Essential Install November 2016 | Page 9

Essential Install | News Control4 Embraces Google Home Voice Control Home automation systems from Control4 are to be integrated with Google Home and Pixel products through the IoT engine IFTTT Home automation systems from Control4 are to be integrated with Google Home and Pixel products through the IoT engine IFTTT thanks to a driver created by New Zealand developer, Chowmain. Google’s voice-recognition API won’t be released until December; however integration is already possible with IFTTT, which already has a Google Assistant ‘channel’. “Our method of integration of Google Home via IFTTT will work in the UK (and Europe) when the product is released in the region,” Alan Chow, Chowmain co-founder told EI. It will also work with the Google Assistant voice recognition straight away on the phone. “Google Assistant (which powers Google home and Google pixel) will open up its APIs in December to allow third party manufacturers to allow their products to interact with Google Home in three different ways,” he furthered. These three ways comprise the following: Direct Actions, Conversation Actions and Embedded Google Assistant – full details can be found on www.ce-pro.eu. Integration is achieved through an update to the Chowmain IFTTT driver for Control4 to allow Google Home and Pixel to pass through commands and variables to the Control4 home automation system. Using Google Home’s ‘Assistant’ – homeowners will be able to control all of their Control4 favourites such as their thermostats, lighting, TVs – even broadcast text-to-speech announcements through the home – all via voice command. “The great thing about the integration is that it works on both Google Home and Google Pixel products,” said Alan. “Even if you are not within range of your Home device you can use your Pixel phone to control your home upon verbal commands.” The integration also allows Control4 to control any of the products or services integrated into IFTTT, whilst also allowing those products to control Control4. This includes Tesla and BMW connected car notifications, homeowner geofencing, GE, LG and Samsung smart appliance integration. Google Home is not expected to arrive in the UK until sometime in 2017 for approximately £106. More information: Chowmain www.chowmain.co.nz DISTRIBUTE …AV, UHF, IF, HDMI & WiFi signals with ease. Our comprehensive solutions include HDBaseT Matrices from Antiference, CYP and Triax, 4K UHD video over IP from Blustream and enterprise quality WiFi from Ubiquiti’s AP’s and POE network switches. We also Integrated Experience’s focus is entirely on residential applications Marcus Jackson-Baker has launched a South-West London-based software and consultancy company named Integrated Experience, designed to deliver user-centric and robust software solutions harnessing the power of Crestron and Lutron for the residential sector. Having spent most of his working life in the upper tiers of the residential market, Marcus has developed a deep understanding of the expectations of homeowners and their requirements for technology that works in tandem with their lifestyle. Working alongside home technology professionals, Integrated Experience is a Crestron Services Provider and Certified Crestron Programmer that can ensure that the homeowner’s requirements are delivered without the need for the installer to maintain the large overhead of a Crestron and Lutron programmer on permanent staff. More information: Integrated Experience +44 (0)20 7846 0345 www.integratedexperience.com offer a FREE planning service. TRADE COUNTER LOCATIONS Brighton & Hove 0844 225 2700 Cardiff 0844 225 2701 Hemel Hempstead 0844 225 2703 Maidstone 0844 225 2704 Bournemouth 0844 225 2705 WWW.ALLTRADE.CO.UK Crestron And Lutron Software Consultancy Company Launched November 2016 | 7 News.indd 7 22/11/2016 10:28