Domotics

Domotics is the field and practice of integrating information and communication technologies into a residence to monitor, control, and automate household systems and devices. The aim is to improve comfort, safety, energy efficiency, and accessibility by enabling centralized or automated management of lighting, climate control, security, appliances, and other functions.

Typical domotics systems comprise sensors and actuators, a control infrastructure, and user interfaces. Devices may include motion sensors, door/window sensors, thermostats, lighting controllers, cameras, and smart plugs. The control layer connects devices through wired networks (for example KNX, Ethernet) or wireless standards (such as Zigbee, Z-Wave, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth). The application layer runs software platforms, hubs, or cloud services that coordinate tasks, provide automation rules, and deliver apps or voice assistant interfaces. Interoperability is a central concern, with standards and protocols that enable devices from different manufacturers to work together.

Historically, domotics emerged from early home automation concepts in the late 20th century and has evolved with the broader Internet of Things. Modern domotics often emphasizes energy management, remote monitoring, and aging-in-place, with integrations to cloud services, energy meters, and smart home ecosystems.

Challenges include security and privacy risks, data ownership, vendor lock-in, and the complexity of setup and maintenance. Ongoing developments focus on open standards, edge processing, and user-centric design to improve reliability and privacy.

See also smart home, home automation, Internet of Things.