Entrepreneur Designs Home Automation System, Cuts Energy Use by 40 Percent

Microsoft .NET Customer Solution Case Study

“By using the .NET Framework 4, I have created a solution that is both a virtual assistant and a home automation system that cuts energy consumption by more than 40 percent.” Ian Mercer, Entrepreneur

Ian Mercer used the Microsoft .NET Framework 4 and Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Ultimate to create a home automation system that integrates Web-based applications with lighting, thermostats, and other infrastructure. Mercer communicates with the self- regulating system through a natural-language interface. He has reduced annual energy consumption by more than 40 percent with the project and can add new features easily.

Business Needs signage company. Mercer lives in Ian Mercer is the founder and Chief Sammamish, Washington, where he Executive Officer of SignSwift, a digital also designs new technology solutions. His home automation system was a

This case study is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY. Document published April 2010 winning entry in the Tell Us Your .NET with the Microsoft .NET Framework tracks in his office, turn down the Story competition held by Microsoft in and the Microsoft Visual Studio volume of the television in another 2010. development system. Since then, his room, or pull up a traffic report. project has evolved with each iteration Mercer embarked on the project when of the products. Mercer is currently Mercer will continue enhancing his he realized that other home automation working with the .NET Framework 4 home automation system, but he says systems were too limited. “There was no and Visual Studio 2010 Ultimate, and that his focus won’t change even shortage of home automation software he is taking advantage of though mainstream home automation on the market at the time,” he explains. improvements such as the enhanced vendors continue to produce new, “Much of it claimed to be able to make Microsoft ADO.NET Entity Framework colorful, touch-screen displays. “I plan your home ‘smart,’ but in my experience 4. He uses the Entity Framework 4 to to stay true to my overall philosophy, none of it was powerful or flexible create models and manipulate which is that home automation should enough.” He notes that most solutions information from almost any source, be an invisible assistant working for defined actions using either a simple including those not typically you in the background: the home is but slow scripting language or a limiting associated with IT environments. the interface.” table-driven approach. “What I wanted was a home automation system with Mercer designed a solution that Benefits the full expressive power of a modern integrates with multiple Ian Mercer has built a solution with the object-oriented language, the heterogeneous products in his home, .NET Framework 4 and Visual Studio performance of a compiled language, including security, telephony, lighting, 2010 Ultimate that cuts home energy the amenities of a comprehensive sound cards, thermostats, and consumption by 40 percent. And each framework, and support for a variety of occupancy sensors. It automatically new iteration of the programming third-party open-source or closed- detects whether a room is occupied, model makes his work easier. source libraries.” and it adjusts lights, temperature, and other conditions accordingly. The Cuts Energy Consumption by 40 He wanted a home that could work with solution isn’t limited to the physical Percent data from multiple sources and environment—it also works with the Mercer decided to develop a better independently regulate ambient Web-based virtual world. For example, home automation system partly conditions. Mercer says, “A truly smart Mercer integrated feeds from social because he wanted the challenge of home is one that autonomously decides networking, podcasts, weather, and working with new technologies. But he what to do, and, more importantly, traffic sites. also knew that he could use the when it does act, it gets it right.” solution to improve his quality of life By taking advantage of Language- and conserve energy. “By using the To meet his goals, Mercer sought a Integrated Query (LINQ) operators in .NET Framework 4, I have created a programming model that he could use the .NET Framework 4, Mercer solution that is both a virtual assistant to integrate hardware interfaces such as designed a natural-language engine to and a home automation system that thermostats and sound cards with his communicate with his home through cuts electricity consumption by more custom home automation software. He IM, e-mail, or a Web application that than 40 percent.” also wanted to create services that he built with Microsoft ASP.NET MVC 2 worked with communication tools he and Windows Communication Simplifies Development was already using, such as e-mail, Foundation technology. ASP.NET MVC Mercer has used the .NET Framework instant messaging (IM), and social 2 is a framework for building Web since 2005, and he says that his work networking Web sites. applications. gets easier with each generation of the Microsoft tool set. “With the .NET Solution Mercer has detailed control of his Framework 4, I can try new things In 2005, Mercer decided to use the environment through any interface he more easily. For example, Entity Microsoft Visual C# development tool uses. For example, he can instruct his Framework 4 completely eliminates the home solution to play specific music

This case study is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY. Document published April 2010 need to create a data layer manually. It continue to improve his own the power of the .NET Framework 4, I takes just a couple of minutes now to environment with the .NET Framework, was able to pick up programming go from a significant data model and he hopes to license parts of his again and am now an avid change to a fully working data layer.” application—such as the natural- programmer in my spare time. My language engine—to other companies. smart-home project continues to Promotes Innovation “I have spent most of my career as a evolve almost every week.” Mercer believes that as energy costs senior manager with large project rise, more people will want to live in teams,” says Mercer. “But thanks to the smart homes. Meanwhile, he will ease of using Visual Studio 2010 and

This case study is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY. Document published April 2010