Connected devices are gradually creeping into all areas of our lives, and in the process, transforming our daily habits.
Over the next twenty years, connected devices are likely to become the norm. Products that are incapable of communicating, acting on information transmitted to them or being remotely actuated will then be part and parcel of residential designs.
And as development of these devices increases and the flow of data travelling through buildings becomes more complex, buildings (and for that matter, architects) need to adapt.
Going further, convinced that the Internet of Things will become established as a standard for the built environment, Legrand says it is speeding up development of its connected offering- or what it calls its ‘ELIOT’ platform.
An acronym for ‘electricity and the Internet of Things’, the ELIOT platform is designed to revitalise communication wherever the Internet of Things can provide users with additional benefit – including in building automation.
According to Legrand, ELIOT is designed to connect to existing Internet-enabled devices, by adding gateways to the existing products. In other words, says Legrand, it is intrinsically “designed to communicate.”
“This connectivity will enable additional capabilities and a more intuitive and seamless use of electrical devices. For example, in addition to the traditional function provided by an electrical power point, the new ELIOT devices will be able to notify the user about the energy consumption, a failure or to control remotely that power point through a smartphone,” said Tony Beland, CEO and managing director, Legrand Australia & New Zealand.
One typical and common application for ELIOT across both residential and commercial buildings will be temperature control.
Working together with a dedicated thermostat app, ELIOT is designed to allow the end-user to adjust and monitor the temperature in rooms with “utmost precision.”
Thanks to a Wi-Fi connection, users will be able to program and control and adjust the temperature, anytime, anywhere, as long as they have an Internet connection.
When talking about security, Legrand says that the ELIOT platform has been designed to change the way residents interact with their visitors.
For example, thanks to the platform’s new connected video door entry system, users will be able to interact with the caller by voice and by image, whether locally or remotely, on their tablet or their smartphone.
This feature same will also enable users to control their lighting, sprinklers and many other devices.
According to Paolo Perino - executive VP strategy and development, developments like ELIOT allow for “smarter energy management, commercial and residential services, predictive maintenance, data analysis and customisation are just a few things made possible thanks to the Internet of Things.”
“Legrand is engaged in partnerships with leading edge start-ups, especially in the field of sensors (for heat, presence or air quality). The aim is to enhance home automation applications in energy management, heating and cooling, air quality control or assisted living,” said Pierre Laroche, group VP projects, innovation & systems department.
