TAHI Conference on Smart Homes

2 November 2005

Conference to boost smart services in the home

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Conference to boost smart services in the home

Experts on housing, health, green issues and future technologies are meeting on November 16-17 in a move to boost the use of smart services in the home.

The smart house lifestyle could be the norm in the UK within the next five years says TAHI (The Application Home Initiative), a not-for-profit group of companies and universities aimed at promoting the connected home market.

TAHI is holding a cross-industry conference in a bid to raise awareness of the imminent benefits and to encourage growth in the nascent market.

TAHI spokesman Mike Windsor said: "Smart technology will revolutionise life, making it more comfortable, convenient and secure. The technology is already out there; the biggest hurdle now is getting consumers to embrace it. That is why we are bringing together those who build our homes and take care of our health, welfare and environmental services - they touch our daily lives and have a crucial role to play in transforming the smart home from concept into reality."

The conference takes place in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. About 100 key industry figures including property developers and architects, local authorities and the healthcare industry will attend along with members of the future technologies sector. 

Smart house trailblazers speaking at the conference include BT, York University's Centre for Usable Home Technology, Bryant Homes, Kent County Council, intelligent buildings specialists i&i, Severn Trent Water, Initial Community Care, system integrators Tridium and Convergex, EDF Energy, and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's national DigiTV community project.

Earlier this year TAHI members completed high-level dti-backed trials in conjunction with Loughborough and Heriot Watt universities to demonstrate and promote interoperability between different appliances and services and to test consumer attitudes to smart appliances installed in the homes of volunteers.

TAHI Conference - TAHI Trials Review

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

2pm - 5.30pm

TAHI Conference - Exploring the Commercial Reality of the Connected Home

Thursday, November 17, 2005

9am-4.30pm

For more information http://www.theapplicationhome.com/2005Conference/2005Conference.html

Release ends

Editor's notes

About TAHI

·          The TAHI Conference and Trials Day are open to the media. Please contact Mike Windsor or Helen Lynas on the contact details below for further information.

·          TAHI is a not for profit group of innovative companies and universities dedicated to accelerating connected home services. Members include FTSE 100 companies, SME businesses and leading research organisations.

About smart homes

·          A smart house is defined as one where all electronic equipment and services - from the washing machine, gas meter, lighting and heating to the television and sound system - are networked and can be controlled remotely via the p.c and mobile phone.

·          Home security can be monitored from the office or holiday beach; emails can be read on the TV screen, the fridge will order shopping on the internet and if you leave the lights on a monitor will raise the alarm that energy is being wasted.

·          Telecare and telemedicine services enabled by smart technology will allow elderly people to enjoy living independently for longer, and unnecessary trips to the doctor or hospital will be a thing of the past.

·          The Government it wants connected home care services to be available to everyone who requires them by 2010, in a bid to relieve mounting pressure on health and welfare services. Connected home care is the ability to deliver health and social care to individuals within the home and wider community with the support of systems enabled by new technologies. (Dept. of Health)

For more information contact:

Helen Lynas

Helen Lynas Communications

Tel:  0118 947 0023

Mob:  07906 163375

helenlynas@btconnect.com

Mike Windsor

TAHI Marketing Director

Mob:  07733 263423

mike.windsor@homeridersystems.co.uk

http://www.theapplicationhome.com/