When was the first time you ever saw or heard about voice control? Perhaps it was when you watched Scotty on Star Trek talk to the brain of the Enterprise by calling out “Computer!”  Or maybe it was in Back to the Future 2 when Marty McFly heard his smart home system say, “Welcome home, Marty!” Up until recent years, voice control had been a fantasy or imaginary idea in pop culture. Then we witnessed the creation of Apple’s Siri in 2011, allowing you to ask your smartphone all kinds of different questions, and even make commands. And today we have the newest voice control technology, Amazon’s Alexa.

Developed by Amazon, Alexa is the smart home automation software that allows you to perform all kinds of tasks with your voice. As the newest trend and biggest buzz in the smart home world, we want to inform you all about what Alexa can do and how you can benefit from it in your own Winter Park, Florida home. Keep reading to learn more.

We all definitely live in a connected society.  Internet service is no longer a luxury; it has become an essential utility service for the home just like water and power.  We need Internet to communicate, work and manage our schedules.  Our kids need Internet to learn and complete their schoolwork.  Our world of connected devices – such as computers, tablets and cell phones -- increasingly require a robust home network and a strong Internet service in order to reliably operate.  Our team can help you identify the best options for Internet service, as well as design a network solution, so your devices can easily connect and control features like lights, audio, video and more.

Here are the main signs you may need a professional to do a network installation in your Steamboat Springs, Colorado home. 

Residents in the Winter Park, Florida area know how fickle the weather can be. The sky will be sunny and bright one moment, and then dark and stormy the next. Fortunately, lighting and shading control can help you deal with the moody weather. Our intelligent systems can adjust the lighting in your home for every scenario. And weather monitoring is just the beginning. We’ve compiled five areas where intelligent lighting and shading control can improve both your home and your lifestyle.

You may have heard of smart ovens, smart refrigerators, and smart washing machines, but what exactly makes an item smart? And what determines whether or not you are living in a smart home? The team at Control Designer is here to tell you that smart home automation isn’t as much about connecting your coffee machine to the Internet as it is about turning all the lights on and lowering the shades at the same time with your phone. Here’s the scoop on what really makes a home smart, as well as a comprehensive summary of the best solutions we offer to everyone in Steamboat Springs, Colorado and beyond.