ControlThink Forums

With the upcoming release of ThinkEssentials 2.1, we are mapping out features for the next major release of ThinkEssentials.

So, what would you like to see?  Here are a few potential ideas; please agree with some of them, add to them, or let us know why they aren't important to you.  Help us take this product to the next level for you...

Support for additional devices/systems

• Support for other device types (X10? UPB? Other?)
• HAI/GE/Elk/other security system integration
Sprinkler system support
Webcam support
Whole-home audio support
DVD/home theater support
iTunes/Windows Media Player support
???

UI features/changes 

• Windows Media Center UI
• Windows Media Center plug-in
• Device (non-floorplan) list view
• Integrated web server
• Remote cellphone access 
• ???

 New features

• Sunrise/sunset +/- timer offsets
• Selective backup/restore: floorplan only, network only, etc.
• Integrated C#/VB macro support
• Simple macro support
• ???

Other

• ???

I'm going to make this post sticky, and keep it around for up to a few weeks--at which point we'll take it offline and roll it into the roadmap. 

Thank you very much for your feedback,

Chris

brogrene:

2) Network mapping -

Hopefully that's what 2.1 is all about.

C# or VB Macros would be fun.

 1. Sunset/sunrise with offset and randomize features.

2. Network mapping

3. Diagnostics

4. Energy usage tracking (just logging events would be a big help)

5. Sprinkler systems

6. Thermostats. 

 Oh, and more flexible, named, schedules.  I want to be able to set up a Landscape lights schedule and a vacation schedule.  I want to be able to turn on the vacation schedule when I go on a vacation and turn it off when I come back.  If I want to change my landscape lights schedule, then I want to edit it only, with a graphical editor.  Currently I have lights off separate from lights on, and the schedule window is not very intuitive.

How about the ability to learn my patterns and usage so that when I go away my house can have a lived in look, that is randomized and not just timer?

After installing TE in a customers home and hearing their suggestions and complaints here is what I would like to see from your list

 

Support for additional devices/systems

• Support for other device types (X10? UPB? Other?)
• HAI/GE/Elk/other security system integration

UI features/changes 

• Device (non-floorplan) list view
• Integrated web server

 New features

• Sunrise/sunset +/- timer offsets
• Selective backup/restore: floorplan only, network only, etc.
• Integrated C#/VB macro support
• Simple macro support

Other

• Customizable Randomized Timer for Security Lighting
• Changable Icons - I'd like to have a selection of Icons to choose from. This way if I know a relay device is actually a Fan I can make it look like a Fan. Also would like to be able to select ERROR  and Warning icons so that customers don't get so freaked out evertime they see a question mark over one of their devices.
• Error Logging - All too often my customer complains of an error and can't tell me how it happened. So maybe keeping track of the last 20 button clicks and actions that TE has and dumping them to an error log whenever an exception occurs would help track down some of these issues.

UI needs a serious redesign.  please add WMC integration.

webserver: would be nice if it supported ssl/credentials. wap as well as html page for cellular implementation.  java (for most cell phones) and iphone app (see AirRemote) for cell phone would be even better.  work with autohtn to get his android app integrated for when their phones release on the market.

not sure if you have messaging alerts via email/sms or even reply controls via email

3rd party integration - control global cache, squeezebox, itunes,  casatunes, russound, nuvo, receiver, set top box, etc. along with HA all in one.  this is the HOLY GRAIL of remote control IMO.  you are on the right track with the sideshow component.  if only someone would finally put out a handheld a/v remote that includes sideshow support (been waiting forever on ricavision).  IR/RS232 integration even if it is just learning in codes for now to control those products via your interface.

appliance box for low power consumption and no need for pc.

conditional macros - and, if, else, or, boolean, etc.

calendar integration along with randomized.  ie. program vacation into calendar and which group of components to randomly control while i am gone.

ip camera integration along with security panels.

you need to strive to become an all in one like other z-wave + software on the market today to really compete or you need to find a niche such as your networking tools, sideshow implementation (need to add an actual device), or just concentrate on what you do best which is the fundamentals of core z-wave/windows integration.  partner with boca or something to come out with some really interesting new z-wave product lines.  develop the control code and let them develop the hardware.

 

 

One more thing from me.

 I'd like to see something added to the network visualizer that links the devices that talk to each other. In other words if I send a packet from the controller and it is more than one hop I would like to see an arrow line drawn from the first device in the hop to the next device and so on so I can see exactly how a signal is being routed.

 To go along with that it would be nice if I could click and drag the line to another device if I think the routing does not make any sense or if I know it's routing through a device which is not acting right.

Squintz:

One more thing from me.

 I'd like to see something added to the network visualizer that links the devices that talk to each other. In other words if I send a packet from the controller and it is more than one hop I would like to see an arrow line drawn from the first device in the hop to the next device and so on so I can see exactly how a signal is being routed.

 To go along with that it would be nice if I could click and drag the line to another device if I think the routing does not make any sense or if I know it's routing through a device which is not acting right.

Second.

1. Sunrise / Sunset offset is a must
2. Simple macro features toallow lights to be switched on based onlight level and room occupancy would be superb.
3. Integration with remotes like those from Philips, as mentioned before, will allow for whole home control.
4. A floorplan with tabs.
5. Run the application as a service

My $.02:

While it's great that TE has a mechanism for drawing floor plans, and that's great, it's not the product's strength.  I've been expecting loadable backgrounds for a while now, based on feature descriptions of 2.x.  It hasn't materialized yet (or if it has, I haven't discovered the feature).  Please find a way to make that happen.

 While you're at it, think a bit about floors in buildings.  I work across three floors plus the exterior of the house with TE.  Having it all on one flat view isn't necessarily desirable.  Tabs for floors, layer them atop each other, Draw X equally sized areas, one for each floor.  There are lots of options.  Spend some time thinking about them.

 Give me a way to look at the state of my network at time T for any time in the last few months.  You're product is polling all these devices periodically.  Record it.

   The diagnostic features you've added to the product seem like a great leap forward.  You've gotten to the point where you can help users find problems.  Take it to the next level.  Help them correct the problem.  Leverage the experience of your users over the next few months and suggest a few corrective actions when you find a weakly connected link, especially if the floorplan layout suggests this is unexpected.  To accomplish this, you probably need a scale on your floorplans :).

  Add a feature that will make my home look automatically lived in when I want it to.  Monitor how I use my lights when I'm home.  Let me turn on a mode that makes the lights behave like that when I'm not home.

  Add a "notify my of changes mode".  When in this mode, I simply want email notifications when the light states change (except due to TE actions due to schedules, the above mentioned "look lived in mode", etc.).  Use cases for this:

  1.) I have a cat sitter coming in.  Does the motion detector notice that she's there every day?

  2.) Not sure what else.  The cat sitter checking was the Mr. House/X10 logging case where I used something like this in the past.

  What TE has above and beyond the competition is an easy to setup, easy to understand console for a ZWave system on a PC.  So keep that up.  And keep extending it.

 For example, I want touch screens around my house to display and control what TE does.  But I have no idea how to go about it.  It sounds like you're already approaching this on a cell phone product.  Look into an easy-to-deply touch screen product as well.  If you had a touch screen controller that would automatically get the zones, scenes, and displays from TE, I'd be tempted to buy three or four of them.  The price point is, as always, critical here.  My price point cutover point is around $250, which is probably a little low today.  But there it is.

   I'm sure half of what I just listed is crazy.  Hopefully the other half is useful.  Keep up the good work. 

  

Logging devices, polling, it would be so nice to be able to review the log to determine if everything is operating as it should.

 StevenE

How about the ability to reorder the zones or scenes list on the right ?

 

1. i would also like an automatic ability to know which modules are within line of sight of a controller. this way i can overcome the 5 limit assocation of switches/dimmers since they can update any controller within sight after the 5.

2. i would also love to see actual signal strength of a device in relation to the network.  maybe incorporate a zniffer into thinkessentials somehow.

3. automatic update of the routing table.  as modules are not in service but not removed from the network, the network will reroute the path for each transmission but i don't believe it automatically updates the route table for next time so it winds up going through this everytime which is a waste.  anytime it has to reroute a message because it cannot communicate with a module, then the tables should be rebuilt.  instead of having to do manual rediscovery, it should auto update the route table if it cannot communicate with a device.  the device can still be used as a route but switch it to a last resort path.  i don't want to remove the device because it may not be communicating for some reason (module unplugged, out of range, rf interference at that time, etc.)

4. auto rediscover timer.  i should be able to set a rediscovery every night at midnight say to optimize my network in case something has changed.  i don't want to have to manually do this everytime.

5. remote inclusion/exclusion of devices.  should not need to go to 3 feet away from device to include/exclude.