ControlThink Forums

INTERMATIC HOMESETTINGS™ CONTROLS YOUR HOUSE WITH THE CLICK OF A MOUSE
New USB Stick Allows Consumers to Control Home Appliances and Lighting from Any Home Computer

LAS VEGAS, NV - May 9, 2006 - Even the least tech-savvy people anxiously await the release of the newest product in the Intermatic HomeSettings home controls line. The new USB stick, which debuts at the National Hardware Show, May 9-11, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, in booth 21801, allows consumers to come one step closer to owning a “smart home” of their own. The most exciting part? The product is extremely simple to operate, easy-to-install and affordable. It is powered using ThinkEssentials® Computer Control Software by ControlThink® and the award-wining Zensys Z-Wave technology.

“In 2005, Intermatic was one of the first companies to create a reliable home control lighting and appliance system with a reasonable price point, effectiveness and demonstrated ease-of-use,” said Art Noparstak, a home controls expert with Intermatic, Inc. “Today we are first to market again with a reasonably priced USB stick for the do-it-yourself market. The new device allows interoperability between a person’s computer and their HomeSettings appliance and lighting modules. It creates a virtual remote control from any computer anywhere in the house.”

The new HomeSettings USB interfaces between the software and HomeSettings devices to ensure seamless interoperability, once the ControlThink software is installed. A consumer can easily access the program from their home computer or remotely through a home network.

(continued...)

What are Lighting and Appliance Home Controls?

If you're a typical consumer, what exactly does “home controls” mean? The term really means being able to enhance your lifestyle by controlling indoor and outdoor lighting and home appliances using a remote control or computer. Ask yourself about these scenarios:

• Would you like to turn lights on and off in your home? Better still, how about programming your system to have the lights go on when the sun goes down?
• Instead of setting a loud, buzzing alarm to wake you up in the morning, would a warm bedroom light that switches on at the right time be more peaceful as you begin your day? That same light can stay off on weekends when you like to sleep in.
• Enjoy sitting on your patio or deck? How would you like your outside lights to come up gradually as the sun sets for the day? Just when the evening seems perfect, your hot tub, pond and fountain also run on an assigned schedule.
• Remember when you arrived at your vacation or business trip destination and suddenly realized that you neglected to ask a friend or neighbor to make the house look occupied? In the near future, you can program your lights to go on from the road.
• When you want that special mood in the room, wouldn’t it be nice when you sit down to relax and watch a movie on the big screen that you can easily dim your lights?
• Who likes a bowl of cereal in the middle of the night? Have the lights go on before you enter the room by a touch of a button? It’s a great way to avoid stubbing a toe.

(continued...)

Intermatic is one of the many leading manufacturers who have integrated Z-Wave technology into their home control products. Z-Wave technology is a low-cost, two-way communications technology that enables consumers to monitor and manage different systems around their home. Each product is embedded with a powerful chip that allows signals to bounce from one control to another in order to provide the most efficient working path. Intermatic HomeSettings products are compatible with all other products using Z-Wave technology, including Monster, Cisco Systems, Intel and Wayne Dalton.

“The possibilities for home controls are endless and as technology advances, the options and flexibility for these types of controls will grow,” said Noparstak. “Today a consumer can go into their local home center and with a budget of less than $100 begin to outfit their home with a home control system and gradually expand over time.”

Intermatic’s HomeSettings USB with ThinkEssentials software retails for $50 to $60 and will be available at home center, consumer electronics and on-line e-tailers in the near future. HomeSettings remote controls, in-wall dimmer switch, and lamp and appliance modules are currently available nationwide at Lowe’s, Fry’s Electronics and online at HomeSeer.com and SmartHome.com.

For more information, log on to:
http://www.HomeSettings.com

[EDIT: in the original press release, the words ThinkEssentials and ControlThink were mistakenly swapped.]