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CEDIA COMMUNICATES
Grant Clauser, USbased technology writer explores the importance of dedicated interfaces in home automation systems
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CONTROL Mobile apps are great supplements, but they don’t replace the real thing. Even as the DIY smart home market extols the virtues of using apps to control everything from lights to thermostats, experienced professionals know that a dedicated interface, including touchpanels, keypads and handheld remotes, are a necessity in every home system, even in every room. iPads and their ilk, when loaded with a well-designed control app, can be excellent devices for certain types of control in certain situations. Homeowners love to use them, and installers know that showing a client how easily they can control a system through an app often is the tipping point that ends in a sale. In addition, compared to dedicated touchpanels, tablets and smart phones, they are inexpensive. Every reputable home automation company has apps for their systems, and nearly every homeowner has several tablets or smart phones already. It would seem like a match made in heaven.
For a home cinema system, a dedicated remote is a must-have