Residential Automation News

Bowling Green, Ky. – December 6, 2007- ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" called upon EyeOn Automation to assist with the special needs of the Hughes family in Louisville, Kentucky. The Hughes family was chosen by ABC to receive a home makeover to accommodate the needs of their oldest son.

Patrick Henry Hughes, 19, was born without eyes and without the ability to fully straighten his arms and legs, making him unable to walk. Patrick attends the University of Louisville and plays trumpet in the marching band. His father, Patrick John Hughes, works nights at UPS so that he may attend classes and marching band practice with Patrick Henry during the day.

The Extreme Makeover: Home Edition crew intended to make the Hughes home more accessible for Patrick Henry. EyeOn Automation could do their part by installing one of their home automation systems that implements single push button control over multiple home electronic devices simultaneously.

The Hughes’ new home was constructed in 105 hours from November 7 – 14, 2007, by Elite Homes and the ABC show's cast, crew and hundreds of volunteers. EyeOn Automation prepared special voice activated electronic equipment for the family and worked diligently to install the system during the home construction.

Voice activation was a feature never incorporated by EyeOn before. EyeOn is typically controlled via remote control, keypad, touch screen, PDA, mobile phone or PC, but EyeOn and ABC decided there had to be a better solution for Patrick Henry Hughes. Customization was nothing new to EyeOn. Each EyeOn system is customized for the customer’s needs so they worked quickly to resolve the issue and get the EyeOn system operating by voice commands.

"We felt our system was a perfect fit for him," said Hitcents CEO Clinton Mills, who owns the company with his brother, President Chris Mills.

The home is equipped with technology that is able to respond to 350 verbal commands, from opening doors to changing the channel on the flat-screen television to telling the time or outside temperature. "It's very exciting to watch Patrick Henry discover new voice activated commands which assist him in his daily activities." Patrick John said.

"The coolest thing is ... Patrick can say, `Computer goodnight'" and the system prepares the home for bedtime, Chris Mills said. It shuts off or dims lights, makes sure the doors are locked and will even play mellow nighttime music.

The technology cost "six figures" and required 10 to 15 workers nearly around the clock for three weeks to have the system customized and ready.

"It was just a lot of dedication, but it was something we all wanted to happen," Mills said.

The two-hour special is set to air on Sunday, February 17, 2008 at 7 p.m. CST on ABC. Detailed information about the home construction can be found at http://www.eliteextremedream.com.

About EyeOn Automation

Founded in 2005 as a division of Hitcents, EyeOn Automation is based in Bowling Green, Kentucky where they develop and install residential and commercial automation solutions. EyeOn specializes in custom designed technology integrating electronic devices. For more information, visit www.eyeonautomation.com.
 

 

The new Hughes Family Home