Schneider Electric launches wiser home control

BANGALORE, INDIA: Schneider Electric launched Wiser Home Control, an integrated home control solution that interlinks the electrical, multimedia and telecommunications to one user-friendly solution.

It enables users to set programs to adapt to preferred living patterns and control home equipment from anywhere and at anytime via 3G mobile phones or web-enabled devices.

In normal homes, the television, audio-visual system, computer, lights, curtains and mobile phones may be user friendly on their own, but each device works independently with its own control devices. This means a myriad number of controls and switches that add complexity to the life of the users.

In conventional 'smart' homes, lighting, security, home theatre, home appliances, computers and climate control may be integrated but the system is always biased towards the device that it is based on.

Wiser Home Control connects and controls the many and different devices and technologies so that users are able to access and control the devices anytime and anywhere via preset shortcuts or direct control.

The same sophisticated, consistent and intuitive user interface is installed across different control devices such as 3G mobile phones and web-enabled devices.

A user can use the mobile phone or computer to monitor if all is well at home when he or she is away and reset security systems if there are false alarms.

Changes or adjustments can be easily made to the program over the Internet, thereby reducing the need and cost for technician intervention, and time spent waiting for a technician to arrive on site.

Besides controlling, Wiser Home Control can make things happen automatically according to the user's lifestyle and routine.

The user can be awaken gently on week days to bed lamps and music that come on gradually, followed by curtains opening, and an alarm system that will deactivate night mode.

When the user leaves for work, he presses the 'goodbye' button and lights will turn off, blinds close, music fade and air conditioners power down. And when the user realizes that he has forgotten to turn off the lights or air-con, he just turns to the 'out-of-home control' feature of Wiser.

"Today, Schneider Electric is the worldwide leader in energy management, with solutions that enable 30 percent energy savings without compromising on comfort, performance and reliability," said Matt Johnson, director-Installation Systems and Control, Schneider Electric.

"We have seen tremendous interest from real estate developers, decorators and installers for a home control solution that can adapt to lifestyles and work practices, and at the same time, improve and reduce energy use," he added.