Value based home automation for todays´ market

The author discusses the reasons why home automation has failed to date. The perception that home automation systems are unreliable is addressed. The potential of the home automation market is explored. It is argued that the reason why home automation has not succeeded is still mostly cost. The cost threshold has not been reached for the most important market segment, which is upper-middle income people. High-income homeowners have achieved this cost threshold and other reasons explain their disinterest. Contributors are not only the manufacturing cost of the product, but also the development, installation, service, and support costs. Another factor is poor user interfaces. Developments in a number of areas which help to address these failings are discussed. In particular, utility automation is considered to affect this market significantly