Page 62 - Lighting Magazine March 2019

SMARTER HOMES BIGGER SALES
EYE ON IoT
The top row demonstrates some of the se ings that the LumiFi system can control using the LumiFi smart phone app (above).
58 enLIGHTenment Magazine | March 2019
www.enlightenmentmag.com
such as Z-Wave with Zigbee. O en the easiest system for existing homes is WiFi since nearly all homes already have it available.
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Beatrice Witzgall, Founder & Design/Product Manager for LumiFi, (a smart lighting app for the consumer and hospitality markets) is also an IoT consultant to lighting manufacturers. Witzgall points out that many challenges remain for IoT lighting that could hold back adoption rates.
“Professionals (contractors, lighting designers, and many showrooms) haven’t yet embraced IoT [so] consumers are le to purchase products online or at DIY stores,” she comments. “Lighting profession- als lean toward more expensive wired systems, but wireless is less expensive and more exible.” Witz- gall nds that lighting professionals don’t consider IoT to be their responsibility. She adds, “Europe is adopting IoT lighting much faster than the U.S.”
Witzgall recommends lighting showrooms part- ner with IoT integrators in their local markets, much as a showroom does with electrical contractors for xture installation. IoT integrators can assist homeowners with both installation and the wire- less set-up functions. They can also support more elaborate systems.” Regarding the rise of voice- activated assistants in the home, she observes, “Many consumers won’t use them due to privacy/ cybersecurity concerns.”
Another concern that Witzgall points out is that some lighting manufacturers are incorporating smart components into their lighting products with- out including set-up instructions in their product spec sheets. Her advice to showrooms is to avoid products that don’t have clear set-up instructions, or else it could drive up the product’s return rate. She also believes smart lights, controls, and sockets will continue to compete without any one method/ brand winning over the market.