In terms of smart homes, we always get to hear about the omnipresent problem: There are too many technologies with their individual their pros and cons and worst of all: They are not compatible with one another. So is this, what will bring the smart home hype to its knees?
On the contrary! Amongst all new coming solutions, devices and gadgets, we often forget that smart technology has been available on this planet for more than 30 years. Every technology has its positive and negative aspects, depending on the individual needs of the customer. Also, the customer has the choice between a cheap or a more sophisticated solution, others are looking at only one application or a complete solution. As we learned in previous articles, preparation and defining the needs are one of the most important steps. And after we really know, what we want, we can go for our desired technology.
Yes and no — whilst many fancy new smart home solutions often really do not support another, others clearly point out their strengths as well as focus and leave the door open for other technologies to contribute to a perfect overall solution for the customer. Hereby the rule applies: The opener the technologies, the more possibilities you have.
The more the technology is used, the more interfaces are available
Many manufacturers do not only focus on only one, but on a wide spectrum of technologies. This is done for various strategical reasons. The winner is the end-user, as the beauty of all technologies can be enjoyed.
A very common example is the combination between KNX and DALI — Whilst KNX is offering an overall solution for all applications, DALI can perfectly complement an existing KNX installation and optimise lighting. As this combination is very common in the market, many manufacturers, no matter if they are more KNX or DALI driven, have devices available, which “translate” the languages, which are communicated in the network. KNX and DALI installations are seen frequently, there are also more interfaces available, and the more the technology is used, the more interfaces with even extra functionalities can be found in the market.
Many technologies on the market – Not a burden but a blessing for the industry?
Most suitable analogy: One might miss the forest for trees, and so it can be, when you just dive in the huge amount of smart home technologies. So if you do not want to get lost in the forest, follow a path, which brings you, to where you want to go to. And if your hike requires equipment from various manufacturers, make sure that everything can be used together. Blessed be the trees for giving us the wood and all its awareness for its benefits, but without a path, we will be lost and do not arrive at our targeted destination.
Where to learn more about how to combine various technologies?
Best opportunity to learn more about interfacing between two technologies is via the KNX webinar, which is explaining, how interfacing between two technologies work, followed by practical examples by market leaders about the simplicity of interfacing between KNX and DALI.
The recording of the most recent webinar can be found here.
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