Control4 is hitting the road to educate interior designers, architects and builders about the benefits of voice control and home automation. The company's “Smart Design, Smart Living” Airstream made its first stop in Boston's Seaport district, with voice control from Amazon Echo in tow.
“With technology playing an essential part of our lives, we seek to develop products and experiences that will complement and augment the beauty and functionality of every home,” says Susan Cashen, senior vice president of marketing, support and training, Control4.
“At Control4, we believe in adapting technology to complement the character of all home environments and in creating an atmosphere that appeals to any homeowner and family. That’s why we created these programs—to bring the importance of designing for connected homes to a like-minded community that will benefit from these opportunities,” adds Cashen.
Brad Hintze, direct product marketing manager, Control4, says the automated Airstream exhibit features Control4 products that address lighting, audio, video, HVAC and security applications.
The Airstream also features Amazon Echo. In the video below, hear why Hintze thinks the Echo is a great addition to the smart home on wheels.
The Airstream is outfitted to help home professionals understand the value of these systems and technologies through their own personal experiences. Hintze says through the demonstration Control4 is able to communicate how technology can be integrated into homes, while remaining in the background, to enhance homeowners’ daily activities.
Some of the Control4 products featured in the Airstream include thermostats, temperature sensors, keypads, remote controls, lighting control and Amina Mobius 7 invisible speakers, which its Triad brand distributes in the U.S.
Showing just how stealth the Amina speakers are, Hintze says the speakers are hidden completely out of sight as they provide an unobtrusive audio solution to dealers and interior designers.
In the Airstream demonstration the speakers flank the large HDTV to deliver a stereo image that’s bigger and more dynamic than speakers built into TVs.
The goal of the automated Airstream, according to Hintze, is to connect with designers, builders, architects and homeowners to show how technology can unobtrusively integrate into the home.
Inside the Airstream: See Photos
Control4 Backs Smart-Home Initiatives with Education
Supporting integrators beyond just simply offering products, Control4 is launching its Smart Home Design program. This package of educational sessions offers a choice of nine courses that are worth up to one continuing credit per course.
The Utah-based company is offering courses for American Institute of Architect (AIM), American Institute of Building Design (AIBD), National Association of Remodeling Industry (NARI), and Interior Designers Continuing Education Council (IDCEC) members.
Control4 says the courses cover a range of topics to enable these professional organizations’ memberships to learn lighting and shade system design, as well as systems like multiroom A/V, and other topics to enable the intuitive design of connected homes.
The courses will be offered throughout the year at key locations as seminars, lunch-and-learn events and networking sessions. Full course descriptions are available here. The Control4 tour and Airstream schedules are available here.
