Fun subject,
Not to de-rail this thread from its main question, but while 'media' is not necessarly domotica persé in my book, I believe it depends a bit on what exact significance we attribute to the word. The same goes for 'domotica':
If we use 'media' as in the plural for 'medium', then:
Media:
(via thefreedictionary.com)
1. Something, such as an intermediate course of action, that occupies a position or represents a condition midway between extremes.
2. An intervening substance through which something else is transmitted or carried on.
3. An agency by which something is accomplished, conveyed, or transferred: The train was the usual medium of transportation in those days.
4. pl. media Usage Problem
a. A means of mass communication, such as newpapers, magazines, radio, or television.
b. media (used with a sing. or pl. verb) The group of journalists and others who constitute the communications industry and profession.
5. pl. media Computer Science An object or device, such as a disk, on which data is stored.
6. pl. mediums A person thought to have the power to communicate with the spirits of the dead or with agents of another world or dimension. Also called psychic.
7. pl. media
a. A surrounding environment in which something functions and thrives.
b. The substance in which a specific organism lives and thrives.
c. A culture medium.
8.
a. A specific kind of artistic technique or means of expression as determined by the materials used or the creative methods involved: the medium of lithography.
b. The materials used in a specific artistic technique: oils as a medium.
9. A solvent with which paint is thinned to the proper consistency.
10. Chemistry A filtering substance, such as filter paper.
11. A size of paper, usually 18 × 23 inches or 17 1/2 × 22 inches.
On the other hand if we use 'media' as an abbreviation of 'multimedia' then:
(via dictionary.com)
1. the combined use of several media, as sound and full-motion video in computer applications.
2. of, pertaining to, or involving the use of multimedia.
3. having or offering the use of various communications or promotional media: a multimedia corporation that owns TV stations and newspapers.
Going by the latter definition, 'media' could fall under the umbrella of domotica in some cases.
As for the word 'domotica', since it's not that used in english (the preferred term is 'home-automation' ) the english definitions are a little sparse, so I had to turn to dutch, italian, spanish etc as well. Since dutch is what most of us understand best:
Domotica:
(via domotica platform.nl)
Domotica omvat alle apparaten en infrastructuren in en rond woningen, die elektronische informatie gebruiken voor het meten, programmeren en sturen van functies ten behoeve van bewoners en dienstverleners.
Translation: Domotica includes all the apparatus and infrastructure in and around a house, which uses electronic information to measure, program and drive functions for the benefit of its inhabitants and service providers.
(via domotica platform.nl)
Domotica staat voor elektronische communicatie tussen allerlei elektrische toepassingen in de woning en woonomgeving ten behoeve van bewoners en dienstverleners. In een Domotica woning worden zorgtaken, communicatie, ontspanning en andere huiselijke bezigheden door talrijke elektrische apparaten en netwerken gemakkelijker gemaakt.
Domotica omvat alle elektronische toepassingen in de woning om functies te besturen (verwarmen, ventileren, verlichten, etc.) en diensten uit de woonomgeving te gebruiken (alarmeren, telefoneren, televisie kijken, etc.). Dit gebeurt bij voorkeur flexibel: op elke plek en op elk tijdstip dat het de bewoner past, met een gemakkelijke bediening en desgewenst op afstand.
Translation: Domotica means electronic communication between both electrical applications in the home and living-area for the benefit of inhabitants and service-providers. In a Domotica home care-tasks, communication, relaxation and other home-based activities are made easier by a variety of electric devices and networks.
Domotica encompasses all electronic applications in the home, to control features (heating, ventilation, lighting, etc) and other services used in the home (alarming, calling, watching television, etc.). This preferably happens in a flexible way: at any location and point in time that is convenient for the inhabitant, with an easy to use interface, and if so desired remotely.
(via mijnwoordenboek.nl)
Het gebruik van informatica en telematica in en rondom de woning ten behoeve van comfort, energiebesparing, elektronische dienstverlening, verzorging aan huis en aanpassing aan de individuele mens. (Definitie in De Ingenieur).
Translation: The use of IT and telematics in and around the home for comfort, energy-saving, electronic services, care at home and adaption to the tastes/wishes of the individual.
(via kwadraat.be)
Verzamelbegrip voor een hoog niveau aan voorzieningen mbt de elektrotechnische en data-installatie in gebouwen en het automatiseren van functies door middel van elektronica, zodat zaken als ventilatie, verwarming, verlichting, alarmbeveiliging, energiebesparing, ... geïntegreerd en vaak op afstand kunnen worden bestuurd.
Translation: General term for a high level of facilities in the electrotechnical- and data-installations in buildings and the automation of features thru electronics, of things like ventilation, heating, lighting, security, energy-saving, ... Integrated and often can be controlled remotely.
Based on the above definitions, certain audio/video implementations could qualify as domotica. A couple of examples:
- - A Russound multi-room setup that brings spoken house-message to specific locations in the house as well as playing music to specific rooms at preset wake-up times.
- - A video-switch that brings a videofeed from the front door to any point in the house, when the doorbell is rung. Or a TV that jumps to the right camera channel or superimposes the front door camera on the tv image. (PiP)
Myself, I consider domotica everything that is integrated/controllable from/via the controller. Be it lights, doors, cameras, xbmc, music, temperature, phone etc, it being tied together is what makes me classify it under the summarizing term 'domotica'. Having a programmable DVR I wouldn't classify as domotica, but if that DVR was controllable via my domotica controller I would.
That said, based on the definitions shown above, I think you could make a case, that somebody who has a lot of automated functions within his house (scheduling thermostat, digital programmable timer lights, tv energy savers etc), without them all being connected together has some form of domotica as well.
Maybe we need other definitions?
On 'Interactive Multimedia' I found the following:
(via
http://tojde.anadolu.edu.tr/tojde17/pdf ... imedia.pdf, page 116)
(by Phillips, 1997)
The term ‘interactive multimedia’ is a catch-all phrase to
describe the new wave of computer software that primarily deals with the
provision of information. The ‘multimedia’ component is characterized by
the presence of text, pictures, sound, animation and video; some or all of
which are organized into some coherent program. The ‘interactive’
component refers to the process of empowering the user to control the
environment usually by a computer
By this definition, it would seem, that the realtime domotica websites or HStouch dashboards some of us have (Regrouping weather-, temperature-, motion-, phone-information, light status etc etc) could fall under interactive multimedia.
Regarding the question of what succesful domotica 'projects' have made it into 'general households'. If you mean Jan-Alleman homes, I can't think of any by my own definition of domotica. But If a stand-alone DVR counts, then lots: the scheduling thermostat, the programmable washing machines, the digital oven and microwave etc. Finally if by 'general households' you mean any class of home, then I would say KNX, Crestron, AMX etc.
And of course being able to control all this from any device of which the name starts with an i and/or a touchscreen in the livingroom or on your lap..