With the entire year before us, building automation columnist Ken Sinclair consults the system dashboard of his browser-enabled, PoE-driven digital crystal ball to peer into 2006. What's PoE? What's virtual value? Why are "faster horses" not fast enough for today's industry? Hey, it's just the start of the article; what do you think we are, mindreaders?
The end of the year is a fine time to gaze forward, not in terms of decades from now, but in terms of what's being done right now that will have major effects in the future. The controls industry is undergoing a radical restructuring as technology evolves. The intelligent building continues to beckon owners toward its benefits, but even it is only a part of an intelligent city. The GridWise initiative is gaining power. And yet, it will still come down to people to deliver the real value for clients. Read on, and look ahead. By Ken Sinclair