For several years, my website, columns, articles, and magazine supplements have been extolling the merits of integration. Although my preachings often ramble on about the inevitable integration path, do not interpret my words to mean that there will be integration without reason. All integration must be driven by added value and must increase the overall intelligence and net worth of all it touches.
The definition of intelligence from the Web is the ability to comprehend, to understand and profit from experience. Never before has our industry had such an opportunity to do exactly that. Our challenge is to provide integrated intelligence by building bridges to our client's enterprise and his core business through seamless connections of our real-time building control systems. If we can corral our industry's energies to work together intelligently, we can all greatly profit from our experiences. Old-style thinking can be dangerous. Let me quote some startling words from an anonymous article on the AutomatedBuildings.com website titled "A View From The Outside Looking In":