The Housing and Development Board (HDB) will conduct the trial, with more details to be provided at a later date. It will gather residents’ feedback, and assess their receptiveness towards adopting technologies for day-to-day living.

HDB is already experimenting with smart home solutions at its Centre of Building Research in Woodlands, affectionately called “The Kitchen”.

“It’s important to trial, test, these things in real homes,” said HDB chief Cheong Koon Hean. “It is important to select an existing estate where there are real life people living in it, because you want to test their reaction. Of course, it will be very important for us to learn from that test because we want to then bring some of these solutions and devices into greenfield sites.”

National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan had a first-hand look at ongoing technology trials cooking in “The Kitchen”. Seventeen companies are participating in the trials, including the likes of Samsung, LG Electronics and StarHub.

Said Mr Andy Sim, vice president and head of enterprise business at Samsung Electronics: “Today we can have a fridge with sensors. And that would allow us to maybe measure the inventory in our fridge. Now to provide better services, we can now connect the inventory activities to a grocer and then that would save me a trip to the grocery store.”

The possibilities may be endless, but there are priorities when it comes to testing out solutions. A key thrust is to test out solutions for the elderly to live easier and safer, including systems for caregivers to monitor the health of senior citizens. Utilities management solutions are also being tested, for homeowners to check water and energy consumption patterns.

The technology involved has applications in rehabilitation too. Smart health solutions enable those undergoing physiotherapy to conduct self-checks and quided therapy sessions, reducing the need to make trips to hospitals and clinics.

Source : Channel NewsAsia – 8 Jul 2015

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For example, owners would be greeted by lights that are turned on automatically and the whirling sound of the coffee machine when they wake up.

On Wednesday (Feb 25), Qingjian Realty (South Pacific) Group and Samsung Asia signed a memorandum of understanding to integrate smart living technology into property developments. The first project under the collaboration will be an executive condominium (EC) to be launched in Sembawang next year.

However, given the current limits to technology, the initial focus would be on providing the infrastructure for existing technology that allows, for example, washing machines and vacuum cleaners to be operated remotely from mobile devices.

The collaboration will also benefit some owners under the developer’s portfolio of residential properties. Owners of developments that will be getting the Temporary Occupation Permit from this year – such as the Waterbay EC, as well as the Riversound Residence and River Isles – can buy Samsung appliances at preferential rates.

Details will be announced next month.

Mr Andy Sim, general manager of Enterprise Business for Samsung Asia, said: “This collaboration comes as a natural fit. Both Samsung and Qingjian are committed to the Smart Nation initiative and we are thrilled to start at the heart of any nation – with its people and their homes.”

Mr Donald Ng, head of sales and marketing for Qingjian Realty (South Pacific), added: “The technology may not be fully ready right now for such a seamless integration, but nothing is impossible with technology. We believe the concerted efforts through the Smart Nation blueprint and consumer electronics companies can make this a reality.”

Property analysts TODAY spoke to welcomed the partnership, adding that the Sembawang EC could offer something different as a result of the collaboration in a saturated EC market.

Mr Nicholas Mak, executive director of research and consultancy at SLP International Property Consultants, said: “I guess this is a good selling point. It is useful especially for busy working adults or those without maids… to make their lives better.”

Mr Eugene Lim, key executive officer of ERA, noted that the idea of smart homes was first mooted about a decade ago. However, given that the cost of technology has decreased, such homes can now become a reality.

Still, the analysts noted that smart homes would likely command a premium over regular units. Qingjian said it was unable to give an estimate of the pricing of such future developments, as it would depend on the state of the property market at the time of the launches.

Source : Channel NewsAsia – 26 Feb 2015

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