VegasChatter

Here’s what it is, via Control4’s website:

Home control is much more than a universal remote, or smart lighting. Home control is technology that links and controls the electronics and systems in your home – through one easy-to-use interface. At Control4, we believe that life's better when everything works together.

No duh. Life is better when everything works together, but not when you need push a bajillion little touch screen buttons to make it happen.

The site goes on to explain all the glorious things Control4 can do:

• Control your home theater and dim the lights as the opening credits roll
• Turn off all the TVs in the house when the kids are supposed to be doing their homework
• Alert you that you left the garage door open, which you can close from the computer in your office
• Manage your lights, window coverings and thermostats to reduce your energy bills
• Monitor your door locks, lights and security cameras for a little extra peace of mind
• Choose music from nearly 5 million tracks offered by Rhapsody in any or every room of the house

That’s all well and good, but when we had to (ahem) relieve ourselves in the middle of the night, way too much time was spent trying to turn a light on – any light – so we could see where we were going in the pitch black. We don’t really want to think about technology when we’re fully awake and coherent, and definitely not mid-slumber.

Anyway, the folks at ARIA are mighty proud of this technology and we can’t blame ‘em. If you can figure it out, we’re guessing it may be kinda cool. Control 4 is also being used elsewhere in Vegas at the Mandarin Oriental, Vdara, Hotel32 at Monte Carlo and the Skylofts at The MGM Grand.

Globetrotting Gourmet stayed at the Aria Resort and Casino courtesy of CityCenter Las Vegas.