Initial findings from a new report by IMS Research show that there is a growing trend in building automation systems towards photorealism and greater end user interaction.
For decades, spreadsheets offered the main tool to present data from the building management system. While using spreadsheets to display building data has benefits, it limits how data can be presented and how user-friendly the system is.

Sam Grinter, market analyst at IMS Research, said: 'In terms of user interfaces, building automation is playing catch-up with the rest of the electronics industry. This change in direction over the last six years towards photorealism and gamification of graphical user interfaces is a result of growing end user expectation.'

End users expect their building automation systems to be as simple to understand as their smart phones, tablets and other entertainment systems. This has prompted the introduction of 3D graphics and animations to building management systems. These graphics are increasingly being used on public displays in schools, colleges and offices.

Grinter added: 'A key barrier for photorealism is the building management system itself. High resolution graphics require greater processing power and the current crop of building management systems often limit the quality of graphics and the complexity of animations.'

IMS Research is due to publish its latest report 'The World Market for Value Added Services in Intelligent Building' in early 2013.