The app is the first fully immersive smart home app developed leveraging the Oculus Quest 2 technology and is designed to submerse customers into an almost realistic smart home, aiding them to design and visualize the right package of smart technologies for their home. It enables the wearer to explore each room in a virtual home environment, understand impact on energy use and operate a range of smart systems using the ABB-free@home® digital platform.
The platform ABB-free@home controls all installed ABB smart home technologies plus a range of compatible appliances, through one easy-to-use interface. The new Oculus-compatible VR app will enable customers to use ABB-free@home first-hand for a realistic connected home-from-home experience.
Dr. Thorsten Müller, Head of Global Product Group Building and Home Automation Solutions forABB comments: “We recognize that smart home technologies can be hard to visualize in action – that’s why we created a virtual reality experience for customers to use during the decision-making process. Harnessing the power of Oculus Quest 2, homeowners and architects alike are able to experience a range of smart technologies for themselves and gain an understanding of how simple and intuitive the ABB-free@home system really is.”
Moving around the virtual home, the wearer can use the ABB-free@home app to control a range of installed systems including heating, lighting and air conditioning, as well as media entertainment, window blinds, front door communication and home appliances like dish washers and washing machines.
Office 
Lounge 
Bathroom 
Bedroom 
Entrance
One feature is the new ABB-Welcome 7” Indoor Video Station, a market-leading door entry and home security system that offers a range of functions including video surveillance, video door entry, audio and video messaging capability and customized doorbell tones.
Müller continues: “While smart homes are fun and convenient places to live, they are also energy conscious. The VR app enables customers to understand how simple it really is to achieve energy reductions and a greener standard of living in their own home while enjoying increased comfort and functionality.”
Being able to not only visualize, but experience first-hand how ABB smart home technologies operate and are brought together in one control panel is an important step forward. The VR app demonstrates not only the value these technologies bring for comfort and security, but also in maximizing energy efficiency through intelligent control of appliances, heating and lighting. In encouraging the uptake of smart home technologies and creating spaces that are efficient, safe and enjoyable to live in ABB is empowering people to take control of their own environments.
Downloading the Smart Home VR app for the Oculus Quest 2 is simple and free of charge. Once an Oculus Quest 2 has been purchased and an online account in the Oculus store has been registered, one can simply visit the ABB website and fill out the quick form using the same email address linked to the Oculus account. The ABB Smart Homes app will download to the My App Area within the Oculus account free of charge and an email notification will be send when it is ready to use.
For more information on the ABB Smart Home VR app, click here.
To understand more about appliances that are compatible with the system, visit the compatible appliances page on the ABB website, or to learn about the video indoor station, click here.
ABB’s Electrification Business Area is a global leader in electrical products and solutions, operating in more than 100 countries, with over 200 manufacturing sites. Our 50,000+ employees are dedicated to transforming how people live, connect and work by delivering safe, smart and sustainable electrification solutions. We are shaping the future trends of electrification, differentiating through technological and digital innovation while delivering an outstanding experience through operational excellence for our customers across utilities, industry, buildings, infrastructure and mobility. For more information visit https://go.abb/electrification
