News

Lagotek Debuts Version 3.0 of its Home Intelligence Platform with Microsoft Windows Vista Media Center Integration and Sideshow Support (20/12/2006)

Home Control from a PDA is also included.

Lagotek today announces version 3.0 of its Home Intelligence Platform (HIP), the heart of its wireless, affordable, whole home automation system. The new version adds reach integration with Microsoftās Windows Vista and provides Lagotek customers with the flexibility to control their homes and Entertainment the way they want it: from the in-wall control panel, remote control or a PDA.

Integration with Windows Vista Media Center

Lagotekās plug-in module for Media Center allows users to control their home systems using a standard remote control by choosing user defined Modes on the Media Center screen. Once selected Lagotekās Mode can control multiple lights, motor controls, climate, and serve a music playlist to be played with one click of a remote. Key Media Center controls are now available on the Lagotek control panels (HIP100).

Microsoft Windows Vista Media Center states are now exposed to Lagotek Rules Application, which makes it easy to configure: when a movie starts- the lights turn off and the lights dim up when the movie is paused or stopped.

Integration with Windows Vista SideShow technology

With any SideShow enabled remote, the Lagotek Modes gadget will display all Modes on the screen of the remote control, so the user doesnāt need to turn his TV on if all he needs is just to turn the lights on or off. This makes the SideShow enabled Media Center remote - the whole home remote control.

PDA Control Now Included

Based on overwhelming customer demand, version 3.0 of Lagotekās HIP, whole home control (including Media Center control) is now possible from a WiFi enabled PDA running Windows CE 5.0.

'These new features give our customers the flexibility to control their homes and entertainment from pretty much any device they want: wall mounted Lagotek Control panel, PDA, regular Media Center remote control, or SideShow enabled remote control,' points out Ron Risdon, president of Lagotek.

'The Lagotek Home Intelligence Platform integration with Windows Vista in version 3.0 is really impressive. It offers our Windows Vista users a very compelling and easy way of being in charge of their home and media. Lagotek with its wireless whole home control system is showing creativity and innovation in Home Automation,' notes Todd Rutherford, home control program manager from Microsoft. 'We started our discussions with Lagotek this past summer and I am impressed with Lagotekās abilities to deliver.'

'We worked very closely with Microsoft in developing version 3.0,' says Risdon. 'Our system uses the great features of Windows Vista Media Center and Ultimate Edition. Combining fun with professional functionality makes it an ideal platform for Home Automation.'

Dual Wireless Technology is the Key

Lagotek was founded with the vision of bringing the luxury of home automation to every home. Unlike many previous home automation solutions that have been primarily hardware based and hard wired, Lagotek is offering dual wireless technology where functionality is provided through the use of software running on an open hardware platform.

Current software applications for the HIP platform from Lagotek and its partners include:

į Climate control with multiple zones of heating and air conditioning
į Lighting
į Distributed audio
į Video Monitoring
į Media Center Control
į Irrigation

Many more applications such as security, LED lighting, intercom and many others will be available from Lagotek and its partners in the near future.

Lagotek HIP100 panels run WiFi and Z-Wave. Z-Waveś is a low-cost, two-way, mesh network communications technology that enables everyday devices to be controlled and monitored wirelessly and securely from anywhere in the world. Z-Wave is a fully developed, proven, affordable, easy-to-use and interoperable technology that is available in more than 150 wireless home control and automation products today.

HIP 100 Control Panel: Simplicity Rather than Complexity

Lagotek approaches home automation from the customerās perspective. The HIP100 touch screen panels, from which the users control the functionality of their homes, were designed to be elegant, but unobtrusive, easily blending with interior decor when not in use. Due to the wireless nature of the product, there is no need to run new wires since the panels fit into a standard 2-gang electrical box replacing the '20th Century' dimmers and switches.

Intelligent and Dynamic Home Control through Software

The Lagotek Fusion Suite Version 3.0 represents Lagotekās collection of software applications developed for the Home Intelligence Platform. Taking a page from the Microsoft history of success, Lagotek provides an open platform that allows third-party independent software vendors (ISVs) to develop new applications and provide support for many different types of home systems and appliances. These applications will run on the Lagotek Home Intelligence Platform in synergy with Lagotekās own applications.

All these applications will benefit from Lagotekās 'secret sauce' technologies, known as Modes and Rules. These technologies allow the user to set all the systems in the house to the desired state by pressing just one button or switch from state-to-state or from Mode-to-Mode based on time or any other event (described in Rules). The objective is to make the system fully automated and minimize the need for human interaction. For example, pressing one 'Good Night' Mode button triggers multiple events such as changing the temperature in the house, arming of the security zones, turning off the indoor lights and turning them on outdoors, etc. The 'Good Morning' Mode button turns the lights on, raises the temperature to the desired level, turns on the coffee maker and does many other things the homeowner would normally engage independently. 'Vacation Mode' invokes routines for lighting and music so the home will appear to be occupied while the homeowner enjoys a well-deserved vacation.

And now these Modes are available from a remote control or PDA.

www.lagotek.com