Home automation is no longer just a sci-fi fantasy. Smart homes with connected devices that can be controlled with your iPhone are now available to everyone. The founders of Control4 had the good sense to see what the future had in store. Control4 was founded in 2003 and went public in 2013. This company develops smart home automation systems. These systems can be used to control home lighting, security, entertainment and even your thermostat. In fact, they even have a relationship with the Nest smart home thermostat. Control4 is also the creator of the Simple Device Discovery Protocol (SDDP). This is a protocol that talks to devices similar to the way plug-n-play works.

This protocol is used by smart TVs, security cameras, smart locks, speakers, sound systems and lighting. Control4 devices and protocols are like having an operating system that controls your smart home. They also have branded products that communicate through other protocols such as ZigBee, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. With Control4 devices and controllers it is possible to automate smart home electronics. Whether you want to control the lights in your home, the thermostat, the music that is played in each room, or the Blu-ray player in the TV room Control4 makes it possible. SDDP is supported by many name brands including Panasonic, Bose, Epson, Harman Kardon, Sony, and Yamaha. Home automation depends on the controllers and devices being interconnected. Having compatible devices that are properly setup and having properly programmed controllers is still a necessity, but the people at Control4 have made things easier.