, and more.

Plus, the NETGEAR Engage Controller makes configuring and managing all your M4350 switches a breeze. And NETGEAR offers features like Auto-LAG and Auto-Trunk to automatically configure multiple switches. A Free NETGEAR Pro AV Design team is always available to help with system design and implementation to ensure the project will work. Works out of the box with automatic, multi-switch configuration for most AV-over-IP installs.

How does NETGEAR plan to ensure compatibility and interoperability with emerging technologies and standards in the networking industry?

 To ensure compatibility and interoperability with emerging technologies and standards in the networking industry, NETGEAR employs several strategic approaches: 

We actively participate in industry standards bodies, consortia, and forums that define and shape networking protocols, technologies, and interoperability standards. By engaging with organizations such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), Wi-Fi Alliance, and Ethernet Alliance, NETGEAR stays informed about emerging standards and contributes to their development and adoption. Our M4350/M4250/M4300/M4500 switches work seamlessly when you connect different AV devices to a single switch. 

NETGEAR prioritizes the adoption of open standards and protocols that promote interoperability and compatibility across diverse networking environments. By adhering to established standards such as Ethernet, Wi-Fi, TCP/IP, and SNMP, we ensure that our networking products seamlessly integrate with third-party solutions and are interoperable with a wide range of devices and platforms. From time to time we conduct rigorous interoperability testing and certification programs to validate the compatibility of our products with emerging technologies, industry standards, and ecosystem partners.

Tell us about the speeds of the WAX628 and WAX638E access points. What advantages does each offer in terms of network performance?

Both access points are designed to deliver high-speed wireless connectivity and robust performance to meet the demands of modern networks. 

WAX628: Insight Managed Wi-Fi 6 AX5400 Dual-band Access Point with Multi-Gig PoE.

 Advantages of WAX628 

*      Business class Wi-Fi based on next generation 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 technology on both 5.0GHz and 2.4GHz bands.

  *   Enterprise security and Enhanced open security, such as WAP3, WPA Enterprise, 8x SSID and VLAN.

*      High speed and easy wiring with a 2.5GbE port with PoE 

WAX638E: Insight Managed AXE7800 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 6E Access Point

 Advantages of WAX628E

*        Business class Wi-Fi based on next generation 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 technology on 6.0GHz, 5.0GHz and 2.4GHz bands. Enterprise level security with WPA3 and 8 separate wireless networks (SSIDs).

*        Enterprise security and Enhanced open security, such as WPA3, WPA2 Enterprise, WPA3 Enterprise, 8x SSID, Dynamic VLAN and VLAN

*        High speed and easy wiring with a 2.5GbE port with Ultra60PoE++

How does NETGEAR Insight simplify the configuration and management of SSIDs and VLANs for enhanced security?

NETGEAR Insight is a Cloud-based management platform that enables easy setup and configuration of NETGEAR Insight Managed Access Points, and Switches. With the cloud advantage of unified setup and configuration of devices, simplified ongoing maintenance, continuous visibility and control, remote access, constant evolution, scalability, and reliability, Insight take the complexity and rigidity out of networking.

Here are some of the advantages and features of NETGEAR Insight: 

* Single view of all your Business devices and one-touch registration with Insight. 

* One-step product registration of all your NETGEAR Business devices 

Unified view of all Business devices. 

• 24/7 instant access to support. 
• Easily find relevant documentation. 
• Useful updates & product information. 
• Easy access to guided assistance.

How does the mesh capability of these access points extend the reach of the Wi-Fi network and what are the benefits for users in areas without Ethernet wiring?

By adding multiple access points that form a mesh network, the coverage area expands significantly. Each access point within the mesh network functions as a link, reinforcing the Wi-Fi signal and extending the range throughout the designated coverage area. This architecture allows users to experience strong and stable Wi-Fi connectivity, even in areas that were previously out of reach or had poor signal quality.

Overall, the mesh network architecture offers a robust solution for extending Wi-Fi coverage and ensuring reliable connectivity throughout the coverage area. By leveraging multiple access points to form a unified network infrastructure, users can enjoy strong and stable Wi-Fi connectivity, even in challenging environments or areas with architectural barriers that may impede signal propagation.

What is Wi-Fi 6 Release 2 technology, and how does it utilize a 160 MHz channel to achieve 100% more throughputs compared to Wi-Fi 6 Release 1?

The new release adds optional features that Wi-Fi 6 device developers can take advantage of, including multi-user uploads and better power efficiency. 

2019 saw the debut of 802.11ax, or Wi-Fi 6, the newest and fastest version of the Wi-Fi standard. Now, three years later, that standard is getting upgraded to provide a new swath of spectrum that is less congested and offers wider channels compared to the existing 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands used in previous Wi-Fi generations. Wi-Fi 6 Release 2 supports more robust uploads and better power efficiency, which is key for battery-powered Wi-Fi devices, particularly in IoT applications. 

Can you provide examples of real-world scenarios where this increased throughput delivers tangible benefits for users?

Certainly! The increased throughput delivered by Wi-Fi 6 Release 2, especially with the utilization of a 160 MHz channel in the 6 GHz frequency band, offers tangible benefits across various real-world scenarios:

*        High-Density Environments: In crowded environments such as airports, stadiums, conference centers, and concert venues, where large numbers of users simultaneously access Wi-Fi networks. Users can enjoy faster download and upload speeds, smoother video streaming, and better overall network performance even in densely populated areas.

*        Enterprise Networks: In corporate environments, where employees rely on Wi-Fi connectivity for productivity and collaboration, the increased throughput translates to faster file transfers, seamless video conferencing, and improved access to cloud-based applications and services. 

*        Education Institutions: In schools, colleges, and universities, where students and faculty members depend on Wi-Fi for online learning, research, and communication, the increased throughput supports multimedia-rich content delivery, interactive learning applications, and collaborative projects. 

*        Healthcare Facilities: In healthcare settings such as hospitals, clinics, and medical offices, where doctors, nurses, and staff rely on Wi-Fi connectivity for electronic medical records (EMRs), telemedicine consultations, and medical imaging, the increased throughput enables faster access to critical patient information, seamless transmission of medical images and test results, and improved communication among healthcare professionals. 

*        Smart Homes and IoT Devices: In smart home environments, where an increasing number of IoT devices such as smart TVs, security cameras, thermostats, and smart appliances are connected to Wi-Fi networks, the increased throughput ensures smoother streaming of 4K/8K video content, faster downloads of large files, and more responsive control of connected devices. 

How does the inclusion of a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port enable multi-gigabit speed, and what advantages does it offer in terms of network performance?

The 5-G Multi-Gig port supports intermediate speeds, so your network devices can run at their designated speeds without any limitations. It is also backward compatible. If you already have the traditional Cat5E and Cat6 cables, you won’t need to buy new ones. 

Overall, the inclusion of a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port enables multi-gigabit speeds by delivering higher bandwidth and faster data transfer rates, thereby enhancing network performance, supporting high-speed connections, future-proofing network infrastructure, and maintaining compatibility with existing cabling infrastructure. These advantages make 2.5 Gbps Ethernet ports a valuable asset for modern network deployments seeking to meet the demands of today’s data-driven environments and prepare for future growth and scalability.

Any new launches and plans for the Indian Market?

Our dedication to excellence drives us to continually enhance our product base. We’re thrilled to announce that we have exciting new products in the pipeline, which are poised to set new standards in the industry. Stay tuned as we unveil these innovations designed to elevate your experience and meet evolving needs.

Our Wi-Fi 7 products are already available in the US and getting great responses from the consumers. And we are ready to bring these to India when the government opens it up. We will also be introducing a broader range of AV and Smart Switch options, designed to elevate performance, streamline operations, and meet the evolving demands of our customers.

Click here to read full March issue- https://www.smarthomeworld.in/magazine-march2024/

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The Connectivity Standards Alliance and its members release the Matter 1.0 standard and certification program, ushering in a new era of the IoT from silicon to storefront

DAVIS, CA – The Connectivity Standards Alliance, the international community of more than 550 technology companies committed to open standards for the Internet of Things, announced today the release of the Matter 1.0 specification and the opening of the Matter certification program. Member companies who make up all facets of the IoT now have a complete program for bringing the next generation of interoperable products that work across brands and platforms to market with greater privacy, security, and simplicity for consumers.

As part of the Matter 1.0 release, authorized test labs are open for product certification, the test harnesses and tools are available, and the open-source reference design software development kit (SDK) is complete – all to bring new, innovative products to market. Further, Alliance members with devices already deployed and with plans to update their products to support Matter can now do so, once their products are certified.

“What started as a mission to unravel the complexities of connectivity has resulted in Matter, a single, global IP-based protocol that will fundamentally change the IoT,” said Tobin Richardson, President and CEO of the Connectivity Standards Alliance. “This release is the first step on a journey our community and the industry are taking to make the IoT more simple, secure, and valuable no matter who you are or where you live.  With global support from companies large and small, today’s Matter 1.0 release is more than a milestone for our organization and our members; it is a celebration of what is possible.”

Over 280 member companies — including Amazon, Apple, Comcast, Google, Signify and SmartThings — have brought their technologies, experience, and innovations together to ensure Matter met the needs of all stakeholders including users, product makers, and platforms. Collectively, these companies led the way through requirements and specification development, reference design, multiple test events and final specification validation to reach this industry milestone.

“We would not be where we are today without the strength and dedication of the Alliance members who have provided thousands of engineers, intellectual property, software accelerators, security protocols, and the financial resources to accomplish what no single company could ever do on their own,” said Bruno Vulcano, Chair of the Alliance Board and R&D Manager for Legrand Digital Infrastructure. “With members equally distributed throughout the world, Matter is the realization of a truly global effort that will benefit manufacturers, customers and consumers alike, not just in a single region or continent.”

More than just a specification, the Matter 1.0 standard launches with test cases and comprehensive test tools for Alliance members and a global certification program including eight authorized test labs who are primed to test not only Matter, but also Matter’s underlying network technologies, Wi-Fi and Thread. Wi-Fi enables Matter devices to interact over a high-bandwidth local network and allows smart home devices to communicate with the cloud. Thread provides an energy efficient and highly reliable mesh network within the home. Both the Wi-Fi Alliance and Thread Group partnered with the Connectivity Standards Alliance to help realize the complete vision of Matter.

“Matter and Thread resolve interoperability and connectivity issues in smart homes so manufacturers can focus on other value-adding innovations,” Thread Group president Vividh Siddha said. “Thread creates a self-healing mesh network which grows more responsive and reliable with each added device, and its ultra-lower power architecture extends battery life. Combined, Thread with Matter is a powerful choice for product companies and a great value for consumers.”

“Matter leverages Wi-Fi’s sophisticated network efficiency, global pervasiveness of more than 18 billion devices in use today, and robust standards-based foundation to help deliver the IoT vision,” said Edgar Figueroa, president and CEO, Wi-Fi Alliance®. “Together, Wi-Fi CERTIFIED and Matter bring simple and secure interoperability for a better user experience with a wide range of IoT devices.”

Matter is also striking new ground with security policies and processes using distributed ledger technology and Public Key Infrastructure to validate device certification and provenance. This will help to ensure users are connecting authentic, certified, and up-to-date devices to their homes and networks.

This initial release of Matter, running over Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and Thread, and using Bluetooth Low Energy for device commissioning, will support a variety of common smart home products, including lighting and electrical, HVAC controls, window coverings and shades, safety and security sensors, door locks, media devices including TVs, controllers as both devices and applications, and bridges.

To learn more about Matter and how to be a part of the next generation of the IoT, visit here and become a member of the Connectivity Standards Alliance.  If you are already a member and would like to test your products for Matter specification compliance, please reach out to any of our Authorized Test Labs: Allion Labs, Bureau Veritas, Dekra, Element, Eurofins Digital Testing, Granite River Labs, TUV Rheinland, and UL Solutions.

About the Connectivity Standards Alliance

The Connectivity Standards Alliance, formerly the Zigbee Alliance, is the foundation and future of the Internet of Things (IoT). Established in 2002, its wide-ranging global membership collaborates to create and evolve universal open standards for the products transforming the way we live, work and play. With its Members’ deep and diverse expertise, robust certification programs, and a full suite of open IoT solutions the Alliance is leading the movement toward a more intuitive, imaginative, and useful world.

The Connectivity Standards Alliance Board of Directors is comprised of executives from Amazon, Apple, ASSA ABLOY, Comcast, Google, Huawei, IKEA, Infineon Technologies AG, The Kroger Co., Latch Systems, LEEDARSON, Legrand, LG Electronics, Lutron Electronics, Midea, Nordic Semiconductor, NXP Semiconductors, OPPO, Resideo, Schneider Electric, Signify, Silicon Labs, SmartThings, Somfy, STMicroelectronics, Texas Instruments, Tuya, and Wulian.  

Learn more about the Alliance at www.csa-iot.org

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Kordz revealed its Ultra High Speed certified PRS4 HDMI Cable series at Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) in Barcelona as a sturdy, certified cable solution that satisfies the rigorous needs of professional AV integrators. The new range of HDMI cables combines Kordz’s signature reliability with the full features and benefits of the latest HDMI standards across the whole range. It also fully supports eARC for immersive audio.

Kordz PRS4 HDMI Cables address market concerns caused by uncertified and unreliable HDMI devices that claim to fulfill Ultra High-Speed HDMI Cable standards but fail to do so. Reliable 48Gbps capable HDMI cables are becoming one of the more frequently requested products by distributors and their customers. Kordz’s sophisticated manufacturing procedures have allowed for increased product durability without sacrificing performance in a cable that further provides a solid video signal.

“Achieving 48Gbps support up to 20m without external power is amazing,” said James Chen, Managing Director, Kordz. “For immersive audio, it is now mandatory to fully support eARC in HDMI cables, so we have beefed everything up whilst maximizing flexibility, robustness, and using compact connectors that fit firmly. This is all consistent with our belief at Kordz that professional integrators should be able to work faster while offering flexible solutions in a more effective product that’s robust enough to stay in the wall for years.”

The Kordz PRS4 HDMI Cable range features the high-level finish and quality that AV professionals expect from Kordz. They are manufactured using safe materials and every cable is individual performance tested to ensure absolute confidence in the Kordz two-year guarantee for long-length active optical cables and lifetime warranty for PRS4 passive cables.

Each Kordz PRS4 HDMI Cable is engineered and constructed to assure integrators of installation success and ease. Featuring precision-engineered diecast perfect fit connectors and robust materials to ensure reliable connectivity, Kordz PRS4 HDMI Cables are available in installer-friendly lengths of 0.5m, 1m, 1.5m, 2m, 3m, 4m, 5m, 10m, 15m, and 20m, all supporting 4K HFR and 8K devices plus dynamic HDR.

The new Kordz PRS4 HDMI Cables were displayed at ISE 2022 in Barcelona from May 10-13, at the Kordz stand 2P200, Hall 2, Fira de Barcelona, Gran Via.

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The upcoming Crestron Home® OS version 3.13, which will be available in May, has a number of new features, but one of the most intriguing is the addition of Circadian Rhythm settings, which allow you to “auto-tune” lighting to mimic natural light patterns throughout the day.

Everyone who uses Crestron dimmers will now have the ability to modify the light intensity in this “bio-centric” manner. This upgrade will make every feature of Crestron’s tunable LED light fixtures, as well as those provided by its partners, available in the new fixtures, including the Circadian Rhythm function’s color.

Setup is remarkably easy: “There are really just five steps to it, and any Crestron dealer will find the process familiar,” says Jason Oster, director of product management (residential solutions) for Crestron.

Those steps are:

1.  In the advanced Crestron Home menu, press “Circadian.”

2. In the Circadian menu, set desired color temperature levels for morning, day, evening, and night. “Throughout the day we take those points at various times of day and create a nice smooth curve to adjust the color temperature,” explains Oster. “The homeowner doesn’t concisely see color temperature levels since the color temperature shifts are being slowly executed behind the scenes by Crestron Home.”

For systems that only have traditional dimmers, instead of color temperature, the Circadian feature can adjust the lighting intensity. Oster explains, “Even before the Crestron fixtures are released, with traditional Crestron lighting systems, people can now take advantage of this Circadian feature.”

3. Run the preview. “This allows the integrator to play back a whole day in one minute,” says Oster. That’s when all the adjustments to a day-long program are made. “They can do this either by themselves or with a lighting expert. Or, if they want to, and the homeowner’s interested, they can walk around with the client and adjust via a tablet or use the touch panel on the wall, tweaking all these settings, pressing the preview button, and asking the homeowner. ‘Hey, what do you think of that? Do you want it lighter, darker, different color temperature?’”

4. Repeat step three for each room featuring Circadian lighting.

5. Choose the trigger. “There are different ways of automating this,” Oster notes. “You can trigger Circadian mode from a Horizon keypad, a schedule, a touch panel, or, of course, from your Crestron Home app.” One can also set certain override scenes. “Suppose I want to clean the kitchen, but it’s midday on a sunny day,” says Oster. “I’d want all the light at one hundred percent, even though normally I wouldn’t want that with noontime sun pouring into the windows. I’ll add, say, a ‘Clean’ scene button, and that’ll give me maximum light in that room to temporarily override the automatic Circadian scene recall.”

SolarSync, which uses an exterior Crestron SolarSync sensor to pick up the actual outside color temperature of the sun in real-time and adapts your inside lighting to match that light, is also included in this version.

Warm Dim is another feature of the update: “You can think of it like the old-school incandescent bulbs as one dims the light, it starts to go towards more of a yellow or an orange hue,” says Oster. “It feels more natural to most people because many of us grew up with incandescent bulbs.”

Dashboards and DM NAX Updates

Beyond lighting, the device health dashboard is seeing more features added with every update, too. “It’s now capable of much more than just power cycling a device. For example, with this release, we support tracking and monitoring the battery life of TSR-310 remotes and even see the last time the remote checked in with the control processor to glean if someone has left a remote off the dock for a few days,” says Oster. 

This update also includes battery life information from the door and occupancy sensors. Additionally, as Crestron publishes new upgrades to the device health dashboard, additional devices and features are immediately added to the dashboard.

There’s news on the Crestron DM NAX front as well. “Previously we added support for Amazon connected speakers,” Oster explains. “With this release, we’re now supporting the Spotify Connect app, which allows each user to save favorites — you like classical music in the morning? Call it up with a single press with any Crestron Home device, including presets from keypads.”

New drivers and Crestron Home Extensions are constantly being released to the driver portal. Among the most recent third-party driver releases are two from the UK-based Lighting Control: 

1. An “Intercom” feature that allows door station to touch panel or touch panel to touch panel communication.
2. “Vacation Recording” feature that learns the homeowner’s lighting patterns, and gives the illusion of occupancy when the client’s away. 

Like so many other features, this update comes from the feedback loop that Crestron nurtures: “The CSP/Dealer community that are making these drivers are getting very creative and create a very useful list of drivers for the Crestron Home community,” says Oster. “They’re using both our SDK driver as well as the Crestron Home REST API for controlling Crestron Home.”

“Almost every single week, we have multiple extensions being submitted to Crestron so we can post them up on our cloud,” says Oster. “It’s always incredible to see what our dealers and CSPs are coming up with.”

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The Smart Space Awards 2022, were an astounding success held on the 20th of April, in conjunction with the Smart Home Expo, India’s largest tradeshow and conference catering to the Smart Home Technology brands and fanatics across the globe.

The awards function was hosted at the Jio World Convention Center and was organized by the IIID Mumbai Regional Chapter, a representative of the Interior Design fraternity in India. The ceremony aimed to combine the concepts of interior design & architecture with smart living and recognize excellent talents in the integration of smart technology into residential and commercial projects. “Live Smart. Live Well”, was the main theme followed across all six award categories. 

This event presented a great opportunity for Interior Designers, Architects, and System Integrators to show off their creativity and vision in the use of technology to build a smart space. 

The Smart Space Awards Jury included : 

• AR. Chandrashekar Kanetkar, Principal Architect, Chandrashekhar Design Inc.
• AR. Alfaz Miller, Principal Architect, ABM Architects
• AR. Alhad Gore, Managing Partner, Beyond Design Architects & Consultants
• AR. Sonal Sancheti, Partner, Opolis
• Mr. Mehul Kamdar, Founder, Azure Technologies
• AR. Prashant Sutaria, Principal Architect, Prashant Sutaria Architects (Awards Coordinator) 

The focus of the awards placed on aesthetics, functionality, technology integration, and the creation of a functional, secure, and sustainable project. The jury had an array of strong contenders to choose from and many of the nominations delivered excellent projects, meeting the jury’s criteria. 

The winners of each category are listed below ;

Category : Architect & Interior Designer

Residential Villa Winner: Ar. Ravi Bathula, The Design

Residential Apartment: Ar. Abishek Reddi, Higher Archy

Commercial Office: ID.Pratik Sidhpura & Devang Patel, P&D Associates  

Commercial Retail: Ar. Dhaval Rangani, I-con Architects & Urban Planners

Hospitality Hotel: Ar. Dhairyasheel Powar, Unitecture

Hospitality Restaurant & Cafe: Ar. Kunal Warade, The Forum of Architecture & Planners Studio

Category: System Integrator

Residential Villa Winner: Mr. Harsh Mehta, Managing Partner Future automations solutions

Residential Apartment: Ms. Monica Parikh & Mr. Harshul Parikh, Trescent Lifestyle

Commercial Office: Mr. Alok Hada, Anusha Technovision 

Commercial Retail: Mr. Bhavesh Doshi, Entelechy Systems

Hospitality Hotel: Mr. Alok Hada, Anusha Technovision 

Hospitality Restaurant & Cafe: Mr. Kamlesh Vithalani

Recreational space: Mr. Mihir Shah, Light, and Magic Automation Pvt. Ltd.

The winners along with the first & second runner-up, each received a trophy and certificate of appreciation as well as a gift hamper sponsored by industry giants Lutron & Hogar.

ABOUT THE AWARDS

The Smart Space Awards 2022 (in Association with IIID Mumbai Regional Chapter) ceremony is part of the Smart Home Expo, India’s largest and only exhibition on Smart Home Technology, Home/Building Automation, and AV. The Smart Spaces Awards combine the concepts of Interior Design / Architecture and Smart Living, to reward outstanding achievements in the incorporation of smart technology into residential and commercial projects.

These awards provide an excellent opportunity for Interior Designers, Architects, and System Integrators to demonstrate their creativity and imagination in the use of technology to create a smart space. 

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Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi on Thursday said they have developed wireless powering and communication technology that can aid futuristic Internet of Things (IoT) applications remotely. The IoT is a collection of objects (“things”) that can exchange data with each other through the Internet. IoT devices range from ordinary household appliances in a “smart” home to sophisticated industrial and scientific tools.

Simplistic power sources such as batteries may be unsuitable for such applications because of the constancy of power required, and because some of these “things” may be embedded or hidden, which makes changing batteries difficult. There is, thus, worldwide research in combining remote communication technology with remote powering options. The IIT Mandi team performed research on two such powering options – radio frequency energy harvesting (RF-EH) and backscatter communication. 

 “We have developed a cooperative model, in which, backscatter communication and RF-EH devices act together to optimally allocate the resources such as time and antenna weights,” said Shivam Gujral, from the varsity’s School of Computing and Electrical Engineering, in a statement. In RF-EH, energy is transmitted by a dedicated transmitter to the IoT device through radio waves, the same kind of waves that are used in mobile phones for communication. In backscatter communication, as before, power is transmitted via radio waves, but with/without the need for a dedicated transmitter. Instead, RF signals available in the vicinity, such as WiFi, cell phone signals, etc, are harnessed through reflection and backscatter to power the IoT objects. “We used a dedicated power transmitter for the two devices, in which the backscatter device transferred information through a monostatic configuration and the RFEH device through the HTT protocol,” said Dr. Siddhartha Sarma, Assistant Professor, IIT Mandi. The findings of this study were published in the Wireless Networks. Researchers now plan to implement the joint radiofrequency energy harvesting-backscatter communication system in real-time to analyze system performance. This would include working on the hardware aspects of the two complementary technologies, they noted.

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Hunter Douglas has unveiled PowerView Gen 3 Automation, which features a completely new communications protocol, new hardware, and a faster, more intuitive setup process. PowerView Gen 3 was designed to make quoting, specifying, and installing Hunter Douglas smart shading easier and more appealing for professional installers.

Leveraging dealer feedback and industry-favorite features from previous PowerView iterations, the Gen 3 system is built on a solid and tested infrastructure, newly devised to help dealers take on more shading projects, streamline installation, reduce truck rolls, maximize profitability, and ultimately increase homeowner satisfaction.

“We’ve listened closely to integrator feedback over the past several years, and our focus in creating the next generation of PowerView products remained clear from the start: Provide the design-forward approach Hunter Douglas is known for, with reliable technology that can be executed and integrated with ease,” said Scott Stephenson, director of product, motorization at Hunter Douglas. “PowerView Gen 3 Automation is precisely engineered to break down the barriers and reduce the learning curve associated with specifying smart shades.”

The result, Stephenson noted, is a system that is as simple to use as it is to install; scalable for any size project or budget; and reliable for any application or shading type whether that is custom draperies, oversized verticals, or ever-popular cellular shades.

Setup Simplified

The PowerView Gen 3 platform expedites the installation process for integrators and delivers personalized, sophisticated control of Hunter Douglas shades for homeowners. The PowerView App’s intuitive dashboard enables fast, easy configuration with proximity detection, which displays the shades that are nearest to the user first on the list and offers quick tap naming and scheduling options. Once setup is complete, ownership of the project can be transferred to the homeowner. At first glance, homeowners can access and modify shades, scenes, automations, and settings in the App.

Reliable, Scalable Automation

PowerView Gen 3 Automation trades the old proprietary PowerView RF communication for a standards-based Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol that provides greater operating range and reliability. The protocol enables smart, real-time, two-way communication of commands between the shades and the PowerView Gen 3 system to ensure that the shades are exactly where the homeowner wants them to be.

With the adoption of BLE and the upgraded line of accessories, scaling automated shades is simple regardless of the project size. For small jobs, the new communication protocol ensures that Hubs and Repeaters are no longer required to use the App, create scenes, or trigger automations by communicating directly with personal devices. For larger projects, the PowerView Gen 3 Gateway serves as a range extender to synchronize window treatments throughout a home for consistent performance throughout the home.

The Gateway enables powerful control capabilities, whether a home has one shade or hundreds. With the addition of a Gateway to a project, integrators can incorporate the functionality of PowerView Gen 3 into popular third-party control systems including Control4, Crestron Home, and Elan — all with full two-way shade control. Now with enhanced natural language processing for more speaker-specific commands, consumer-favorite voice integrations with Google Home and Amazon Alexa allows homeowners to control shades with a simple voice command. Users can also control or schedule their shades to move individually or in a group right in the App or using a sleekly redesigned PowerView Pebble Remote.

PowerView Gen 3 Offers More Ways to Shade

PowerView Gen 3 enables homeowners to enjoy the benefits of an automated home lifestyle without compromising style, pairing the familiar, high-quality designs they expect from Hunter Douglas with the technology they did not know they need. With the expansive Hunter Douglas portfolio, integrators can offer more customization and near-infinite design possibilities.

Clients can choose from dozens of styles and hundreds of fabrics in a wide range of shading sizes on the market. From colorful pops of expertly designed drapery to uniquely woven wood blinds, and from AERC-certified honeycomb styles to classic roman shades, integrators can satisfy the design requirements of any project while elevating their clients’ lifestyle with confidence.

 For more information, visit https://www.hunterdouglas.asia/india/

The post Hunter Douglas Debuts PowerView Gen 3 Automation appeared first on Smart Home World Magazine.

Automation By: System Integrator The Den, Mumbai

Designed By: Interior Designer Ali Baldiwala at Baldiwala Edge

The pandemic brought with it many changes. One notable amongst them is the fact that we began to look at homes not just as spaces to relax or entertain, but as sanctuaries. Comfort and convenience became more valuable than ever, causing homeowners to embrace the ease of automation with greater zeal than ever before. Voice and app control for multiple devices, automated curtains and blinds, temperature control, and a host of other automation features moved from the ‘want’ category to the ‘need’ category. 

With a wide variety of retrofit and modular solutions available, residential and commercial users can now opt for Raylogic automation systems without having to renovate or re-wire their space. Having a smart home has never been simpler. This chic, contemporary home designed for a young couple, is built with an equal emphasis on aesthetics and smart home technology.

The Scope of Work

 Located at Altamount Road, Mumbai, the ‘Eye in the Sky’ was a residential project conceptualized to meet the needs of a young couple who entertain often but prefer not to have staff underfoot all the time. The design brief was set to create a contemporary home that uses technology to automate day-to-day tasks, eliminating repetitive jobs that can simply be handled by a good home automation system. 

The Client’s Vision  

In this case, the clients had a clear idea of their requirements. They did not want large switch plates on their walls. They did not want multiple remotes to operate their air-conditioners, audio-visual equipment, and curtain motors. They also hated the idea of running out of batteries for an assortment of remotes. On account of their penchant for entertaining, they wanted to have the flexibility to use the same space for different tasks throughout the day. That meant creating a different ambiance within the same space, ranging from everyday meals to relaxing in the evening and catering for parties with friends (with lights at a low intensity) to having family get-togethers where the space is well lit. A shared love for music was well defined at the onset too, with the requirement of having an easy-to-use, high-quality audio system that could be controlled from anywhere in the house. 

Challenges Faced  

To address the client’s needs, it was clear that the home automation system chosen would have to provide good dimming with an ample number of scenes, apart from integration with a host of other HVAC and AV products.

Motorized curtains were also part of the requirement. The living room itself had more than 4 curtains that needed a simultaneous operation, while the west-facing blinds needed to be drawn every afternoon, to prevent the furniture from deteriorating due to excessive exposure to sunlight. An automated schedule was the solution, where the blinds and curtains would close at 2 pm and open again at 6 pm.

Additionally, the client’s wish list included the ability to control different areas of the house without going physically to that specific room. For instance, a ‘Goodnight’ scene that switched off all the lights across the home, leaving only a limited number of night lights on, simultaneously closing the curtains in the bedroom while opening the curtains in the living room — all without getting out of bed. App and voice control were other expected features of the automation system, apart from the ability to control the system remotely when required, even while traveling out of the city. 

Another perennial problem outlined, that needed resolution, was the tendency to leave the geyser on. An automated solution was to turn the geyser off automatically after 45 minutes of being switched on. With both residents returning late from work, the aversion to coming home to a dark space was also mentioned. A simple solution was to schedule the lights to turn on in the living and dining room at 6.30 pm daily.

Despite their clear desire for automation, the clients were concerned about the robustness of available systems. They wanted a brand that was time-tested and required virtually no maintenance post-installation. In the unlikely event of a problem, they wanted a product that was locally serviceable too.

Automations Integrated

Taking all these requirements and parameters into consideration, the system that was chosen was from Raylogic Control Systems. This system offered centralized control, where all the lights, fans, and curtain motors are connected to the modules housed in a panel. From the panel, data cables connect them to the different keypads, which are freely programmable, with 12 buttons in a small size of approximately 90 mm x 90 mm. These keypads work like switches and can be used to recall pre-set scenes, which include a combination of lights at different intensities, fan speed, open or close a curtain motor, and many more options. The buttons can also be used for direct controls like setting the speed of the fan, or opening or closing a curtain.

The dimming type used was leading-edge, phase-cut dimming, as this required no additional control cables from the dimmer panel to the lights. This also made it easy for future maintenance, as lights or drivers can be replaced with similar ones and will not need to be re-programmed.

Integration was provided using the Raylogic TC-1 controller, which has the facility to control multiple devices on the lighting control system (including lights, fans, and curtains), as well as controls of AC and AV equipment — all from a dedicated GO app on the personal mobile phones of the users. Timers, schedules as well as voice control solutions were all part of this package, resolving all the listed concerns of the homeowners and preempting their needs, to deliver more than expected.

The Raylogic range is made in India, keeping the prevalent temperature, humidity, and power conditions in mind. The system is built up of independent modules, each having its controller and power supply, hence there is high redundancy and no single point of dependency. In the unlikely case of failure, only the particular module will cease to work, while the rest of the system remains unaffected.

With a large scene memory of 60 scenes, the system allowed for ample flexibility. It is a robust system, manufactured in Mumbai by a company with a 20-year track record, with over 25,000 products working across the country in residential and commercial spaces.

Audio Integration 

Apart from automation, audio was a large feature in this smart home integration project. Being a young couple, the homeowners enjoyed listening to music throughout the day. Entertaining and watching movies was a priority. With floor-to-ceiling windows on one side of the house and room entrances/exits on two sides, there was a requirement for speakers that fit into the false ceiling.

The solution provided included invisible speakers and subwoofers from Stealth Acoustics, which would have the least impact on the design and aesthetic of the interiors, without compromising on sound quality. The same brand was used across the entire house, to maintain a similar tonal quality in all areas. Anthem multi-channel amplifiers were used for the distributed audio, which has fantastic room correction software and a dedicated subwoofer for each zone. Finally, Sonos was used for the source — being one of the easiest and most user-friendly ways to interact with music all over the house, especially using AirPlay 2.

Easily integrated to talk to the automation system as well, the result was seamless audio all over the house, with a system that was extremely user-friendly and had zero aesthetic impact on the high-end, contemporary interiors of the home.

Final Takeaway

With a robust made-in-India automation system and smart integration choices, the interior designer and system integrator was able to work in tandem to deliver to the clients the home of their dreams. A space that is as beautiful as it is functional — designed for joy. 

The post ‘A Chic, Contemporary Home Aptly Termed – Eye in the Sky’ appeared first on Smart Home World Magazine.

“Security, trust and interoperability are all vital for bolstering the adoption, device sustainability and user experience of IoT!”-said Johnson.

 Building management systems (BMS) have evolved in domain silos, each with its proprietary bus protocols and data models. This creates a fundamental interoperability issue between domains and hinders the use of building automation protocols with existing IT infrastructure in our homes and buildings. One example of restrictions caused by a lack of BMS connectivity is the inability to securely use occupancy information (in the security domain) to improve the efficiency of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (in the HVAC domain).

“OCF has solved this interoperability issue with its Secure IP Device Framework. The framework allows for secure communication between domain silos by enabling a unified IP-connectivity layer on existing and/or new IT infrastructure. OCF’s Secure IP Device Framework is an ISO/IEC adopted standard, internationally agreed upon by experts, and is compliant with all known IoT security requirement baselines. Consequently, data, and even the data models used by BMS, can be securely transported to other devices and the cloud”, explained Johnson.

Why is it important to foster trust, interoperability and secure communication between IP-connected IoT devices and services?

By allowing different devices to communicate seamlessly and securely across ecosystems, frameworks such as OCF’s, IoT interoperability is expected to reach a new level.

Advancing IoT security is also high on many people’s agendas right now considering the increasing mandates centered around data protection, logical access to interfaces, and device security provisions. For example, America’s IoT Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2020 requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to take specified steps to increase cybersecurity for IoT devices. This was then echoed by the Biden Executive Order in May 2021. 

Over the Atlantic, legislators in Europe are pushing several new and updated requirements in the hope of boosting IoT cybersecurity for devices and service users. This includes cybersecurity updates for the Network and Information Systems (NIS) Directive, the EU Cybersecurity Act, and the Radio Equipment Directive (RED). 

OCF’s framework is here to solve this fragmentation, ensuring security (and compliance) by design as it is mapped to key industry and government IoT security baselines, such as the NIST 8529D and ETSI EN 303 645 IoT Baseline Requirements. The framework also addresses some of the most critical failures of the IoT security landscape: application-level security and secure communication over multiple IP segments.

What is the latest technology revolutionizing the smart home sector worldwide?

Many smart home devices to date have been built using proprietary platforms, inhibiting them from connecting with other platforms and limiting truly revolutionary innovation in the sector. To overcome this significant IoT interoperability challenge (while still ensuring security and privacy), the Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) recently adopted the OCF secure cloud-connected technology as the foundation for its national Smart Home Platform.

The project is seeing a secure and private-by-design IoT smart hub added to each LH home where it collects and analyzes IoT big data. Residents can control 15 different types of a device via an OCF-compliant Smart Home app which includes features such as built-in fine dust and CO2 sensors. 

LH’s smart hub is expected to be rolled out in over 223,000 households by 2025, enhancing residents’ living experiences through access to smart healthcare, intelligent safety systems, greater convenience through automation and improved energy management and control. 

How beneficial are IP connectivity networks in Building Automation Systems (BAS)?

IP connectivity networks already exist in our buildings and are managed by IT professionals. Such systems have reached a level of reliability, bandwidth and (low) latency, meaning that they can now be used to carry BAS data. This is massively beneficial as it will cause a dramatic shift in the way that we interact with buildings and open up opportunities for new services and business models.

The post In Conversation with Bruno Johnson, Chair of the Marketing and Communications Working Group of Open Connectivity Foundation (OCF) and CEO of Cascoda. appeared first on Smart Home World Magazine.

Samsung Electronics, a multinational consumer electronics manufacturer, recently announced a partnership with ABB Group, a global leader in power and automation technologies. This partnership aims to expand Samsung SmartThings integration into more homes and buildings. 

“With SmartThings, Samsung has been able to create an ecosystem of smart appliances making homes smarter and more efficient,” said Chanwoo Park, Head of IoT Business, Samsung Electronics. “We are excited to build on that by partnering with ABB to expand the SmartThings experience to new customers making it easier for consumers to reduce costs and create positive environmental impact”, added Park. 

Samsung’s Home IoT solution in the residential and commercial construction market is strengthened thanks to a partnership with ABB, which combines smart home solutions with SmartThings to create a more advanced, cost-effective, and energy-efficient solution for monitoring and controlling homes and buildings.

A Smart Partnership

ABB is one of the world’s leading technological businesses, with 130 years of experience and over 550,000 items made and sold. Its ABB-free@home® automation solution for residential and commercial buildings handles a variety of building equipment, including access, detection, communication, and climate systems.

The combination of ABB-free@home® and Samsung SmartThings creates a one-stop-shop for IoT solutions, allowing developers, builders, and management companies to easily monitor and control building technologies. This further cements Samsung’s position as a leading provider of smart home solutions for real estate developers, builders, and management companies.

Samsung and ABB are working on a cloud-to-cloud integration that will give free@home® and SmartThings users more access and control.

Convenience and Energy Efficiency 

Customers may monitor and operate ABB’s portfolio of devices, including as cameras, sensors, and comfort systems, using Samsung’s SmartThings platform. SmartThings allows users to access their smart home features from anywhere in the globe using a single application.

Buildings that are energy efficient use less energy, emit fewer greenhouse gases and cost less. The integrated energy management solutions from Samsung and ABB allow high-impact energy applications like refrigerators, washers, dryers, HVAC, and other appliances to run more efficiently. Users can manage appliances to lower total expenses by using energy and power metres, which provide up-to-date data on energy expenditures.

A smart house connected to renewable energy equipment from ABB, such as photovoltaic inverters and chargers, covers energy consumption needs while reducing CO2 emissions from other energy sources, which are expected to account for nearly 40% of annual global CO2 emissions1.

Developers will benefit from Samsung and ABB’s collaboration since it provides a scalable, turnkey smart home solution with premium Samsung appliances and ABB devices that can significantly lower operational costs through increased efficiencies and predictive maintenance services.

The post Samsung Partners With ABB To Expand SmartThings Support For Residential And Commercial Buildings appeared first on Smart Home World Magazine.