Integrated Systems Events announced this week that Dr. Dirk Schlesinger, the global lead for manufacturing industries of Cisco Consulting Services, will present the opening keynote address of ISE 2014. Schlesinger’s address, “Kick-Starting the Market for Building Automation,” will give attendees an exclusive insight into how a new cross-industry initiative set up by Cisco, ABB, Bosch and LG will transform the world of smart building technology by offering a common standard for data exchange across multiple appliances and disciplines.

“In October 2013, Cisco, ABB, Bosch and LG signed a memorandum of understanding to explore the development of a common, open and discrimination-free platform to unite diverse services such as lighting control, energy management, security, healthcare and, not least, audiovisual entertainment and communication,” Schlesinger said. “In my opening keynote address at ISE 2014, I will explain how this platform will enable new business models, giving equipment manufacturers, software developers, service providers, systems integrators and other businesses in the ecosystem the tools they need to kick-start the market for home and building automation.”

Existing protocols will be used wherever possible. Once the operating company for the platform has been incorporated, the aim is that compatible appliances will communicate with each other over radio networks such as Wi-Fi and Zigbee, and over other wired connections such as KNX. “Customer premise equipment” within a building would then manage all the individual appliances and create a secure Internet link to cloud-based services, with any unit being able to perform this function, regardless of manufacturer, provided it runs on software that satisfies the relevant standard. The initiative is planning a mid-2015 launch across Europe, with the platform being made available to developers in 2014.

The keynote will take place at 6 p.m. on Mon., Feb. 3, 2014 in the forum of the Amsterdam RAI. ISE’s Opening Reception will follow. Both are free for all registered attendees of ISE. For more information or to register for ISE 2014, click here.