Elan introduces a lower-cost control system at CEDIA Expo 2014-- the G1, a controller designed for media rooms, smaller projects, secondary homes, production builder packages and as a handheld universal remote alternative.

The G1 System Controller is configured with 3 IR outputs, 1 IR input, 1 bi-directional RS232 input, 1 sensor, 1 HDMI output and 1 audio output. Built-in wifi allows IP-control, and being PoE enabled it uses less power than conventional controllers.

Philips and Accenture team up to develop software connecting a wearable display and an Emotiv Insight Brainware headset to a home control setup, allowing users to control devices and lighting with their minds.

The aim of the project is to help people suffering from neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (aka Lou Gehrig's disease or ALS of Ice Bucket fame). The Emotiv headset reads EEG brainwaves, which a table translates into control signals directed at Philips products, include the Lifeline Medical Alert Service, smart TVs and Hue lighting.

Meanwhile the wearable display provides a GUI users can navigate using either their eyes or voice.

Dana Innovation's iPort reveals a means to add hard buttons to an iPad with the LaunchPort With Buttons, a device to essentially turns an iPad mini into a Clear Connect-enabled wireless controller.

The device replaces the top half of the 2-part iPad mini sleeves for iPort's LaunchPort inductive charging system. Once connected to the sleeve it uses Clear Connect wireless technology to communicate with any Lutron RadioRa 2, HomeWorks QS or Caseta bridge or router.

In turn this allows control of a variety of automation systems from Lutron and 3rd parties including Savant and RTI. Buttons can be pre-configured to any scene or command to initiate macros or events via hub RS-232, IP, contact closures or other connections.

Crestron announces the TSCW-730 Touchscreen Control System-- a complete space-saving control system in a single wall mount device designed for applications with limited space available.

According to the company the touchscreen is ideal for conference rooms and hotel venues, as well as residential applications where traditional equipment racking is not possible.

It sports AV device integration together with climate control, security and the like, with the built-in 3-Series control system featuring both ethernet and Cresnet ports for easy expansion via C2N-IO Control Port Expansion Module.

“Using the TSCW-730 you don’t need to homerun control cables back to a central rack," Crestron says. "Better still, you don’t need a rack or additional furniture to house the control system. Installations don’t get any cleaner than that."

Remote Technologies Incorporated (RTI) starts shipping the T2i, a sleek remote control featuring a colour touchscreen, dual-RF capability and a programmable interface at what RTI says is a "budget-friendly" price.

Within a thinner, sleeker form factor the remote includes an accelerometer (for rapid "instant-on" control), flush-mount 2.8-inch touschscreen and a cursor button. The 47-button keypad is backlit and features 4 buttons installers can interchange with either pre- or custom-engraved keycaps.

Wireless modes come in two flavours-- direct IR control and the RTI dual-RF platform supporting both 433MHz RF and 2.4GHz ZigBee.

Key Digital launches a new Compass Control master controller-- the KD-MC1000, the first fully-integrated major control system from the company leveraging on the capabilities of iDevices such as the iPad and iPhone.

A smaller unit than the previous KD-MC25000, the KD-MC1000 features 8 control ports with 6 multi-function 3.5mm universal ports for RS-232, 1 relay port and 1 ZigBee port. RJ45 connectivity provides LAN-based control, while sensor and relay control, indicator LEDs and an IR learning window enable IR code learning.