ABSTRACT
THE BUILDING AUTOMATION business is overrun with new terms that try to describe “state-of-the-art” in controls. Real-time system integration may simply be one more such term, but it does capture the challenge and the opportunity for automation, while hinting at the internet’s role for the future. There are a wealth of new control products, technologies, and buzzwords, yet there is a simple evolution underway toward the internet. No, it isn’t likely that the internet will ever control buildings at the equipment level, but it is the ultimate vehicle to enhance control and to dramatically expand the information management capabilities of automation systems.
