探索家居自动化

雅姬·克拉

A smart house is a home that has highly advanced， automated systems to control and monitor any function of a house—lighting， temperature control， multi-media， security， window and door operations， air quality， or any other task of necessity or comfort performed by a homes resident. With the rise of wireless computerization， remote-controlled devices are becoming smart just-in-time. Today， its possible to pin a programmed chip onto any occupant and have systems adjusted as a person passes by and through a smart house.

Is it really smart？

A smart home appears “intelligent” because its computer systems can monitor so many aspects of daily living. For example， the refrigerator may be able to inventory its contents， suggest menus and shopping lists， recommend healthy alternatives， and even routinely order groceries. The smart home systems might even ensure a continuously cleaned cat litter box or a house plant that is forever watered.

The idea of a smart home may sound like something out of Hollywood. In fact， a 1999 Disney movie titled Smart House presents the comical antics of an American family that wins a “house of the future” with an android maid who causes havoc. Other films show science fiction visions of smart home technology that seems improbable.

However， smart home technology is real， and its becoming increasingly sophisticated. Coded signals are sent through the homes wiring （or sent wirelessly） to switches and outlets that are programmed to operate appliances and electronic devices in every part of the house. Home automation can be especially useful for the elderly， people with physical or cognitive impairments， and disabled persons who wish to live independently.

Open standards

Think of your house like its one， big computer. If you ever opened up the “box” or CPU of your home computer， youll find tiny wires and connectors， switches and whirling discs. To make it all work， you have to have an input device （like a mouse or a keyboard）， but even more importantly， each of the components has to be able to work with each other.

Smart technologies will evolve more quickly if people didnt have to buy entire systems， because lets face it—some of us arent as wealthy as Bill Gates. We also dont want to have 15 remote control devices for 15 different devices—weve been there and done that with televisions and recorders. What consumers want are add-on systems that are easy-to-use. What small manufacturers want are to be able to compete in this new marketplace.

Two things are needed to make homes truly “smart，” writes research journalist Ira Brodsky in Computerworld. “First are sensors， actuators and appliances that obey commands and provide status information.” These digital devices are already omnipresent in our appliances. “Second are protocols and tools that enable all of these devices， regardless of vendor， to communicate with each other，” says Brodsky. This is the problem， but Brodsky believes that “smartphone apps， communication hubs and cloud-based services are enabling practical solutions that can be implemented right now.”

Home energy management systems （HEMS） have been the first wave of smart home devices， with hardware and software that monitors and controls a homes heating， ventilation， and air conditioning （HVAC） systems. As standards and protocols are being developed， the devices in our homes are making them appear smart—very smart！

Domotics and home automation

As the smart house evolves， so， too， do the words we use to describe it. Most generally， home automation and home technology have been the early descriptors. Smart home automation has derived from those terms.

The word domotics literally means home robotics. In Latin， the word domus means home. The field of domotics encompasses all phases of smart home technology， including the highly sophisticated sensors and controls that monitor and automate temperature， lighting， security systems， and many other functions.

No need for those pesky robots， however. These days most mobile devices， like “smart” phones and tablets， are digitally connected and control many home systems. And what will your smart home look like？ It should look just like what youre living in now if thats what you want.

智能家居，即具備极先进自动化系统的房屋，可以控制和监测照明、温度、多媒体、安保、门窗开闭、空气质量等家居功能，或住户其他出于必需或提升舒适度目的而设的功能。随着无线计算机化的兴起，遥控设备随之变得智能。如今，任何住户都可以别上一块编好程序的芯片，让系统在有人经过和进出智能家居时作出相应调整。

但它真的智能吗？

智能家居之所以看起来“机智聪明”，是因为其中的计算机系统能够监测日常生活的方方面面。举个例子，在系统的帮助下，冰箱也许能够自主清点存货、推荐菜单和购物清单、介绍健康饮食替代品，甚至进行常规采购。智能家居系统甚至还能让猫砂盆一直保持清洁，让室内植物永远不缺水。

智能家居这个概念听上去像是好莱坞的产物。其实，迪士尼公司曾在1999年发行过影片《我的妈咪不是人》，讲述一个赢得了 “未来房屋”的美国家庭搞笑经历——“未来房屋”中的机器人女仆状况频出，让一家人闹出了不少笑话。其他影片中，看似不可能的智能家居技术则以科幻的场景展现。

不过，智能家居技术是真实存在的，而且正日趋成熟。通过有线或无线的方式，设有内置程序的开关和插座能够接收到编码信号，从而操控屋内各处的家用电器和电子设备。对老年人、身体或认知有缺陷者，以及想要独立生活的残疾人士来说，家居自动化的益处尤其明显。

开放式标准

试想你的居室就像一台巨大的电脑。……