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Domotics is a contraction of the words domus (Latin for house) and robotics (automation). Domotics is the combination of technology and services for improved living in the areas of safety, comfort and technical management. It is therefor a complete system, not just a remote control. Things happen automatically, because they are required or because you didn't remember to do them yourself. But you don't need to worry that you will no longer have control over things. Everything can also be operated by hand, or the settings can be changed. Tools to serve people.

A domotics home is a 'smart home' which also takes account of the advancing years of its occupier. The structural provisions meet the standards of the Senioren quality mark: so you don't need to move as you get older! Safety and comfort are the key. The facilities have been made as user-friendly as possible. A domotics home means that you can carry on enjoying life, and that technology is great fun to use.

For example: as you enter the house, you switch off the burglar alarm. This automatically switches on the passive alarm. The house then checks that you remain active and have not fallen or become unwell. If that happens, help is summoned automatically , for example from the home care service. When you go to sleep, you can use a simple button above the bed to turn the passive alar m and the bedside light off, activate the burglar alarm, switch off any lights left on in other rooms, and lower the central heating thermostat by a couple of degrees.

If someone calls at the door, that person's image will appear on your TV. You talk to this person using the telephone, and open the door using one of the buttons on the phone. Or the lights in the hall and bathroom can switch on automatically when you enter those rooms. You can switch all the lights in the house on or off with a single remote control. Shutters and curtains can also be closed and opened using a remote control.

If most people consider remote controls to be new, voice-activated control is altogether revolutionary. In a domotics home lights can switch on or off and curtains can open or close, all on commands given in your own voice. But various things in the home can also be controlled from elsewhere without you needing to be present, by talking to your home by telephone: switch on the video recorder, increase the temperature, switch off the coffee machine, etc., etc. The options are limitless.

Domotica is het samenbrengen van technologieën en diensten in de woning door middel van huisnetwerken. Het doel van domotica is het verhogen van de kwaliteit van wonen en leven. Met domotica in uw woning, wordt uw woning als het ware "slim". De woning denkt met u mee, doet dingen waaraan u zelf niet denkt of hoeft te denken. Maar ook kunt u in een slimme woning dingen automatisch laten gebeuren wanneer u dat wenst. Slimme woningen kunnen een of meer huisnetwerken hebben ten behoeve van verschillende toepassingsgebieden:

• woningautomatisering (verlichting, beveiliging, energiebeheer, klimaatbeheer, etc.)
• informatie & communicatie (telefonie, email, Internet, etc.)
• werk & productiviteit (telewerken, thuiskantoor, etc.)
• entertainment (MP3, games, home theatre, interactieve TV, etc.)

A house or working environment, which includes the technology to allow for devices and systems to be controlled automatically, may be termed a Smart Home. The degree to which this control is exercised is variable, being a function of the cost, the person¹s own wishes, and the type of building into which the technology is to be installed. Homes which can automatically adjust the temperature, the level of security and permit efficient communications to the outside world, are of obvious benefit to all, providing they do not go too far and affect the freedom of choice of the person living within them.

"A house cannot be smart, although certain products and solutions can be". We rather talk about intelligence that can be achieved when products are connected together. In the Netherlands and Belgium the term domotica is used to indicate the same. Maybe the word has been originated in France, where the first experiences with "domotique" were achieved in the early nineties. Domotique or domotics is a contraction from the Latin word "domus" (= home, house) and telematics. In the following the term smart homes is used instead of domotics.

The various terms lead to confusion amongst the customers. Moreover, in the various countries a diversity of opinions exists concerning the concept of smart homes. Therefore, the following definition has been formulated: Smart home technology is the integration of technologies and services, applied to homes, flats, apartments, houses and small buildings with the purpose of automating them and obtaining and increase safety & security, comfort, communication, and technical management.

The interest of building applicationsin the practice for domotica are growing and growing. That's why we provide you with usefull information about domotica and his possibilities, examples from the filed en specific applications for certain user -groups.

The following topics are included:

• With domotica de quality of living is improved for the better. This is happening on several terrains: safety, confort, communication and energy & climate.The user is allways the centre.
• The several living-projects give a good image of domotica in practice.
• The different needs of the residents of the houses with domotica or users of domotica-applications are explained under the topic "user-groups".
• New telematic applications such as telebanking or telelearning and what this means for the residents are explained in telematic.
• The category Leisure & game lights the newest gimmicks on the field of relaxing, games and toys, as far as they have something to do with domotica.

A house or working environment, which includes the technology to allow for devices and systems to be controlled automatically, may be termed a Smart Home. The degree to which this control is exercised is variable, being a function of the cost, the person's own wishes, and the type of building into which the technology is to be installed. Homes which can automatically adjust the temperature, the level of security and permit efficient communications to the outside world, are of obvious benefit to all, providing they do not go too far and affect the freedom of choice of the person living within them.

Within a traditional home environment, automation can assist a person to control a device in another part of the house, inquire into the state of something e.g. Is the electric blanket on or off? Is the front door open or closed? It can facilitate comfort, communications, energy saving, and enhance both personal and building security .