The home is now a billion dollar market for connected healthcare software and services; because of the advancement in technology, especially telecom and M2M, more healthcare services can be carried out in the patient’s home.  Gone are the days when patients who need regular check-up are required to visit the hospital or clinic; now they can be monitored while at home.  According to research by MarketsandMarkets, the global home healthcare software and services market will worth over US $6 Billion by 2018.

One of the Achilles of the Windows platform in the connected home is the lack of support especially on the Windows phone platform. An app for the Windows phone seems to be an afterthought for connected home solutions providers. Well, this is about to change because Insteon one of the market leading home automation suppliers, has release Apps some windows based apps to manage and control Insteon devices.

Of the over 30 energy suppliers in the UK, for some time, only British Gas was offering a smart energy management platform as part of their energy services. Customer needing an energy management solution would have to do it independently or use British Gas Hive. Through a joint partnership with Nest, the smart thermostat company, nPower is offering their own smart energy management service to compete with British Gas.

Schlage connected locks can now connect with Alarm.com connected home system. The integration of both solutions increases the flexibility and convenience of managing customers’ home security. Schlage is offering the BE469 Touchscreen Deadbolt, which can connect to a Z-Wave wireless network can be access and monitor form anywhere. With up to 30 user codes everyone can have their own.

The home automation market today receive a new entrant from Emerson, The Sensi is their first universal Wi-Fi Thermostat. The Sensi comes with its own App that allows you to control it from a smart phone, tablet or PC. Already a big name in the thermostat and HVAC controls industry Emerson said they want to tap into US $600M market. Emerson said the Sensi give you the added flexibility you cannot get from a standard programmable thermostat, in that it can adapt to your busy schedule.

The changes in social structure and economics have always influence our movement and more so in our modern society. This has lead to strain on certain resources in certain areas prompting the need to better manage these resources with smarter technologies, leading to the creation of smart cities.  The building of smart cities such as Songdo, South Korea and Living PlanIT, Portugal are proof of how a city’s resources and infrastructure can be connected to support a cohesive lifestyle, between people and their environment.

The Panasonic KX-PRL262B Dock Style DECT telephone system is also an entertainment system in one. You can connect your iPod touch, iPad and iPhone via Bluetooth or its lightning connector to make or receive hands free calls.  It also offers on-base phone charging and with it’s built-in stereo speakers you can listen to your favourite music from your iPhone or iPod. The KX-PRL262B Dock Style cordless telephone system uses Panasonic’s popular Link2Cell technology to connect your iPhone via Bluetooth, allowing you to make and receive phone calls anywhere in your home using the handset.

China’s Broadlink Electronic has release range of smart home appliances built on Marvell’s Internet of Things (IoT) platform. The range is base on Broadlink’s “Smart Life and Smart Lifestyle” vision featuring the RM2 Universial Home Controller, A1 Air Quality Monitor and the SP2 Smart-Socket.  Together this range of DIY home automation products allows homeowners to control their television, garage doors, light switches and any connected home appliances.

Massachusetts based connected health solution provider, Partners HealthCare At Home (PHH) has selected Philips telehealth solution to improve its services. PHH said they want to reduce readmissions and improve care coordination for newly discharged patients and those with chronic conditions, such as congestive heart failure.

There is no doubt that the connected home needs an Operating System (OS) or some agnastic software environment to manage its diverse devices and services.  For the last four years the only company that shows any potential in filling this gap was Microsoft with its prototype homeOS platform.  I think this is about to change with the introduction of the Alljoyn platform backed by the Allseen alliance, a new industry body promoting interoperability between devices under the concept of the “Internet of Everyt