Home Control Assistant

The HCA skill is the voice interface to the HCA Server running in your home. Using this skill you can control lights and appliances as well as activate and deactivate lighting scenes. Using the same Alexa device control features used for devices, you can also start programs constructed with the HCA visual programmer and control IR devices, thermostats, and other automation gear. The full range of Alexa syntax for on, off, and dimming is supported.

The Home Control Assistant is a full featured Home Automation application. Unlike other home control systems, HCA is designed not to just control your home but also to program it. You don't need to accept the simple control a device using voice offered by some automation solutions. Using HCA you can create an automation solution that responds to your needs by combining multiple device in complex scenarios involving events, time, location, state of the home, etc. into one program. These programs express your intent of how your installation should work.

In addition to voice control, HCA offers clients for the iPad, iPhone, Android devices, and WIndows. With these client applications you are not locked into an application that displays as it wants to. You can create the page structure you see when interacting with the HCA client on your mobile device. This can be configured on a device-by-device basis and on a user-by-user basis. For some users, the display can show a complete set of pages for each room. For other users it can display a smaller set of only selected devices. For least technical users you can create a simple keypad like interface that offers only those actions you want to make available for them.

In one inclusive package HCA provides for creation and operation of simple to complex automation designs.

The top 20 feature list:

1. Integrates Insteon, UPB, and other power line technologies
2. Supports IP addressed IR interfaces
3. Supports whole-house wireless
4. Can be used in a client-server mode with multiple simultaneous read-write clients for complete local and remote access to design
5. Amazon Alexa interaction
6. Clients for Windows, Android, and iOS
7. Visual tools for scheduling and programming
8. Unlimited number of programs to respond to events. Constructed in a graphical manner from over 60 different actions
9. Supports text based scripts in any scripting language that can utilize the extensive HCA object model
10. Control interface creates a simplified control oriented user interface
11. Integrate into the HCA user Interface views of other applications: security, power management, and cameras using HTML views
12. Send email and SMS messages as part of a program action
13. Create and view Insteon scenes in a graphical manner and remotely program those scenes into Insteon devices
14. Bridge power line technologies by using multiple power line interfaces simultaneously. Create bridge maps to automatically translate between different technology commands
15. Integrates weather data from a variety of sources
16. Powerful whole house modes for quick power saving programming
17. Background design checker quickly locate design problems
18. Configurable Alert Mechanism for handling exceptional conditions
19. Many tools for creating, viewing, modifying, and documenting the design
20. HCA is well documented in extensive User Guide and Video series.

Download a no-cost 30 day evaluation from www.HCATech.com

Prerequisites:

The HCA Skill requires that the HCA Server software be installed and running 24/7 in your home. Complete instructions for installation and configuration are available on the HCATech.com web site in the Getting Started Guide available in the documentation section of the web site.