Last week, the IFA Berlin 2022 successfully showcased the best of new technology developments from all over the world. A particular curiosity that brought a large number of innovative smart home products together under the umbrella of KNX was the e-house created by the ZVEH (Zentralverband der Deutschen Elektro- und Informationstechnischen Handwerke). The construction of this model house gave visitors first-hand experience of the positive effect an intelligent, future-proofed house can have on their daily lives.
The futuristic e-house has been fully optimised with KNX products and smart devices, all compatible with the KNX protocol. The technologies work together to form a comprehensive intelligent home system that regulates energy use, controls multimedia, monitors the health of residents, and facilitates independent living in the case of physical disability.
Intelligent lighting, shading and advanced air-conditioning technology all contribute to energy savings and enhance living comfort for residents. Multimedia is controlled with the integration of systems from a host of companies who are leaders in their fields, such as Basalte, Sonos and Panasonic.
As a particular emphasis was placed on the increasingly important area of energy management, the e-house was equipped with a large proportion of technology based on Eisbaer bms, a software developed to aide in the visualisation and automation of smart buildings. Using the Eisbaer, every aspect of the intelligent home can be controlled from one screen, from heating and lighting in individual rooms, to alarm activation, and a presence simulation program to enhance home security.
An especially exciting demonstration in the e-house centred around the revolutionary features that future-proof houses and allow for prolonged independent living in a familiar environment. Cutting-edge interoperable products from a range of companies were brought together to create a holistic, intelligent living space that keeps its inhabitants safe and comfortable, even as they become more in need of extra care.
The touch-sensitive floor from FutureShape immediately detects the incidence of a fall. Sensors around health technology detect problems via an individual’s respiration, and also via the health watch – where pulse, breathing rate or lack of oxygen in the blood are shown. Outside help is automatically available through the Skyresponse alert platform service. The ProKNX voice-activated smart speaker, Aragon, is used as a gateway to coalesce these diverse products into a complete care system.
In addition, visitors were able to take a test-run in a wheelchair controlled via smart-glasses by Munevo. This technology, coupled with the ProKNX offline smart speaker allows a disabled person to control their chair and building functions by simple head movements and personally customisable speech commands.
The market is rapidly growing for the future-proofing of homes as a large sector of the population in Europe and the UK ages. The ZVEH e-house exposition confirms that the future technology for intelligent living is already available today.
The e-house will also be set up to visit at Light + Building which will take place from 2 to 6 October at the Messe Frankfurt.