Home automation vendor Vivint is the next company to launch a smart home platform with Vivint Sky, a means for customers to control lights, thermostats, door locks and security cameras via PCs and mobile devices.

At the heart of the Vivint system is the SkyControl panel-- a hardware device the company says features proprietary cloud technology allowing it to learn from user behaviors and make "intelligent" suggestions to further add convenience and home control.

Thus the HVAC control can learn daily usage patterns in order to increase home energy efficiency, the company says.

The SkyControl hardware features a 7-inch capacitative touchscreen providing users with both control and a means to stream live HD video from installed video cameras or check footage recorded on DVR systems.

It operates on an own private wifi network with a firewall independent from homeowner networks, and also features improved Z-Wave range.

Vivint also offers a free Sky iOS and Android app complete with an easy-to-use UI, multi-system functionality, proactive notifications and means to share home access with family and friends.

However the system comes with a catch-- it is only compatible with Vivint devices.

“While we have more than 800000 consumers already using our home automation technology, this is just the beginning," the company says. "Our next step is to boldly redefine the smart home with intelligence that eliminates the burden of monitoring the home from the homeowner. With Vivint Sky, we have created a truly human smart home system that learns from you.”

Go Vivint Sky