07.07.2008 — You're doing cool things with home automation.

There are so many possibilities for what can be done with the connected home, and part of our job is to help you showcase them.

We've already highlighted 10 Inventive Home Automation Applications, but there's more to be shared. So, without further ado, here are 10 MORE inventive home automation applications.

The stories, originally submitted for Control4's ProTest contest, have been edited for publication.

Spooky Halloween Voice

We installed a JVC music machine with wireless microphones controlled with a C4 outlet switch. Once the music machine is selected, the switch turns on the microphones and the video switch and audio switch do the rest.

During Halloween, we programmed the system so the father could chime in during the daughter's party. Once the "Boo" scene was selected, the lights would flash on and off and the microphones would activate.

The father was able to put on his scary voice and the kids went running.
Anthony Ferara, UNET Business Communications/Home Auomation, San Pedro, CA

Rise and Shine, Kids

"If it could help get the kids going in the morning, that's the kind of automation I could use," our client told us. Sometimes we forget that what it's really about: making everyday tasks everyday easy.

The day starts with a daily scheduled event called "School Prep." The outside lights turn on, as does the light in the laundry room, while the stairway light leading to the laundry room is set to 60%.

The kids have individual wake-ups that play their favorite radio stations and bring up the light in their rooms. They can lie in bed, but they know that in 15 minutes the radio station will change (thanks to a motion sensor).

Ironically, the radio in the girl's room changes to the boy's heavy metal station, while the one in the boy's room changes to the girl's dance music. This usually works to get them up, even if just to change it back.

In the kitchen the parents are up, making lunches for the kids to take to school. On the wall is a 6 button keypad (a pair of buttons for each of the three kids). The LED on the left button goes blue when the music turns on in the room, and turns red if the radio station has changed.

The right LED is off if the room light is off and no one is moving, turns red when the light comes on, blue when it detects motion and goes green when the light is on and motion is detected (meaning they're up and going). Before the wakeup is triggered it can be enabled and disabled by the left button, while the right button turns off the room, allowing the parents to turn off the lights and music without having to run up to the kids room.
Paul Key, Audiodyne, Minnetonka, MN

Helping the Elderly, Beyond the Panic Button

After a with a woman caring for her father, we started looking into the needs of the elderly in our community. We designed a system with safety and notification of others in mind; it is not intended to replace an assisted-living facility or an in-home nurse.

This smart home system can:
- Send an immediate text message in case of emergency or if there's any indication of a problem
- Detect and respond to potentially dangerous events, like leaving the stove on
- Flashing the exterior lights to let emergency personnel respond faster
- Provide clues to mental cognizance, like leaving doors/windows open, not setting the alarm, wandering, etc.

We wanted to provide more than a "panic button," at a reasonable cost.
Justin Tsuchida, Executive 411 Home Technologies, Burke VA