Features Research
IMS: Building automation systems starting to look like video games

The use of graphical user interfaces (GUI) is a move away from spreadsheets that were used in the past to present data from a building management system.

Sam Grinter, market analyst at IMS Research says, “In terms of user interfaces, building automation is playing catch-up with the rest of the electronics industry. This change in direction over the last six years towards photorealism and gamification of graphical user interfaces is a result of growing end user expectation.”
 
End users expect their building automation systems to be as simple to understand as their smart phones, tablets and other entertainment systems. This prompted the introduction of 3D graphics and animations to building management systems. These graphics are increasingly being used on public displays in schools, colleges and offices. The public use of displays makes systems more interactive and helps to raise awareness for energy efficiency.
 
Grinter adds, “A key barrier for photorealism is the building management system itself. High resolution graphics require greater processing power and the current crop of building management systems often limit the quality of graphics and the complexity of animations. There is a disconnect between controls companies and graphics providers over the importance of photorealistic GUIs. For the graphics to become more photorealistic, the controls and graphics companies must strengthen their working relationship.”
 
IMS Research’s latest report The World Market for Value Added Services in Intelligent Building will  be published in early 2013.