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E L E CT R I C AL CONNE CT I ON
W I NT E R 2 01 5
HOME AUTOMATION
That light bulb moment
A
light bulb is just a light bulb,
right? Well, no; at least, that’s not
the case anymore.
As anybody who attended the 2015
International Consumer Electronics Show
(CES) in Las Vegas can attest, the number of
‘connected light bulbs’ has reached critical
mass, with several new suppliers entering
the market spruiking new solutions.
While Australia is largely sheltered from
the glut of connected light bulbs entering
the market in the US, several are still
finding their way Down Under.
Whether this flood of new product
is the result of increased interest in and
awareness of home automation, or a
heretofore undiagnosed widespread light
bulb fetish, 2015 is set to be a good year
for intelligent lighting.
So, what’s the appeal?
“Smart light bulbs are not just about
turning your lights on or off from your
smart phone. This technology is about
giving consumers a whole new level of
control and benefits,” Belkin WeMo senior
product manager Andrea Bruno says.
“Consumers will start thinking of
lighting in a completely different way.
In recent months, a large
number of so-called ‘smart’
bulbs have been launched.
Paul Skelton
looks at their role
in the home of tomorrow.