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The term "Home Automation" or "Smart Home" means different things to people. To Hollywood, it represents a home in which a super-smart computer or Artificial Intelligence controls every electronic device in your home. This electronic servant is then programmed to ensure that the house is self-sufficient and has an almost psychic ability to attend to your needs. At Control4, we realise that these Hollywood portrayals of Home Automation are impractical by today´s technology. We are firmly grounded in reality.

Components of a Smart Home

Therefore, we find the definition of these terms usually depends on your industry knowledge. Yet, what if you are just starting out? Common definitions of a Smart Home or Home Automation entail:

• Climate control
• Lighting control
• Motorised devices such as blinds and awnings
• Environmental and energy management systems
• Security systems (including cameras)
• Whole home audio
• AV devices
• Intercom

You may already have a few of these devices in your home. The real question is whether each system has its own separate interface. In addition, can any of the systems communicate their status? Our aim at Control4 is to bring all these separate and isolated systems together. Automation to us is primarily about centralising control of separate systems. Once centralised, your home can exhibit smart behaviours.

Smart Behaviours

Imagine the following scenario:

• Whenever you leave your home and arm your security system, climate control and lights will turn off to save energy.
• Blinds and awnings will open and close automatically at sunset/sunrise. Even better, they open and close depending on the time of year and compass direction they are facing. This means blocking out the summer sun, but allowing the winter sun. You can even link sprinklers to turn on/off according to sunrise and sunset.
• Have lights come on automatically when you enter a room and turn off when you leave the room a few seconds later.
• Wake up at a preset time to your favourite radio station. At the same time, the blinds or lights will start to open up. A few minutes before all this, climate control will turn on to ensure you wake up to a comfortable room temperature.
• One single ubiquitous remote replaces all remotes in the home theatre.
• You can control devices from remote locations – including when you are out of the house.

This first step in the Smart Home is to get all systems to talk to each other. Once achieved, you can add an amazing list of automation tasks or "smart behaviours" to your home. With the assistance of a smart home integrator, Control4 products can increase the level of comfort, convenience and safety within your home.