SURVEY ON HOME AUTOMATION Version 1.0 En Author : Mario Deschênes E-mail : info@domoxpert.com
Dear respondent,
I wish to thank you for taking some of your precious time to fill the following questionnaire. It comprises only 6 questions and will take less than 5 minutes to complete.
The information you’ll give will stay strictly confidential and will only serve in this survey. Only the results of the analysis, which studies the people’s perception of the home automation concept (or domotics), will be kept in records.
To help you understand the subject of this survey, here is a definition of the term domotics like stated by the charter of the French language (after translation).
Definition : « Sum of the techniques that join the resources of electronics, computer science and telecommunications to the building technology and who’s goal is to improve the human housing. The term “domotics” was first created in France (Domotique) in the 80’s to answer the need of naming the concept known until that day by intelligent home. »
Goals : The integration of different technologies and housing equipments to make them interact and communicate to improve :
Before reading the following questionnaire, you must have activated the macros in Microsoft Word. The macros included in this document only serve for the creation of the response options and saving of the document to allow me to compile the results. They will not affect or damage your computer in any way. When you have answered all the questions, simply return the filled document by e-mail.
Thanks again for your time, your help is greatly appreciated.
Mario Deschênes
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Here are some examples of automations that can be done with an intelligent home.
Let’s suppose you are installing a domotics system in your house. For each question, indicate the level of importance you would give it.
Section 1 - Surveillance and Security
1. In case of fire, all the lights are lit, the siren is triggered, the doors are unlocked and the system calls the firemen.
2. In case of a gas or water leakage, the system automatically shuts down the power supply in the house and tries to call you.
Not important Moderately important Very important - Essential
3. When you are out, the system simulates an intelligent presence in the house (for example, by controlling the lights, the audio-visual devices and the blinds or curtains) to prevent any robbery attempt.
4. If a child gets too close to your swimming pool, the system automatically responds to prevent any regrettable accident.
5. The system saves you up to 30% on your energy bill by controlling the temperature, the humidity, the lights and the electrical goods in your house.
6. When you leave the house in the morning to go to work, the system lowers the temperature, shuts down all the lights and any dangerous devices and arms the security system ; all that in just one touch.
7. By phone, you can know what’s going on in your house and control everything (Ex. : be sure the iron is unplugged or start the video to record a movie you forgot to program).
8. With the help of a simple remote control, you can control everything in your house, whether it’s the indoor or outdoor lights, the temperature, the stereo and video, the electrical goods, the blinds and curtains and even the irrigation system of your lawn.
9. During the night, if someone gets up to go to the bathroom, the lights are automatically lit on his(her) way (very faintly not to wake up anyone) and closed after he(she) has passed. No need to look for the switch or walk in complete darkness and risk an accident.
10. If the door or the phone rings, the system can make the lights flash to warn you and lower the volume of the music if it’s too high.
11. The system reminds you the things you have to do (for example, your appointment at the dentist or the day to take out the trash) by showing a message on the screen of your wall panel and/or with a sound signal.
12. For each of the following controlling means, indicate if you would use them to control your house. Remote Control
Yes No Maybe
13. With reference to the previously stated examples, do you think the intelligent home would be useful to you and your family?
14. In the event you would have a domotics system installed in your house, would you favor a local SME or a multi-national company?
Small company (SME) Multi-national Doesn’t matter
15. If you were to build a house that’s worth 100 000$, would you be willing to invest 5% (5000$) more to add such a system?
16. With reference to this survey, if the price suited you, would you take in consideration the purchase of such a system?
Section 5 - Identification of the Respondent