It Will Likely Impact Proprietary Touch Screens
February 9, 2010

Many didn’t think the iPod would impact the custom electronics industry, but it altered the way multiple generations find and listen to music. Some Custom Installers have followed suit, using iPods or iPhones as epicenters of their multiroom audio/video systems.

Many didn’t think the iPhone would impact the custom electronics installation industry, but its prolific app store continues to shape the home automation user interface. It’s early, but we wonder how the iPad will impact the custom electronics industry, and home automation in particular. Here's a little un-scientific prognostication.

End of Channel Flipping

Consumers who walk around with an iPad in their bag, pocket or however one carries a 9.7-inch touchscreen, will search for content differently. They’ll be more accustomed to downloading movies, TV programs, Web videos and, music.

Custom Installers will have to do a better job differentiating their services and demonstrate why consumers need help with media aggregation beyond what their iPad already provides.

Launch of 1,000,000 Apps

The iPad can run virtually every app from Apple’s App Store. That means home automation manufacturers, installers and software companies need to start building home control apps now if they want to ride the wave of early users.

Apple-friendly home automation manufacturer Savant, for one, says it encourages installers to generate app ideas in the field. Expect some of that going forward. But, on the other hand vendors like Control4 with plans to release 4Store later this year will likely be reluctant to embrace the iPad early on beyond support for running the same On-Screen Navigator app available for the iPhone/iPod Touch.

HA Companies Must Step Up

We all know custom-programmed home automation devices can provide dramatic step-ups over currently available iPhone home control apps in most cases. But, despite recent investments in user interface devices or software by HA companies, it will be hard for those companies to appear "out of touch" by ignoring the iPad.

The iPad costs between $499 to $829, which is much cheaper than most home automation touchscreens. It will offer a degree of home automation with apps from HA companies already available for the iPhone and kind of looks similar to free standing touchscreens currently available from many HA companies.

Even Control4, who recently discontinued it's $2,495 10.5 inch portable Wireless Touch Screen, appears to already recognize the impact of the iPad on their touch screen product set. Since all the whole-house automation HA companies have a similar touch screen lineup, they too must cross the "how do we embrace the iPad" bridge. If they don't embrace the iPad, the HA companies and their Dealers will spend significant energy justifying to homeowners why they need to spend more money on their proprietary touch screen tablets.

Move to the Middle

The good news is the iPad is shaped like a traditional home control touch screen, albeit lighter. It’s 0.5 inches thin, weighs 1.5 pounds and has a 9.7-inch screen. This may serve to bring more home automation acceptance to the middle market of "under 40" homeowners raising families, but technology aware.

One thing for sure, it will be fun seeing how the iPad develops as a play in the home automation market!