Let Control Orchestrate Your Smart Home
While you are undoubtedly familiar with many of today's smart devices, do you ever wonder how home automation started? It began with audio and video systems control. Back in the 1990s, we had many single-purpose devices - VCRs, DVD players, CD players, turntables, TVs, projectors, etc. Getting all those to work together usually led to picking up and deciphering many button-festooned remote controls.
Brave souls would purchase and program universal remotes, but even those could be very frustrating affairs. Many people in Salt Lake City turned to professionals like us to install systems that would actually work, ones that could understand that a device was on or off and could execute your wishes reliably. From there, other controls could be added to manage lights, motorized window treatments, and other accouterments of modern home theaters and living areas.
Today, not only are there a myriad of smart home DIY devices for many functions, but there are also full-fledged smart home control platforms like Control4 for not only audio-video integration but a host of other smart home functions too.
Start with AV
Even with today's AV equipment being far smarter than anything from the 1990s, unfortunately they can still be a handful to get to work together. In your media room or home theater, you still want to press one button and have the TV or projector come on, the right input set, have the suitable picture mode, get the AV receiver to light up, set the correct input there, select the proper sound format, dim the lights, and draw the shades. If you think about it, that hasn't changed since the 1990s. In fact, AV technology has gotten more sophisticated and complicated since, so the need for accessible and comprehensive control is still very much present.
Enter Control4. Control4 has been a pioneer in home automation since 2003, and in those earlier days, AV control was the most popular application. And they still do an incredible job with that today, with compatibility with some 14,000+ devices, many of those AV components.
A Control4 system makes it easy to manage your AV system with one remote control and one interface. Even in this age of smartphone app control, do you really want to be juggling with apps for your TV, AV receiver, and streaming device? In contrast, we would recommend a remote like Control4's Neeo, which marries the best of traditional button remotes with touchscreen control for more visual functions. For example, volume and directional buttons are included that you can use by feel, while the touchscreen lets you select content to listen to or watch as well as other smart features like lights.
And Go Way Beyond AV
Now that you’ve tamed your AV or home theater, you can continue to conquer with Control4. Lighting? Of course. Control4’s visual interface instantly lets you see the status of a light and turn it on or off. If you don’t want to use a touchscreen for everything, lights and other functions can be programmed on wall-mounted keypads. With wireless control, those keypads can go where you want them, not where there are electric wires. Simplify groups of lights with precise dimming and control from one or two buttons versus many switches throughout an area.
Don’t stop at lights! Motorized shades are the best thing since power windows in cars. What cars have manual windows these days? Go ahead; we'll wait. Someday, all shades will be powered. Make that day today for your home, and then manage them with Control4. While you're at it, add smart thermostats too, and Control4 will orchestrate all of these for you. Your investment will pay dividends for years with increased comfort, better use of natural light, and energy savings from efficient management of your HVAC system.
Automation Indoors and Out
Control4 can integrate other functions too. Ceiling fans can be coordinated with the system, varying with the seasons and working in unison with your heating and cooling. Have a pool? Let Control4 manage it, ensuring it's ready when you want to use it and efficiently running pool equipment when you’re not. Set scenes outdoors for every season, managing outdoor lighting, entertainment, fire pits, awnings and shades, and almost anything else that’s powered.
SEE MORE: 3 Ways Control4 OS 3 Improves Your Smart Home
Let Show and Tell AV Solutions show you the power of Control4 total smart home integration for your Utah home. Just give us a call at (801) 444-3200, fill out our contact form, or chat with us below – we look forward to working with you!