Crestron has announced significant updates to its Home OS 4, focusing on enhanced lighting support, expanded audio-over-IP capabilities, and improved functionalities in the myCrestron portal. The new Crestron Home OS 4.1 update aims to refine user experience and provide integrators with more tools to manage and configure smart home systems effectively.

Introduced last year, Crestron Home OS 4 is now equipped with its first major update since launch, dubbed OS 4.1. This upgrade will be available at no additional cost to existing customers and looks to improve the user experience with several new features and improvements.

One of the key updates in Crestron Home OS 4.1 is the improved support for various lighting ecosystems. The new version introduces digital lighting drivers for third-party devices, enabling seamless integration with popular lighting systems like Philips Hue. Users can now import lighting scenes directly from the Hue hub, making it easier to create customized lighting experiences.

In addition to Philips Hue, Crestron Home OS 4.1 also supports Lutron’s lighting systems, specifically the HomeWorks HQP7-RF-2 wireless processor. This expanded compatibility allows homeowners to integrate their existing lighting setups into the Crestron ecosystem without the need for extensive reconfiguration.

Crestron Home OS 4.1 also brings extensive support for a range of DM NAX audio-over-IP devices. This update includes compatibility with the DM-NAX-4ZSA-50 amplifier and the DM-NAX-XSP Audio Return Processor. Furthermore, support for audio edge devices such as the DM-NAX-BTIO-1G, DM-NAX-2XLRI-1G, DM-NAX-AUD-IO, and DM-NAX-AUD-USB has been added. These enhancements provide users with more options for high-quality audio distribution throughout their homes.

The inclusion of audio-over-IP support aligns with the growing trend towards IP-based audio solutions, which offer greater flexibility and scalability compared to traditional audio systems. By incorporating these capabilities, Crestron Home OS 4.1 promises that users will enjoy a seamless audio experience, whether they are streaming music, watching movies, or hosting parties.

The myCrestron portal, a cloud-based platform for managing, deploying, and configuring Crestron Home OS projects, has also received a series of updates designed to enhance dealer efficiency. New features include the ability to upload and download diagnostic files, which simplifies troubleshooting and system maintenance. This functionality allows dealers to quickly address issues without needing to be on-site, saving time and resources.

Another significant update is the integration of thermostats and temperature sensors, along with support for occupancy and motion sensors. These additions enable more sophisticated climate control and automation scenarios, enhancing the overall smart home experience. 

Advanced device settings and the ability to copy and paste configurations further streamline the setup process, making it easier for dealers to replicate settings across multiple devices or projects.

Crestron has also expanded the Home Configurator tool in Home OS 4.1. This tool now allows for the setup of digital inputs and outputs before dealers arrive at the job site. By pre-configuring these settings, dealers can expedite the installation process, reducing the time and effort required to get a system up and running.

These updates are part of Crestron’s strategy to provide a more integrated and user-friendly home automation experience. By expanding the compatibility with third-party devices and improving configuration tools, Crestron aims to cater to the evolving needs of both end-users and installers.

Crestron Home OS 4 was initially launched to offer a new level of interoperability and control over both Crestron and third-party devices within the smart home ecosystem. With these latest updates, the system not only enhances its core offerings but also ensures that users can have a more cohesive and controlled home environment.

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TUO Accessories launched its technology-packed TUO Smart Button, redefining the experience of smart home control. It facilitates the effortless operation of various smart home accessories across multiple platforms, courtesy of Matter, an advanced technology platform managed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA).

Sam Gabbay, President of TUO Accessories, shared, “This journey into the smart home space commences with something as potent as it is simple. The launch of our first product, the TUO Smart Button, marries Thread and Matter to allow rapid control of a myriad of smart home accessories with a single button, across diverse platforms.”

The TUO Smart Button streamlines various smart device controls. Adjusting the lighting, controlling the air conditioning, or setting a favorite playlist into motion can be achieved with simple gestures – click, double-click, or long press.

In addition to its robust technical features, the TUO Smart Button presents an aesthetic blend of practicality and elegance. The integration of a metal backplate not only enhances the product’s durability and sleek design, but it also introduces a level of versatility. This backplate allows the Smart Button to be conveniently mounted on the wall magnetically, while also permitting it to remain portable, a testament to TUO’s commitment to creating high-quality, long-lasting, and versatile products.

Furthermore, each TUO Smart Button includes a unique sticker pack that lends a layer of customization to the product. Users can choose from a range of designs that symbolize the action designated to a specific button, facilitating quick identification for households with multiple buttons in use.

Compatibility with Matter paves the way for the TUO Smart Button’s easy use. The Smart Button can connect with smart home apps that support Matter, ensuring flexibility and simplicity in managing smart devices, regardless of brand.

“TUO’s Smart Button is an excellent example of a universal communication standard like Matter being used to innovate and bring product differentiation to the market,” said Chris LaPre, Head of Technology at the Connectivity Standards Alliance. “Having a controller that can initiate numerable Smart Home tasks across ecosystems without the need for a Smartphone or voice assistant adds a layer of convenience and practicality we haven’t seen before.”

With the use of Bluetooth and Thread technologies, the TUO Smart Button securely and swiftly communicates commands. The partnership with DigiCert, a notable name in digital security, validates the reliability and security of every TUO Smart Button.

“DigiCert is excited to support TUO in delivering trusted devices that provide interoperability through the Matter protocol,” said Tom Klein. “TUO offers modern and elegant home automation solutions, and we share their commitment to security and privacy for all users.”

The TUO Smart Button unites the low power consumption of Thread technology with exceptionally quick response times. This harmony presents an optimal blend of power efficiency and speed in the smart home environment.

“Consumers expect a seamless experience in their smart home, one that is easy to use, interoperable and secure,” said Sujata Neidig, VP of Marketing, Thread Group. “Through the use of Thread’s wireless networking protocol, along with Matter, TUO enables consumers to seamlessly connect devices at home, making it easier to control their smart home environment.”

At its core, the TUO Smart Button houses a chipset from Nordic Semiconductors, assuring a smooth, responsive experience.

As the inaugural offering from TUO Accessories, the TUO Smart Button sets the stage for a series of innovative solutions under development, all aimed at enhancing the intuitiveness and enjoyment of smart home usage.

For More Information Email:  support@findtuo.com

The post TUO Smart Button with Matter & Thread Support appeared first on Smart Home World Magazine.

“The relationships we have with our partners in the architecture and design community is wonderfully synergistic. At Lutron our aim is to be innovative and inspiring, so that we can meet the needs or design vision of any client – and play a role in bringing incredible design concepts to reality.”

RIPU DAMAN SHARMA
Director – India & Subcontinental Region
Lutron Electronics

^{IN THIS INAUGURAL ISSUE we explore a few ways that light and luxury work together, and how light can help us connect better with our personal spaces. We explore these concepts through a series of three stories – with contributed insights from some of India’s most remarkable architects and interior designers – namely Hiren Patel (@hirenpatelarchitect) of Hiren Patel Architects, Shantanu Garg (@shantanugargdesign) of Shantanu Garg Design, and Rajiv Parekh (@redrajiv) of reD Architects.}

^{LUTRON INDIA works alongside a wide range of talented people from the architecture and design world. This is something we cherish. These relationships keep us connected to the latest trends, help us foster new partnerships, create beautiful new spaces, and bring energy and excitement to this unique community as a whole.} 

LIGHT OF LUXURY

Light is a vital element of a luxury space. It brings out the beauty of a room. It sets tone, draws attention, and helps define how a space flows. 

Lutron reflects on how people live in, and love, their most personal spaces, and then reimagines their day-to-day. This guides us towards creating solutions that help architects and designers realize the full potential of a space for their clients. 

Inspired by our relationships with so many world-class architects and interior designers, Lutron is dedicated to thoughtful design and providing solutions that are beautiful, functional and complementary to any space. Our vision for excellent design considers how these solutions will be installed, and how they harmonize with overall architecture.

“Control of light is a magical tool. You create ambience, you create experience and you create a mood.”

HIREN PATEL 
HIREN PATEL ARCHITECTS

From commercial and hospitality spaces to experiential retail and luxury residences, being able to shape and control light gives the user the ability to easily change the way people experience a space. 

And it’s not just about illumination, but also giving people the power to harness it to maximum effect. Controls let the user explore different settings, moods and atmospheres to suit their tastes. 

“With the press of a button one can transform the mood of a space, making the use of light more versatile.” 

SHANTANU GARG

SHANTANU GARG DESIGN

“From highlighting art elements to other key design features, it can add depth – unlike a flat and uniformly illuminated space. In short, it gives me the opportunity to create a visual balance with striking elements in the space.”

“Light is integrated into the design process from day one. When we think of an idea, we think of how to light it.” 

RAJIV PAREKH

RED ARCHITECTS

In Issue one of Lutron India Architecture and Design Trends Guide, the concept of luxury and light are told through a series of three themes:

 1-WALL ART

Like jewellery for the walls, add new dimensions of materiality and personality to a luxury living space. 

2- THE SMART WAY 

Smart home systems like Lutron’s HomeWorks have helped redefine expectations around seamless control of light, with a goal to create a sophisticated home automation experience. Lutron continues to raise the bar on creating beautiful light for every room in a luxury home. 

3-FEELS LIKE HOME

The pandemic changed something in all of us and after spending a lot more time living and working at home over the past few years, people have a whole new perspective on the home as a sanctuary.  Comfort and well-being are priorities that are shaping how homes are designed, and Lutron puts light at the heart of it.

LUTRON INDIA – ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN TRENDS

Explore or download a copy of the inaugural issue of the Lutron India – https://issuu.com/smarthomeworld/docs/lutron_india_-_trends_guide_-_issue_one?fr=sZTAyNzQ2MjAzMTc

Contact for more information : Anand Sen – Mobile : +91 9205789504 , Email : asen@lutron.com

The post Lutron Trends Guide appeared first on Smart Home World Magazine.

Wipro Lighting recently announced a partnership with Israel-based Aura Air to gain exclusive access to all its enterprise offerings, like indoor air quality solutions, for the India market. To begin with, the enterprise product offered to Indian customers will be high-quality internet of things (IoT) air purifiers, a cloud-based dashboard, and a suite of mobile apps to monitor and improve air quality in line with global standards.

“We are aiming to grow beyond lighting and seating solutions. We are striving to become the one-stop solution for all our B2B clients in the evolving landscape of interior and design today focused on employee health and wellness,” said Anuj Dhir, VP and Business Head for Commercial and Institutional Business, Wipro Lighting.

Founded in 2018, Aura Air is now purifying the air in homes, hospitals, schools, businesses, hotels, restaurants, buses, and nursing homes in several 50 countries around the world. Aura is headquartered in Tel Aviv with global offices in the US and India. “Aura Air technology is extremely successful in filtering viruses of all kinds, and this has been validated by NABL accredited laboratories and various studies across India,” said Aviad Shnaiderman, Global CEO of Aura Air.

Through Wipro Lighting, Aura Air will be making its products available to “enterprise customers across India to monitor and clean the air they breathe,” he added. Aura Air air-purifiers detect, capture, and kill 99.9 percent of viruses, bacteria, and mould and can remove airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns, including allergens and viruses. These IoT-enabled devices connect to a mobile phone and deliver real-time updates on the overall indoor and outdoor Air Quality Index (AQI) based on VOC (volatile organic compounds), CO2 (carbon dioxide), CO (carbon monoxide), and fine particulate matter levels. Aura Air entered the Indian market in mid-2021 and since then, it has witnessed positive traction in the indoor air quality improvement space in the country.

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Arjun Rathi is a Mumbai-based architect running a multi-disciplinary studio working across Architecture & Lighting Design called Arjun Rathi Design. Through his studio’s work, he interprets space through the lens of lighting, designs fixtures and installations. He is also the co-founder of the Rural Modern Glass Studio in Mumbai, which is India’s first art-glass studio exploring hand-blown glass across glass-art, home accessories, objects and tableware. Smart Home World takes his on the latest lighting technology and design trends. 

Lighting and interiors go hand in hand, can you explain how lighting plays a crucial role within the design process of all your projects?

As a studio, we mainly explore lighting design through the design and execution of decorative fixtures and installations to illuminate spaces. We always aim to capture the client’s imagination through the exploration of materials, shapes, and forms to define or accentuate the room, combined with lighting effects and shadows generated by the materials to create the ambience. We offer a high level of customisation even to our standard products, from material finishes, glass colours, and size customisation, allowing our products to be used across different aesthetics and living/working patterns. Fixture formats like Ceiling Flushmounts, Wallscones, Hanging Pendants, Standing and Table Lamps, Lighting Installations, and Mobils are some typologies we try to implement with the required aesthetic, functionality and materials to create the necessary ambience.

Another change in this segment is wireless lighting control. This is now becoming mainstream. How do you incorporate this technology into your projects?

Since most of our work is customised in design and fabricated for the clients, interior designers and architects, we can incorporate automation and other smart home system modules within our fittings. Sensor technology and automation give us a range of dimmable and colour-changing features which add value to our customised works.  

An increasing number of drivers and light engines from various manufacturers are now available in India. How do you incorporate their clever technology, and how do you adopt this in your project?

Regarding Drivers, Ballasts and other light technologies, the market is flooded with a lot of brands, local and international. So firstly, it is important to segregate which brands work with the site compatibility we are supplying to, and the availability of spares and services in the long term. Many times, our selections are also based on which branded fittings can be incorporated into our fixtures in the most invisible manner, such that the focus is mainly on the decorative fixture and not the technology components powering it. As a studio we always try to integrate LED fittings within our fixtures, which helps us eliminate the need for bulbs and short-term maintenance, making it user-friendly. 

What are your views on lighting controls, the benefits, and the science behind them?

Lighting controls and automation have added a new dimension to convenience when operating decorative or technical lighting for home and office space. We design for are of a variety of sizes and different client bases. 

What are the most important considerations you make when collaborating with a system integrator?

Since the majority of the studio focuses on designing and building decorative lighting fixtures, we tend to design our products around the technological components we use. We always look for companies which make the required components as invisible as possible and which can offer the best service or replacement warranty for the future. It is also important to note, that many brands are compatible with each so we tend to see which ones are readily available in different parts of the country or the world, where the products are being supplied. This process gives us a lot of flexibility and does not restrict us to the limitations of any brand or control system.

Successful luminaire design will always depend on technical innovation and material. What are your views on the same?

Our products are generally exploring a variety of materials and production processes, many times we combine hand-made crafts from different parts of the country with industrially produced components; as a studio we work as much as possible with local vendors and have upskilled the craft and fabrication community to cater to our lighting design requirements. Sustainability for us has always been to upskill and support the craft and artisan communities, and combining these handmade/fabricated components with modern lighting technology defines the fixtures we produce. 

What is the biggest innovation in the lighting sector? How has it revolutionized the entire industry and contributed to the lifestyles of the urban mass?

Currently, the LED revolution has been defining consumption and innovation in the lighting sector. Power efficient lighting and long-lasting fixtures are the need of the hour and LED has been the solution in recent decades and maybe in the years to come. Also, the flexibility of LED, when it comes to colour changing or control-related features, has enhanced the user experience. The technology is implementable in a variety of sizes, indoor and outdoor applications which most of us experience in a day-to-day setting. 

What is the current demand for smart lighting in India?

Smart lighting is in high demand in Tier I and developing Tier II and Tier III cities. Clients have become increasingly educated on available systems and the convenience they offer; hence there is a high demand to integrate them in projects across various budget categories. 

According to you, in which sector (hospitality, commercial, residential), traditional lighting is getting rapidly replaced by smart lighting?

Due to the high requirement for artificial lighting, smart lighting technology has seen a lot of success and innovation in hospitality and commercial application. Designing technical lighting which is flexible to different users, and living and working formats have been the biggest success of smart lighting. 

In what ways smart lighting is capable of promoting better health both physically and mentally?

Whether a workspace’s light source is natural, artificial, bright and blue, or dim and yellow, the type of light that employees are exposed to not only impacts mood, circadian rhythms and physical health, but also affects productivity and creativity. In general, warm yellow lights are better for relaxing and unwinding while cool blue-white lights are better for waking up, working and concentrating. Creatively, you are at your best when you are well rested, alert and energised, and the right lighting can put you in the right state. But lighting that is too dim can strain your eyes and make you feel drowsy and tired. Too harsh lighting on the other hand can be harsh to your eyes and disrupt your sleep.

Your views on the future of the lighting industry, what can we expect from the firm in the future of design?

Many of us spend majority of our time living and working in different environments lit by artificial light. Through our fixtures, we aim to create magical stories through a play of colour, shadows and darkness; which formed the fundamentals Light. Form(s). Post-covid we started exploring Indian-inspired, pop-colour whimsical lighting collection; we started exploring nostalgia with Indian candies and desserts. As a country known for its rich culture, bright and vivid colours, a lot of our modern design shy-ed away from it. We wanted people to be overwhelmed with light and colour in a way they have never experienced, and started the Rural Modern Glass Studio, to help us explore hand-blown art-glass lighting, something new to the space of Indian lighting. 

Can you share projects, where you have incorporated this technology and how the projects have benefitted from it? 

One of our creations The Gulmohar Bloom is an installation comprising of casted brass branches with glass rondels inspired by the Indian gulmohar flower. The hand-blown glass mix colours of vermillion, gulmohar yellow and orange, with marble-finished glass globes to balance out the lighting designed for the pre-function area of the Almond Banquet, designed by Morph Lab, located in Kolkatta. The botanical installation spans 1,300 sq ft of ceiling area in two diagonally incremental branch systems, incorporating over 200 light fittings controllable by the automation system. Each of the 183 hand-blown glass flowers has dimmable LEDs along with warmer tone filament bulbs used in the 54 marbled- glass bubbles; attached to a control system and tuned as per various mood settings required in the pre-function area of the banquet. We have used LED Vendor – Chloros Eco Solutions and driver we have opted for Osram.

For More Information Visit: https://www.arjunrathi.com/

The post Smart Lighting Needs and Solutions appeared first on Smart Home World Magazine.

Slow Design can be defined as a design process that is deeply conscious of the lifespan, materials and processes used in the creation of its end product, resulting in ecological soundness and consumer enjoyment. Slow Design emerged as a new paradigm for sustainable design, where design balances socio-cultural and individual needs with environmental well-being. Sustainable design has always been considered the ‘trinity’ of economy, ecology and equity. However, design has often been more reactive to the needs of the economy, commerce, and the marketplace. Literature indicates that none of the economies – ‘industrial,’ ‘consumer’ or ‘knowledge’ – are equally or equitably distributed; thereby creating a need for a new sustainable design paradigm to not only ‘save the planet’ but to ‘save designers’ and the professional reputation of design. Time and again economy-driven designs have proven not to put the environment first. One of humanity’s most critical next steps will be decoupling design decisions from economics.

Slow, as a philosophy, stands up against the possible degradation of life through fast consumerism and constant want. Fast, in opposition to slow, does not necessarily mean physical speed but more the hurrying along of natural pace. Designs created through the slow process are developed with actual need and well-being in mind, using renewable or recycled materials and energy, and with their futures thoroughly mapped – be it biodegradability or recycling, following zero-waste or cradle-to-cradle philosophies. Slow does not conform to shortening time spans allocated to life cycles of products in the marketplace; it does not celebrate the smallest, biggest, and fastest; however, it does celebrate balancing anthropocentric needs with planetary needs and the de-commodification of time. ‘Slow’ because the time constraints of economic growth and expediency are removed, and design goes beyond the fabrication of things for the marketplace, thus avoiding competition in an increasingly accelerated game of technological progress, brand positioning and commercial globalization. 

Slow thinking in lighting design

Slow Design is where lighting professionals can experience real freedom. When lighting improves our lives, while simultaneously improving our societies and cultures when lighting contributes to restoring the health of our environment. As the lighting industry is morphing into an IoT concept, based on seamless digital interconnectivity across all facets of human life, acceleration and innovation are key to survival. Smart city concepts are leading lighting into the Internet of Things where connected lighting enables digital technologies that are critical to the expansion of city services. All these paradigm shifts in lighting have seriously challenged traditional ways of designing with light. In such a time of change, embracing these agents of change and developing a new standard for lighting design seems to be a way forward. This new standard requires universally agreed upon metrics, measurement methods, limits and criteria that would set strong baselines for energy efficiency and functional performance, and address key parameters of connected lighting. Slow thinking will allow lighting professionals to focus on the decisions, research, or processes that are the most vital for developing such a standard. 

Slow design principles for lighting design

Six principles of slow design have been postulated to enable lighting professionals to better understand their own identity as a designer, reflect upon their own design processes, evaluate tangible outcomes, and imagine new scenarios, namely: Enlarge, Divulge, Engage, Contemplate, Participate, and Evolve. These principles are used to carefully and continuously explore lighting design from the perspective of slow design. Slow principles can support appropriateness, as they allow for time throughout the design process for thinking about the intended design outcomes and how best to reach those goals while keeping the integrity of the design intact. These principles were put forward as a set of criteria against which designers can interrogate and appraise their ideas, processes, motives, and outcomes; in effect creating a ‘shifting brief’ and a mutable outcome as the design process unfolds. Lighting professionals can return to these principles several times during the design process, and apply them again to evaluate the final design outcome and better understand its potential future impacts. 

Slow principle 1– Enlarge 

Slow design enlarges the real and potential expressions of environments beyond their perceived functionalities, physical attributes and lifespans. Lighting environments can go beyond mere functional or physical attributes such as energy benefits, and consider temporal attributes and the form of interactions that take place with users over time. Temporal attributes can include an expansion into user interactions that permeate into daily life. 

Slow principle 2 – Divulge 

Slow design divulges the often forgotten or missed experiences in everyday life, including materials and processes that can be easily overlooked in the creation or existence of designs. Augmented Reality (AR) is a technology that brings components of the digital world into the real world through immersive sensations. Introducing AR-enriched lighting systems into physical architecture and immaterial space can divulge the under-observed phenomena of the built environment. 

Slow principle 3 – Engage

Slow design engages in open-source and collaborative processes, relying on sharing, cooperation and transparency of information so that designs may continue to evolve into the future. Cross-disciplinary collaborations and interdependency between IoT and lighting systems can make geospatial indoor navigation services such as way-finding and asset tracking more affordable with their combined power and geographic density. 

Slow principle 4 – Contemplate   

Slow design environments and experiences induce contemplative consumption. As lighting control interfaces facilitate lighting consumption, they can slowly reveal user patterns thus rendering them increasingly precious to the user over time. 

Slow principle 5 – Participate

Slow design is a participatory design process, where users actively exchange and embrace ideas so as to foster social accountability and enhanced communities. Smart cities can gather even more momentum with lighting as city dwellers can be invited to connect with the histories and patterns of lighting through empirical observation, sensory awareness and intuitive imagining. 

Slow principle 6 – Evolve 

Slow designs are behavioural change agents promoting richer experiences that evolve from the dynamic maturation of environments and systems over time. Lighting systems can be designed as co-sharing tools for reorganising neighbourhoods, and instigating our relationship with our neighbours and our connection to the natural environment. 

Conclusion: 

The incorporation of lighting with slow features requires a larger calculated vision and value that looks far beyond the old Return-On-Investment (ROI) energy story. While skeptics may argue against the financial viability of these slow features, there is a good possibility that economic interests will soon gather around these features. The simple reason being that people, societies, and cultures in the future will purchase products, services, and environments that provide deep satisfaction to human needs while also scoring positively on environmental and socio-cultural balance sheets. 

The post Slow Design: Embracing a New Methodology for Sustainable Design appeared first on Smart Home World Magazine.

Lighting is one of the most important elements in architecture and interior design. Professionals use light to not just illuminate a space but also to create the right ambience. As this is the most discussed topic in the fraternity, Smart Home Expo took the initiative along with Ar. Surbhi Jindal, Women in Lighting India Ambassador, to curate a panel discussion on the topic: Lighting and Automation: Need of the Hour or Superfluous? This panel discussion was well appreciated for its in-depth analysis amongst the professionals and industry at large. 

For those few who missed out on the panel discussion at the Smart Home Expo 2022, we offer you a cursory view of the panel discussion.

Moderated by Ar. Maneck Tandon, Partner, ATPL Lighting was joined by other esteemed panelists dignitaries Ms. Nisha JamVwal, Partner, Nisha JamVwal Designs, Ar. Tannvi Gupta, Chief Architect, Reliance Industries Ltd., Zubair Ahmed, Managing Director, Studio Plus and Tripti Sahni, Design Principal, Studio Trace.

Ar. Maneck started with a brief introduction on how the industry has transformed from aqueducts to windmills. And how mankind has always tried to figure out ways to make things easier. Today, automation is ingrained in almost all forms of production and fabrication for the last few years. The automation bug seems to have followed us everywhere from workspaces to home. So now it is for us to figure out `Is automation a way to help us simplify and declutter our lives or drown ourselves by an excess of apps and remote control our existence?

He opened the discussion to a larger audience, as he believed that the discussion should not be restricted to professionals but should also include the end-users of the space making the entire discussion a very interesting and interactive session for the audience. 

Maneck opened the discussion by asking the panelist, What’s your opinion on Building Automation? Do we need it, is it practical or just sounds good on paper and a nightmare to deal with on the practical side of it?

Voicing her opinion Tannvi Gupta said, “Large scale projects should adopt building automation systems for the benefits they provide to the entire project. For example, we have adopted the latest automation systems for the Jio Centre and that has helped us offer flexibility in terms of functioning and smooth operation of this huge space. Plus, it has also helped us saves a lot of money, and also provides comfort. If automation systems are integrated after studying the requirement and usability of a space, Smart Automation can be a boon for any project.” 

Exploring another aspect of Smart Automation systems Maneck asked Nisha JamVwal, “What’s her reaction, when a client comes up to her and says they want everything automated, right from Alexa, Siri, the air conditioning lighting, audio, video security, does that excite you? Or it’s like, oh my God, what have I got into, what’s your reaction?

Nisha very enthusiastically said, “I have a fascination for technology. When a client comes with an open mind to adopt technology, I appreciate that because I think we are born in an age of technology and there is so much to learn. I think we all need to embrace technology. Recently, on my visit to a techie hotel in China. All the activities were handled by a Robo. Right from housekeeping, to lighting all activities were technology-driven.  But I also want to highlight the fact that when the same technology is overused without understanding the function, it can be a major challenge sometimes.” 

Nisha further highlighted the fact that the approach to such technology is different for different age groups. “It is like a double-edged sword, where we have to consider the senior age group while designing a project. We have to create a user-friendly design for the senior citizen, who is still learning how to use a mobile phone. But at the same time, we need to change with time and have to be receptible to new technology. It is all about striking the right balance”

Maneck asked Tripti Sahni: You’re an architect and a lighting designer, how important is automation and the presence or lack of it in your design process? When you visualize a project, do you visualize the light first and then automate it or are they sort of gel together? What’s the process?

Tripti Sahni explained her thought process said, “Automation is definitely a part of the entire process, but for me it’s secondary. I think the first step when I design the lighting for any space is trying to understand the context. What’s the scale of the space, the individual using the space and also the age group using the space. It also depends on the what is the purpose of the space?  Because each individual belonging to a different age group and will have a different requirement.” 

Adding her views on striking the right balance Nisha said, “Automation is equally important, but there has to be a balance. People should be educated to use the technology and the designer has to study the requirement of the client before offering solutions to their client?  

Maneck asked Tannvi: Does the need to automate depends on the scale of the project? How do you as an architect approach the space? 

Tannvi expressed her views and said, “The scale is secondary, the end-user should be the focus when designing.” 

Maneck asked Zubair Ahmed, What is his preference Monolithic platform or a decentralized autonomous system? What do you think is more practical? 

Adding his views on the same Zubair Ahmed said, “Depends on the scale of the project. If you’re doing a very large project, you still would like to have a wired system, which has firewall security, all of that built into it. It’s, pretty much all wired up and it’s controlled through a building management system. For large-scale projects yes, wired systems are preferable but for home, you can opt for Wi-Fi-enabled systems because basically in residential systems you want to be in control of things. But again, keeping the end user’s age group and preference is an important deciding factor in this whole process.  After all, you are building that space for him so his preference should be a priority when deciding.  I personally, would prefer a wired system. But then again, we need to make it more secure so that somebody doesn’t breach it. 

Speaking on maintenance and compatibility Tripti Sahni said, “Maintenance is a major challenge and compatibility is a major issue.  So, if these things are resolved a lot of things can be sorted. For bigger projects, we do need automation systems especially urban plazas which are used by a lot of people from different walks of life. 

Further adding insight on the same Tannvi adds,  We need to have a unified system in place from where you can control everything. It’s very important that though each space is designed individually, there should be a unifying platform so that the end-user can actually control it from a single point. And he’ll be able to take care of all the issues that you are bringing up.

Maneck asked Trupti, If ever she has come across a situation, where she would not recommend automation, and if so, why?
Trupti said, “I think they’re quite a few areas where we don’t need to automate. It’s definitely not necessary for example, in smaller homes. If you design with care and follow a hierarchy of wattages and brightness levels and use old-school zoning and dimmers, you would get the same impact, as the high-end automation systems. However, when you scale it up and you look at projects, you need an automation system. The other areas where automation is definitely required but also has its drawbacks is when you’re designing monuments or when you’re designing public spaces, often the lights malfunction.” 

Further adding his insight Zubair said, “I started using automation 18 years ago. I have used brands like ABB and Schneider, which were wired. You could control everything through these switches. Technology has come a long way and people have embraced it. But now that we have adopted technology, the focus of the brands should be to simplify the use and they should work towards providing a reliable backup service. Today, we have various brands but we need a reliable backup service option. 

Maneck asked the panelist What do they think about the future of automation? 

Zubair: This is a very tricky question. I mean, I think the operating systems like Apple and Google
are going to control the entire world.  

Tripti: I said gradually people will realize its importance and would want automation systems integrated into their homes.   

Maneck concluded the session by saying technology is evolving rapidly. However, end-users will shape the market. We as designers need to stay abreast, not only of the technological developments but also the way people respond to them. Some may choose to restrict automation to lighting and some may decide to adopt the latest automation systems. But I think it’s safe to say the future is `Automated’, but within that, whether `less is more’ is up to an individual. He thanked all the panelist and the audience. 

After a well-deserved round of applause from the audience, each panel member was graciously thanked, and they received a token of appreciation from Surabhi Jindal.  

The post Lighting and Automation: Need of the Hour or Superfluous? appeared first on Smart Home World Magazine.

ORRO, a professional-grade Smart Living System manufacturer, recently revealed additional third-party lighting control capabilities, including connections to more connected switches, dimmers, plugs, outlets, and lighting systems. ORRO responds with the optimum amount of light by sensing motion, sound, and light with its sophisticated built-in sensors while learning and modifying lighting based on homeowners’ habits and preferences. 

The result is healthier, more human-centric lighting that promotes natural circadian rhythms while lowering lighting consumption by up to 80%. Other connected lighting systems and brands, such as Lutron Caséta, Lutron RA2 Select, Leviton, Kasa Smart by TP-Link, and LIFX, now have the same benefits and unified control through ORRO’s switches and smartphone app.

“Whether it’s the main control system or part of a broader hybrid system, ORRO can add value to any project on any budget,” says  Patrick “PG” Gall, Head of Channel Development, ORRO “We continue to see a great role that ORRO can play, when combined with other lighting systems, to create better and more integrated experiences. With simple software connections, ORRO can extend some of its magic to many of the systems that dealers and home builders are already installing”, adds Gall. 

The news follows the launch of ORRO S, a sensor-enabled, intelligent dimmer that offers the same human-centric, adaptive lighting capabilities as ORRO One Pro at a lower price point and without the smart home control features. ORRO S, when combined with the newest software updates, can be used to create a unified lighting experience with ORRO One Pro and/or other third-party devices. ORRO S, like ORRO One Pro, has the appearance of a conventional light switch and requires no modifications to current electrical systems or blueprints.

“In addition to providing a more cost-effective price point to intelligent lighting with the launch of the ORRO S, our goal with these additional features was to further extend ORRO’s human-centric lighting benefits to as many homes and rooms as possible, partly by connecting with other lighting systems,” says Colin Billings, CEO, ORRO. “We continue to focus on deeper and more meaningful integrations with other leading brands, making ORRO a simple and flexible puzzle piece for builders and integrators”, adds Billings.
To learn more about ORRO’s features and solutions for professional integrators and home builders, visit: https://Getorro.com/pro

The post ORRO Expands Connections For Third-Party Lighting, Plugs, And Switches appeared first on Smart Home World Magazine.

Sollum Technologies’, smart LED lighting system has received, the prestigious  Sapphire Award (2021) in the horticultural lighting category by LEDs Magazine. The Sapphire Awards winners were revealed on 24th August, at the end of day one,  during the Light two-day conference(24th & 25th Aug 2021).

“Receiving the Sapphire Award for horticultural lighting is a strong signal of the relevance of Sollum’s technology and a tremendous honour for us,” says Sollum Technologies President and CEO Louis Brun.“This award recognizes Sollum’s vision for the future of horticultural lighting and the hard work put in over the years.” The Sapphire Awards honours innovation and advancements made in the LED and SSL industry.

About Sollum Technologies
Inspired by nature, Sollum Technologies was founded in 2015 to offer greenhouse producers the only smart LED lighting solution which dynamically recreates and modulates the full spectrum of the Sun’s natural light. The company is based in Montréal, where its design development and manufacturing activities are concentrated. Sollum’s lighting solutions thereby provide an unparalleled value in terms of energy savings, productivity, and superior product quality through a flexible, adaptive, and easy-to-use application, with great respect for the environment.

The post Sollum Technologies Bags Sapphire Award – For Horticultural Lighting appeared first on Smart Home World Magazine.

The Virtual Lighting Design (VLD) Community – a new online platform www.vld.community – offering various opportunities for exchanging information, encouraging innovation and drawing inspiration from within and beyond the lighting industry has finally been launched!

The VLD Community is the next generation in lighting social media that puts a global conglomerate of lighting designers, experts, academics and industry partners on the map. This ground breaking social networking platform is on a mission to foster real-world connections by providing a sense of place situated within a virtual space. Exchanging and sharing commonalities is a basic psychological need, which in today’s world is becoming harder than ever. This platform provides a social unit with commonalities for exchanging views (via interactive chats, posts, etc.) and sharing knowledge (via educational blogs, videos, etc.), thereby building a vibrant virtual community!

The VLD Community comprises three types of VLD-ers: Thought Leaders, Supporters and Members. Thought leaders are VLD-ers who present ideas and thoughts to the community so as to stimulate a discussion. It is leadership in, for and by the community, although it can also represent its common interest, purpose or practice. Thought leaders also determine the general feeling within the community and act as points of liaison between the community and the general public. Supporters are VLD-ers with common experiences or interests who provide the community with various types of help and financial support. Their primary goal is to promote development of the community through pooling resources. Supporters may also work to inform the general public or engage in advocacy. Members include all VLD-ers who learn, work and play within the community and are the heart of the community. Member participation in the community activities is key to its success.

The platform allows VLD-ers to create their profiles with tags to mark their personal and professional interests and search for connections with shared interests. VLD-ers can then access the platform to connect with other VLD-ers. VLD-ers include everyone from individuals such as architects, builders, consultants, designers, developers, educators, engineers, sales reps and students, to groups like government agencies, hospitality chains, manufacturers, museum authorities, NGOs, retail brands, and universities, who can benefit from this platform. The platform operates on a paid subscription basis providing access to insightful, relevant and valuable content developed by the best VLD- ers in the lighting industry. A minimum membership fee of only US$4.99 enables the platform to run professionally and financially compensate all contributing VLD-ers for their valuable contribution and time. Membership benefits include access to useful information in the form of industry-specific educational videos as seasons comprising series of episodes on set topics that culminate into open discussion forums.

Six VLD-ers – Martin Klaasen, Martin Lupton, Sharon Stammers, Amardeep M. Dugar, Katia Kolovea and Ingmar Klaasen – founded this platform around three main activities: Information, Innovation and Inspiration. Information about latest products and services is shared by Supporters to update the Members. Innovation towards newer products and services is the driving force between Thought leaders and Supporters. Inspiration is drawn by Members from the ideas and thoughts shared by Thought leaders.

The post Join the VLD (VIRTUAL LIGHTING DESIGN) community and become a VLD-ER appeared first on Smart Home World Magazine.