PROFILES, SCENES & MOODS IN HOME AUTOMATION
We use switches for every need we have for turning on/off electrical appliances. It is something that we are all used to. Most often though when one comes to a room, usually it is not a single switch that will be triggered. The lights may be triggered, the fan, maybe the AC instead if it is a hot day, perhaps the TV or music system and the curtains may be opened up part-way. These different things need to happen together to create the right ambience for the room. These combinations of gadgets or appliances that are triggered together is called a PROFILE, and often terms like SCENES or MOODS have also been used to describe them.
These PROFILES are not only dependent on the event, such as a movie or yoga or relaxation or party or going to bed or leaving the home or focusing on work etc. They can also be based on individuals’ preferences or time of the day or year. Relaxation during the daytime vs night will require different lighting scenarios, and similarly different air cooling if it is during summer vs. winter. So, PROFILES not only need to be many, but also needs to be flexible so that they can be changed as conditions change
Typically, the elements of the home that enter a profile can be one or many of these elements:
- Lighting – ON or OFF
- Lighting – various Dimming Levels between 0-100
- Lighting – desired tunable temperatures for LED
- Lighting – desired RGB levels
- Fan – ON at specific speed levels or OFF
- AC – Specific Temperature for cooling
- TV & Cable – ON to certain channel or OFF
- Curtains/Blinds – Either open to desired extent or fully closed
- Door Sensors – Armed to sound alarm if door is opened
Any combinations of these devices should be possible on a PROFILE. Depending on the circumstances some of these devices may be used the PROFILE, and others may either be ignored or left alone in their original state when the PROFILE is triggered, or alternately they may need to be specifically required to be OFF as part of the PROFILE. All these considerations are important in the definition of a PROFILE.
Accessing these PROFILES on a daily basis should be easy, so they should be accessible either via Smart Apps or through touch switches available on a keypad or also via voice assistants. This kind of easy access through multiple means makes the PROFILE much easier to use on a daily basis. In some situations, PROFILES may be needed to be automatically triggered based on time schedules. So, if the Smart Apps allow for scheduling, then not just individual switches, but also PROFILES them which should be accessible on them.
Keypads can be integrated into the same panel as individual switches. This is to allow the desired level of flexibility that is required by the user in each switch panel as sometimes control over individual elements of lighting, fans etc might be necessary.
Figure: This shows a 4 PROFILE key module on the left, with some individual light switches all present in the same Switch Panel
Figure: Smart App shows the same PROFILES as present on the Touch Keypads
The most appealing and useful Home Automation solutions should allow for any combination of the above-mentioned options as a part of the solution. They should be flexible to allow change in PROFILES as one either gets familiarized with them and wants some flexibility and changes to allow them to be comfortable with the ambience that is created. The intent of all these options is to ensure that you have the best ambience and living experience as a result of deploying these home automation solutions.
