Offering superior automation software since 1990

Greetings,
My name is Mark Gilmore, and I am the proud owner/president of Omnipotence Software. I developed the original ECS ("Event Control System") in 1989, and have been improving it ever since. Now in its 3rd-generation design, ECS is easily the most powerful automation software there is. Supporting a large variety of devices, ECS is elegantly simple, yet extremely powerful. Automated tasks may be implemented via simple time-based schedules and/or English-like scripts. And ECS can be remotely accessed via web browsers and web-enabled devices (cell phones, PDAs, etc).

We invite you to carefully compare ECS with other systems (such as HomeSeer, HAL, AutomationAnywhere, PowerHome, & Zeus ),
as we want you to make a fully-informed decision (and we are fully confident that you will choose ECS).

The installation is complete and fully operational for 30 days. If you provide us a list of your devices and their addresses,
we'll create your initial configuration and scripts so that you may quickly/easily evaluate ECS.

If you're physically challenged or with a charitable organization, please send us an email describing yourself. We may provide you ECS at no charge.

Note: This chart is a simplified overview, and does not convey all of ECS's extensive I/O capabilities.

Example screen image
Note: This is just an example (virtually any desired display may be created).

• Capability/flexibility: ECS is simply the most powerful/flexible automation software there is (and our customers concur). It supports more devices and features than any other, its scripting language can implement any desired logic, and ECS web pages can have virtually any desired appearance.

• Dependability: ECS is a robust/well-tested/proven program that is used in numerous homes, office buildings, and various other commercial/industrial sites (including universities, schools, sports arenas, and a US stock exchange). A recent installation controls over 200 traffic-caution lights in a VA school district. For objective opinions, see our testimonials and/or send your questions to our User's Email List.

• Free evaluation and initial configuration/scripts: The installation is complete and fully operational for 30 days. And if you provide us a list of your devices and their addresses, we'll create your initial configuration and scripts so that you may quickly/easily evaluate ECS.

• Unrivaled tech support. Try us out by calling 423-745-0026 with your questions.

• Cost: We have numerous pricing options, the most popular being:

  ECS(50) ($280): Supports 50 IO-Points (which suffices for the great majority of our customers).
  Includes initial/customized configuration and scripts.

  ECS(Schedule) ($140): Limited to time-based schedules (no scripting) and local (LAN) access.
  All hardware supported. UPB, & Insteon), sound
  (playback and text-to-speech), and local (LAN) access. Scripting and schedules are supported. -->

  Upgrades are free.

• Experience: We have been developing automation software since 1990.

• You will not waste your time with ECS: All automation programs take some time/effort to master (ECS being no exception). But you don't want to invest your time on a product which may later prove to be incapable of performing the desired tasks (or doing so dependably). With ECS, you're assured that your efforts will be greatly rewarded :-).

• Ease of Installation: Most ECS system hardware can be installed by a novice in less than an hour.

• Access security: In November/2006, world-class security experts at the Philadelphia stock exchange subjected ECS to some 1800 unique hack attacks (all of which failed).

• Minimal memory/CPU footprint: The ECS executable is only around 2 meg, and ECS sleeps when appropriate (you won't even know it's running). So ECS can run on most of those old PCs that have been retired to the closet.

• OEM (private-label) versions: If you're interested in your own customized OEM version of ECS (which you may market as your own product), click here.

Here are a few examples of ECS's capabilities:

• Internet-access: Access your home from any PC or web-enabled device (including the iPhone, iTouch, BlackBerry, and WAP devices). And note that our web pages display updated values automatically, while many other systems require a page refresh to see updates.

• Web-device support (Cell phones, iPhones, PDAs, etc):
  
  • ECS detects when you're using a web-device, and displays small pages specifically designed for small screens and low bandwidth.
  • Use your iPhone as a remote control.
  • Send notifications (i.e. messages) to your iPhone (via GrowlForWindows).

• Schedules: Set any light/appliance/etc to a desired state at any time.
  Some example schedule entries might look like this:

  Property	Time	Value
  Living room light	Weekday:7:00 PM	On
  Living room light	Weekday:11:00 PM	Off

• Scripting: Supports powerful IF/THEN/ELSE scripting language which closely resembles normal English.
  For example, this Script would turn a light on at 7PM if you're at home:

  	If  Time  Becomes  8:00 PM
  	And  At Home  Is  True
  	Then  Living room light  Set  ON

• Light/appliance control: Dim/brighten lights, and turn any appliance on/off.

• Energy management:
  • Assure that devices are powered on only when needed.
  • Maintain totals of how long select devices have been on for the week/month/year.
  • Use sophisticated algorithms which take historical lead times into account
    (i.e. remember how long it takes to achieve desired temperature, and take that into account when determining when to turn on the HVAC).

• Email commands: Email commands to (e.g. "Carport light Set On") to ECS, and have it returning an acknowledgement email that denotes the command and resulting value. ECS processes only those emails that are intended for it, and which originate from approved email and IP addresses.

• Entertainment: Create a customized web page(s) with buttons/etc to control all your TV/stereos/etc from any rooms in your house. Use any ethernet-enabled device in your home (PCs/laptops/PDAs/iPhones) as fully-customizable remote controls.

• Remote control: Carry out any task(s) when you push a button on virtually any remote control, keypad, pendant (X10, IR, and/or RF), or ECS web page (on any PC or laptop).

• Remote control of PC media players: Many now use their PCs as music/video players (via software such as WinAmp, Windows Media Player, RealPlayer, ITunes, etc). The problem is that PCs (unlike CD/DVD players) don't come with remote controls. But with ECS, you can control your music/movie playback via virtually any remote, keypad, or pendant.

• Direct-wired/LED lighting (if wiring is an option): ECS supports this unique capability via the EcoDimmer and/or NCD's "PWM8x" line of dimmers. To our knowledge, this is the only direct-wired/DC lighting system that can be automated. A few AC systems are available, but all are very expensive (over $2000). LEDs use less than 7% of the energy used by incandescents, and they last some 60 times longer. And unlike fluorescents, LEDs contain no mercury.

• Reminders: Remind you of upcoming events/appointments/birthdays/etc (via audible, visual, email, and/or text message)

• Security/Fire/Flood:
  • Detection: Monitor your home for intruders, fire, or flood.
  • Reaction: React to alarm conditions in any way desired. Speak announcements, play audio-recordings,
    record/email video, flash lights, sound an alarm, send a text message, place a phone call, etc.
  • NetCam support: See below.
  • "Lived-in" look: Randomly turn lights on/off to make your home look occupied when you're out.

• NetCams (video):
  • View/record video from any accessible netcam (local and remote).
    Note: For video streaming & recording, the cam must support "JPEG motion" (as most do).
  • Record only when motion is detected, or record 24/7 in time-lapse mode (1 image every 10 seconds or so).
  • Older recordings can be automatically purged based on age and/or disk space used.
  • Have camera images emailed to you if motion is detected while you're away.
  • Check on your home from any internet connection.
  • Check your area's traffic cams prior to traveling.
  We also support Axis camera's motion-detection feature (whereby the camera itself detects motion and notifies ECS).

• Caller-ID: Announce/display/log the name/number of callers. Use customized names for known numbers.

• Alerts: Notify you of any desired events via a phone call, email, and/or text message.

• Web page downloads: Download web pages and extract desired data from same (e.g. weather forecasts, stock quotes, etc).

• Monitor/extract data from the logs of other programs

• Custom web pages: Create fully-customized web pages which appear and behave exactly as desired.

• Graphics support: Create floor-plan/layout Pages with buttons and clip-art images (of doors, chairs, etc).

• Plot any desired data over any time frame.

• Commercial sign support: Display any desired info (in any desired color) on large LED signs (see "Signs" in Supported devices table).

• Place ECS Objects within images and live video streams. For example: If you had a live video of a room in which ECS controlled a lamp, then you could place the ECS lamp directly underneath the real lamp.

• Run/control other programs: Execute and control any programs by emulating keyboard/mouse activity in the appropriate Windows (just as if a person were typing or clicking).

• Client/server socket communications: ECS can communicate with other programs while acting as a client (that initiates communications) or a server (that responds to communications). Both TCP/IP and Datagram/UDP are supported.

• XML/RSS monitoring: Download XML & RSS pages, extract tags/values, and carry out any action(s) per the results.
  Monitor desired weather, headlines, stocks, etc, and report any desired tags/values via speech, emails, text messaging, etc.

• Logging/diagnostics: Any unexpected behavior may be easily diagnosed via detailed logging of the related Object(s).
  For example: If a light is coming on at an unexpected time, its log will denote what changed it and what it was set to.

• Accessible by other software: ECS supports a simple text-based socket protocol (API) that allows other programs to read and modify Objects. So if you have your own software, it can easily access our entire suite of supported devices. And if you wish to use your own GUI, ECS can be run without one.

• Support of unknown devices: If you have a device which is not directly supported by ECS, chances are that you can support it via scripts (which can read/write data to the device's serial-port or IP address). We are also open to suggestions, if you would like us to add support for a new device(s).

• Remote access to serial devices: Most serial (RS232) devices we support may also be accessed remotely, whereby the device is connected to another PC and accessed via an ethernet connection. There is no extra cost for this feature. Contact us for details.

"ECS is very powerful, probably more powerful than anything else in the market." Rob (Orem, UT)

"ECS is one of the powerful automation products currently available on the market. While many of the web-based products look intriguing, they rapidly become nightmares to program and require multiple 3rd-party add-ons (very few free!) to accomplish much beyond basic lights on and off functionality. ECS on the other hand, has incorporated much of what in competitive products are chargeable add-ons, directly into the base product, also providing a rich, but still easy to use programming language which allows the user to design virtually anything they can imagine. And unlike purely web-based products, the result is fast and easy to change at a moments notice. Most important, ECS has a industrial grade stability that provides the peace of mind that your automation system will always be running. I can not recommend it highly enough." Bruce (Piscataway , NJ)

"I have been using ECS for a number of years. I initially used the earlier version of the program to control the many lights and modules that I have. ECS has worked better than anything I have used before. It is easy to understand and the programming is a breeze. I am now using the new object oriented version which is even better. Joe (Yellowknife, NT, Canada).

"I am an extremely happy user of the ECS automation program. The web based system has proven very stable and the java based event monitoring is great for providing real-time system status from within any web browser. Built-in web pages have a nice look and feel but additional tools are provided for creating your own custom web pages. ECS has also proven easy to interface with other hardware via its serial interface class. This product is highly recommended." Brad (Dayton, OH)

"I find ECS to be extraordinarily robust and reliable running on Windows 2000. The ability to change code without restarting, and the ability to program and operate the system from any browser, result in a trouble-free system. Amongst other things, I trust it to run my sprinklers - that is a testimonial in itself." Martin (Fremont, CA)

"My work requires that I be familiar with commercial building automation systems, and of the 15 different manufacturer's products that I work with, I would say none are as powerful and flexible as ECS. These are systems (hardware & software) that cost anywhere from $10,000 to $1,000,000 in large applications." Gary (Liberty, MO)

"I have been using ECS for years and I frequently check out other systems. ECS is simply the most powerful system available. Every other system has significant limitations. Omnipotence is also responsive to comments and continually upgrading ECS." Dan (Livonia, MI)

"Just one users opinion: Get it. ECS is the software all others are compared by. It's always interesting to read the other lists and hear them go on about wish lists of things that ECS has had for years. Even with only an X10 controller as it's sole interface it is very capable." Carl (San Francisco, CA)

"I too say, get it! All other software that I have seen give you the options that they think up, as buttons, and that is what you can do. With ECS, you have to put a little more thought into it, but you get anything you want, can dream up, or can conjure together to work. Even if something is not directly supported, you can work it if you know the protocols." Dan (Sepulveda, CA)

"I have been using ECS for 6 or 7 years. Not only is there no other HA product that integrates so many different pieces of HA hardware: X10, IR, Speech-Recognition, synthetic speech, phone processing, etc., there is no other product that can even remotely approach it's capabilities for the minimal investment required to purchase ECS. Hats off to Omnipotence, Inc. They may not spend a lot on glossy ads and big promotions, but their product is first class!" Bob (Austin, TX)

"I wanted a software package that I could customize completely. The Event Control System from Omnipotence is the software I chose. I looked into HAL 2000, HomeVoice, CyberHouse, and a few others but they all have limitations. Not ECS! ECS is not for the lazy automator, however. It takes time to learn and program. But in the end you really understand your automation system and have the ability to control anything." Kevin (Gales Ferry, CT)

"I have been using ECS from day one (or two). It is simply the best software I have ever bought. It works. It is stable runs 7X24 at our house. It has a great price. I have been able to accomplish everything I tried to do using the existing language/syntax. Ask for enhancements if you need more. Since the package is under priced to start with, one can pay for an enhancement and still be ahead." Doug (Dirby, KS)

"Don't let anyone tell you ECS isn't the coolest automation platform ever!" Martin (Tacoma, WA)

"I highly appreciate your dedication to your wonderful and continually growing product!!" A.J. Griglak (Monroe Township, NJ)

"ECS is a really good product; Omnipotence supports their product, and implements many of our ideas, better than any developer I have ever seen; Many of us, myself included, have received this level of support for many years, with Omnipotence only receiving our original investment in ECS several years ago;" Michael (Alexandria, VA).

"Finally, I want to take a moment to thank you for all of your support to us ECS users. ECS is not just my favorite hobby, it has become so ingrained in our world that we truly could not live without it." Michael (Alexandria, VA).

"... Their software is right out of the STONE AGE compared to ECS. As we all keep saying, ECS is the best!!" Bob (Austin, TX)

"I have been with your company since the days of Home Automation Labs, and in all these years its still the best software I have ever bought." Doug (Wichita, Kansas)

"My love of ECS is that it works great and I can make any programming that I can think up." Dan (Sepulveda, CA)

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