The terms home automation and ‘smart home’ mean the same thing. To put it simply, this describes any home that uses technology solutions like apps and sensors to automate daily tasks throughout your home. A typical smart home utilizes some sort of central control unit or app with interconnected systems like voice commands, programs and timers. The goal with smart home Hunter Douglas technology like PowerView Motorization is to make your life easier and more efficient. Smart homes and smart home tech also falls under the category of what's called, the Internet of Things. This technology is becoming more prevalent, with various companies like Nest, Hive, Samsung and Luxaflex® all breaking into the industry.
IoT stands for "the Internet of Things." IoT broadly describes a fast-growing market of home automation technology, products, systems, and devices. These are what we call "smart devices" because they communicate in some way with the internet and each other. The benefit of IoT technology is real-time reporting. You're able to know what each system in your home is doing and when. There is now no need for mechanical timers to turn on a light or flick a switch. Instead, most IoT devices offer some form of app and integration with your smartphone.
Before IoT and smart home technology, automating the window blinds and shutters in your home required a myriad of pre-programmed timers, switches, and settings. Truly remote controlled lighting is now vastly different, especially with the PowerView app from Hunter Douglas.
Hunter Douglas now offers an array of automation control devices that integrate with its RedDot Design Award Winning PowerView Motorization system. With PowerView, you can set pre-devised moods such as ‘movie’ or ‘dinner time’ to work in tandem with the light you allow in with your window coverings. Use the PowerView app to position and tilt the shades to allow as little or as much light in. Each shade can operate independently as each is driven by a different motor and setting.
Automated shades are a great solution when it comes to controlling and maximizing your heating and cooling costs. Set custom scenes and automatically close your window treatments when it's hot out in the summer to keep the heat out and reduce heat loss in the winter by automatically lowering your shades at night. For additional energy efficiency, consider the insulating power of cellular shades in conjunction with the PowerView system. The cellular shades will add an extra layer of insulation at your windows.
Using a remote heating control or a smart thermostat that does the calculations for you can mean big savings on heating and air conditioning bills. With PowerView you can integrate a wireless thermostat that works with your home's WiFi. This allows you to control both your window coverings and your thermostat from your smartphone. Setting your window blinds using PowerView allows a winter home to capture more sunlight for thermal gain while you're out, and later trap heat in at night, closing your shades as the sun goes down. For summer, you may integrate your PowerView system with Duette Shades to block out the sun's rays and keep your home cool.
PowerView now also includes voice control. With voice commands, you can set your PowerView Motorization system to control the timing and positioning of your shades. Set them to raise, lower, tilt and traverse automatically all to suit your schedule. Not only is PowerView hugely effective and efficient, but its also compatible with other home-automated systems, including Nest®, IFTTT, Logitech®, Savant®, Control4®, URC®, ELAN®, Remote Technologies Incorporated and Crestron®.
While you enjoy effortless control of your shades with the touch of a button, also consider safety. Because PowerView window treatments are all cordless, you stand to make your home safer for kids and pets. Automation also allows for greater privacy. Keep prying eyes and nosey neighbors out at select hours of the day. While the PowerView System certainly boasts brains, it's beautiful as well, with thoughtful design enhancements for each of its components.
The artfully-shaped PowerView Pebble Remotes and Scene Controllers now feature three new, on-trend colors—Ecru, Oyster, and Mist. These neutral additions join the current offering, providing ten fashion-forward colors to complement all interiors—from traditional to totally modern.
The PowerView Hub, the system's heart, and command center has evolved to echo the Pebble's appearance for a more cohesive look, while also offering faster processing speeds for an improved user experience. And, since it is now Wi-Fi enabled, there is no need to be restrained to a router.
The PowerView App, used to control individual shades and create Scenes—pre-programmed shade positions (like "Rise and Shine", "Dinner Party" or "Movie Night")—has been redesigned. Most notably, the App spotlights a refined color scheme and a dashboard feature—a customizable "home page" where you can add favorite Scenes, shades, and automations.
The PowerView Repeater is equipped with strengthened signal ranges for even greater coverage throughout your home. Its sleeker style matches the new Hub, accentuated by an LED light as its base that provides customized illumination day or night. Select from a collection of seven hues, adjust the intensity and include them in Scenes created in the PowerView App.
If you're considering a window remodel, make sure you pick a company that values community and family as much as great service and expertise. Learn more about Horizon Window Fashions and check out our extensive line of Hunter Douglas window treatments. To see our window coverings in person, contact us or stop by our showroom located across from the Reno Costco.
