In addition to lighting and pool control, the Zensys vision for Z-Wave encompasses control of temperature, entry, home entertainment, garage doors, window coverings, smoke detectors, and other household devices.
In2 Networks, a Utah-based technology and software development company with roots in the PHAST home control system (purchased several years ago by AMX), is taking a different approach to home control. Its In2 technology operates over Ethernet, leveraging the power and breadth of the Internet for control of home devices. In2 uses TCP/IP, an alternative to powerline and wireless technology for packaging information and sending it throughout the house.
In2 defines the technology as “connect and control.” According to In2 co-founder Daren Orth, “We are connecting existing subsystems that you already have in the house and controlling them under a single point.” That single point could be a PC or a PDA.
“In less than a decade the Internet connected virtually all of the world’s computers,” says Jamey Johnston, vice president of sales and marketing for In2. “In2Networks is connecting devices other than computers to that same type of network.” The hope is to ride the coattails of the 61 percent of new homes with structured wiring since an In2 network operates over Ethernet and Category 5 cable.
Rather than amassing a large following of licensees, In2’s strategy is to partner with what it calls the “best of breed” suppliers according to market share and reputation in each field of residential subsystems. The goal is to offer more affordable home control as an alternative to proprietary systems such as those from AMX and Crestron.
“AMX and Crestron charge $50,000 to $100,000 or more for their custom applications,” Johnston says. In2 believes that many upscale customers want to buy subsystems from acknowledged industry leaders so the company has partnered with Honeywell for HVAC and security, Lutron for lighting control, and B&W for audio/video gear. The company will continue to add suppliers for other residential subsystems.
Rolling out over the course of this year, In2 products will be sold by existing Honeywell, Lutron, and B&W dealers who will handle support for the products they supply and install. Each In2-compatible device includes a 2-by-2-inch piece of hardware that connects to the network as a computer would connect to a network. In2 software provides bi-directional status and control of audio volume, lights, temperature, and more from any networked computer or In2-based Web tablet in the house.
In addition to control, an In2 system can encompass interoperability. When a security alarm is triggered, the lights could go on to 30 percent to help light a pathway out of the house.
In2 says the additional cost for control of an In2 HVAC, lighting, or security control system is typically 10 percent of the cost of the subsystem. “In an In2 network, the cost of the furnace doesn’t change,” Johnston says. A $5,000 to $8,000 HVAC system would typically add $500 more with the smart thermostat and Internet control module required for In2 compatibility. A starter In2-compatible Lutron RadioRA system runs $2,000.
“We’ve tried to future-proof the control element of PCs by staying with a very common platform,” Johnston says. “We believe that HTML and the Internet are here to stay. If homeowners change their PC devices, their control systems will not become obsolete.”—Rebecca Day specializes in writing about home electronics. She can be reached at customhomerd@aol.com.
