Control Systems - The Future Is Here

     The last post touched on the ability to monitor and control devices through a network.  This post will begin to explain some of the control systems that exist and what they are capable of.  Understanding these systems can give you a better idea of where technology is going and how it can be used.  
     Let me start with an example that people have probably heard of.  It is called Phillips hue.  Hue is a set of light bulbs that can be control with a mobile device.  The bulbs connect to a bridge that then gets connected to a wireless router via network cabling.  With the bulbs now connected to the network, you can control them via a smart phone app.  The app can dim and brighten, turn on and off, and even set scenes.  You can set up a scene for watching movies where your kitchen lights are dim, and living room lights are off.  Just press the scene and the lights will automatically adjust.  
     I started with Hue because it is the most consumer friendly example.  While the consumer market is just getting to know control systems, the truth is they have been around for years in the commercial market.  The leaders are Crestron and AMX.  These companies create complex control systems for nearly every aspect of your space.  You can control lighting, shades, computers, displays, and audio systems.  Manufacturers are making their equipment controllable so any of these items can be controlled over one of these complex systems.  
     A control system allows a user to control their entire space from a thin control panel.  These control panels can be button or touchscreen and can be located in a surface or set on a table.  Control systems are very popular in offices and boardrooms.  A user can sit at the conference table and lower the shades, dim the lights, turn on the display, and select their input source for presentation.  Control systems are used in many other applications as well.  The hotel industry uses them in their rooms to control various functions.  Some institutions use control systems for simple uses like lighting or shade control.  No matter the application, control systems provide a classy and convenient way to control lighting, shading, and devices.  While Crestron and AMX provide systems for home use, more consumer-grade products are beginning to surface.  Soon households will have control systems running every aspect of their homes.  Some already do, but more will certainly follow.  

-Jon