FEATURE: ROOM CONTROL [KEY POINTS]
Savant iPad control of environmental services and the audiovisual system in the chief executive’s office at Atlantic Audio
Personal devices are frequently used to complement traditional control automation systems in commercial environments
The touch capability and features of personal devices have influenced the aesthetic and design of traditional touchscreen controllers
Limiting access of personal devices to specific zones or tasks increases system security and usability
Touching in
The ever-growing use of personal touchscreen devices is being embraced by the AV industry as tablets simplify room control for both commercial and residential clients, writes Steve Montgomery
AMONG THE many uses of personal devices is the ability to control and manipulate room environments and audiovisual equipment through the now familiar touchscreen interface. This brings personal control to the user’s own device or to a tablet dedicated to the room, in conjunction with, or as an alternative to, the traditional control interface. Tablets and smartphones with touch- sensitive screens have dramatically altered users’ perception of interaction with computers, mobile phones and personal devices. This is having a knock-on effect in the commercial and business worlds on several fronts, including environmental and AV equipment control. “The world has embraced
the gesture-based user interface. Products like the iPhone and iPad forever changed the wireless mobility market and have helped to drive the demand for a similar experience in the control and automation markets,” notes Jonathan Mangnall, sales director, AMX Europe. “The huge popularity of these smart-enabled devices demonstrates the extent to which gesture-based multitouch products can help simplify the interaction
34 May 2013
between people and the technology around them. As a result, we are experiencing an explosion of interest in the dedicated touchpanel control interface, with users seeking an intuitive interaction similar to their wireless consumer products.”
In the domestic
environment, where individuals generally have their own smart device, it is now common practice for each user to have a personal point of control that moves around the living space with them. Manufacturers of control systems have, for some time, offered applications that provide these services within homes and these are now entering the commercial market in larger numbers, as Ronald Gelten, director of business development for retail and hospitality at Philips Dynalite, explains: “Smart devices and control apps are a perfect example of how technology increases comfort, offers raised levels of flexibility and can increase productivity. It is a very appealing combination which has brought about a shift in people’s expectations towards technology; they are coming to expect that they can personalise their environment with these
devices, no matter where they are. This includes setting light levels and atmospheres in various situations; within their office space or hotel room just as they do in their home.” Lutron, another lighting
control manufacturer, has introduced similar tools. “To give additional flexibility to the user we introduced iPhone and iPad apps for our HomeWorks residential system in 2011 and our Quantum commercial app last year,” says Guy Simmonds, UK sales director. “Since then we have noticed that a significant amount of our clients choose to have the app control option alongside more traditional control forms, giving them global control of their lighting.”
PERSONAL TOUCH In response to the change in user interfaces brought about by personal devices, automation system manufacturers have redesigned their products to present a more modern face and to respond more like a tablet than the traditional button-centric touch controller. Crestron’s in-wall panels now have edge-to-edge glass capacitive touchscreens, which, as Phillip Pini, systems design engineer Crestron UK, explains, “replaces the passive
inlay and provides a user- friendly touch interface more like a tablet in operation while operating with Crestron automation systems”. This approach is followed by AMX too. Mangnall says: “With a projected capacitive touch display, the Modero X offers multitouch capabilities which, when combined with gestures, can support a number of intuitive human interactions such as taps, drags, swipes, flicks and twists. The Modero X Series then integrates these gestures into a complete control product.” The original fear of control
system manufacturers – particularly those that manufactured prestige touch control panels – that the emergence of a lower-cost, general-purpose tablet would kill their markets has largely been unfounded. “While we initially anticipated that the low price point of the iPad and iPad mini would significantly erode the market for higher priced touchscreens, it hasn't completely eliminated the need for fixed touchscreens,” says Jeremy Scheinberg, COO at Alcorn McBride. “The lack of a wired Ethernet
connection has been a deal- breaker in some instances. It would be great to have a
Web- and Cloud-based control offer remote and multi-user access to AV and environmental systems
wired option for the iPad as well to open up new markets.” Personal devices are often used as complementary controllers in commercial
Devices running on all common platforms are used to control business systems
‘We are
experiencing an explosion of interest in the dedicated touchpanel control interface’
Jonathan Mangnall, AMX Europe
www.installation-international.com
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