Researching home automation reminded me of how it was when I started researching HDTVs a few years ago. HDTVs have different technologies such as DLP, LCD, Plasma and SXRD just like home automation has different protocols such as Z-Wave, Zigbee, X10, UPB and Insteon. They all have their pluses and minuses so we created a home automation section at HomeTheaterNetwork.com to help out. It could even help out some experts because I heard a lot of false information at the last EHX conference.

Below is a video demonstration of AutoHTN:

HomeTheaterNetwork.com is our information site, YourHTN.com is our community site, and now we’re adding a way to control a home theater network with AutoHTN. Designed for Google Android mobile phones, AutoHTN can automate and control lighting, security sensors, cameras, electrical outlets, thermostats, streaming video from a HTPC, window blinds, and receivers.

The capability to control a home theater network from an internet capable mobile phone adds a ton of new applications, which could be useful to the average two or three bedroom household. AutoHTN lets a user turn on lights in their house when they get home late, view motion sensor alerts to see if the kids got home from school on time, or view security cameras to make sure the house is safe. These are just a few examples of apps that wouldn’t be convenient if there weren’t on a mobile phone, and could bring home automation to the mainstream.

More information on AutoHTN can be found at our AutoHTN.com site, and more information on how to connect a home automation system can be found at our Home Theater Network site.