Smart home-monitoring system introduced in Douala.

Belgium-based Cameroonian engineer, Raymond Lele Tokam, and his Belgian partners, demonstrated the technicality, practical, installation through manifestation phases, to the media men in Douala recently.

Through their company, Domintell, the Belgian's said, they are proud to have brought the technology to Cameroon. They noted that advanced technology over the years has not only shaped the way people communicate, but also how to protect homes.

“Technology had the capacity to link humans with different devices and connect beyond just computers and smartphones. Nowadays, with domotics, it is pretty common for people to also connect many of their home elements like garage doors, doorbells, door locks, speakers, lights, clocks, and other electronic devices for optimal security. Keeping an eye on your home away from home has never been easier," they said.

Home automation involves devices communicating with each other to send information and follow the commands of the owner.

Experts said it is most convenient to use once everything is set up properly because one can control the different elements in their homes from a smart phone, thus saving electricity and having improved security.  

In a nutshell, "domotics", is the encounter of information technology, electrotechnics and electronics that makes a home become "smart". It is the tool that allows humans to control systems, devices and automations with the aim of increasing the living and comfort quality of the domestic space.

Domintell's Director, Nicolas Vryghem, said once the system is installed, a building develops routine processes where repetitive habits or similar situations that may be easily automatised can be observed from afar.

Some daily examples include: turning the lights on to illuminate dark stairs and turning them off when nobody is around. It may also involve turning the lights on and off even when there is nobody at home, to simulate occupation, or automatically turning down air conditioning systems when the external temperature drops, controlling cameras and security devices, switching off the television, computers, closing the cottons, amongst others.

"Domotics is an integrated system for homes, hotels that provides the final user with new comfort and a standard of security that cannot be achieved by the adoption of traditional systems or partial automations. Just with a single switch, and internet connection you have absolute control over your property," Vryghem said.

Amongst other advantages, electrical engineer can now automate lighting while requiring less wiring, which reduces its installation time and therefore its cost as compared to “traditional” electrical wiring.

An electrical engineer, Nkoueko Elie, who have been trained on domotics in Douala, testified that the technology serves as a bridge between the old system and the new trends in artificial intelligence.

"Domotics is what we normally ought to do. Domintell has given us the opportunity to correlate what was lacking in our old experience. With domotics, wiring is made simple, dimmable lighting for personalised moods, 0-100% linearity. Independent of the quality of the electrical network, use is totally flexible, the system has a superior performance, simplified electrical panel, high light stability. Just with your phone, and a single switch, you can control the entire house," Nkoueko noted.