Control4 Introduces $499 Home Automation Controller
![sean-portnoy.jpg](https://www.zdnet.com/a/img/resize/2f71aa742918273faa7c2d9209a88054fd36e252/2014/07/22/339a65ab-1175-11e4-9732-00505685119a/sean-portnoy.jpg?auto=webp&fit=crop&frame=1&height=192&width=192)
The HC-200 can serve as the hub of your home automation system, controlling your other devices through a number of different protocols, including the ZigBee wireless spec. While it can handle unsexy tasks like climate control through its on-screen interface, the HC-200 can also manage your home theater setup, including multi-room audio. The unit includes the SR-150 remote control (which Control4 also sells separately), which can function as a universal remote at a price close to that of some hyper-complex universal remotes sold by themselves. The HC-200 also comes with a USB port, which can accept Wi-Fi adapters and turn the device into a wireless access point.
While the HC-200, and the benefits of home automation, are pretty compelling, a lot of us still don't have it on our to-do list for our houses. (I'm as guilty as anyone.) What do you think it will take for home automation to really take off as a mainstream phenomenon?