CEDIA steps up in support of the assisted living community

SMARTER HOMES FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING

It’s important for everyone to have the opportunity to be in control of their lives, and to be able to enjoy their living environment. For disabled and elderly people, this can be a challenge. But it doesn’t always have to be. With the use of smart home technology, this group can take back control and live more independently, which in turn, helps to reduce financial pressures on the NHS and social care system.

CEDIA has recognised the importance of the assisted living market for a number of years, seeking ways to increase awareness and opportunity for its members. Recently, the team took a big step forward in achieving this by joining Policy Connect and becoming an associate member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Assistive Technology. This appointment allowed CEDIA to be at the forefront of discussions and oversee the development of the new Smart Homes for Independent Living report.

Aneta Armova-Levin, Education Manager at CEDIA, headed up a team of CEDIA members to work on this project. “It was great to join local authorities, academic

researchers, and assistive technology experts in the conversation of how smart homes can improve the quality of life of their aging and disabled residents. The benefits of technology for improving the human condition are undeniable, but there is so much more to be considered beforehand — robust infrastructure, needs analysis, design, and security, just to mention a few. I was honoured to represent CEDIA EMEA in this work, alongside Peter Aylett, HTE; Assistive Technology Consultant, Paul Doyle; and Amanda Wildman, Trumedia Home. ”

The new report examines a number of issues facing suppliers and consumers including:

• Developing better housing planning policies at national and local authority levels that make the .........most of the range of available residential technologies

• Building technology training and skills development .........across the health and social care workforce

• Supporting disabled and older consumers to purchase smart technology products, systems, and services through improved advice, information, and hands-on assistance from retailers and other providers.

“As a CEDIA member, I was excited to learn about the role CEDIA played in developing the Smarter Homes for Independent Living report,” comments Chris Thorne, Director of Imperium. “It’s great to see our association engaging in such important initiatives and helping to drive forward the smart tech message on its members’ behalf.

“The report itself is a very comprehensive document that discusses the current challenges and proposals for increasing awareness and adoption of smart technologies into the assistive tech space, and it’s really encouraging to see that there is growing momentum and interest in this area of the market. We already have the expertise and tools in our industry to change and improve many lives, so we should realise that luxury living is now not the only driver for the solutions we have to offer.”

policyconnect.org.uk

THE FUTURE IS BIG FOR IN-PERSON EVENTS

BY RACHEL TINDALL

In-person events such as CEDIA’s Tech Summits and CEDIA Expo have been a mainstay of the industry for years. Integrators, distributors, and manufacturers look forward to them for many reasons, not least of which is the enormous opportunity to network and create new business opportunities. When the pandemic came into full swing around March 2020, though, the world shifted. Everything that could be moved online was created as a virtual event.

Virtual events offer many benefits in terms of being able to learn from the comfort of your home or office, and perhaps chat with others on a more global scale; however, they’re not the same as in-person events. They’re a great option for when safety is a concern, as it has been for the past couple of years. But, as the world begins to create a new normal, in-person events are returning with gusto.

What We’ve Seen So Far in 2022

The first quarter of 2022 started out with a bang in terms of onsite events. We hosted four CEDIA Tech Summits in: March, we were in Long Island, New York and Newark, New Jersey for the first time in those locations. In April, we were in Washington D.C. and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

In quarter two, we saw a growing level of excitement. The Atlanta GA, Charlotte NC, Leeds and Edinburgh UK were ALL sold out! There were so many sponsors and attendees that the layouts had to be extended to accommodate everyone. This was particularly exciting since we’ve never hosted a show in Charlotte and were in a different part of Atlanta than previous years.

CEDIA Senior Vice President of Member Success and Sales Giles Sutton notes, “Overall, there’s an overwhelming sense of excitement and it’s clear people have been waiting for face-to-face events to return.”

The sponsors, manufacturers, and attendees are thrilled to be back in action after such a long hiatus. In fact, both Tech Summits in March rivaled pre-COVID attendance numbers, which is a feat considering how much travel has been restricted in the recent past.

Regional events like CEDIA Tech Summits are a great way for people to network and build relationships in

the industry closer to home. Jeff Schneider from Digital Projection who attended the Long Island Tech Summit says, “It’s been great to see people face-to-face instead of on a screen, and to shake hands again.” There are also chances to learn, and often to connect or reconnect with suppliers and manufacturers.

Looking at the big picture view, Jason McGraw, Group Vice President, CEDIA Expo & KBIS at Emerald, says the market is “bullish” right now, and that in-person events are “long overdue” because they engage senses you just can’t work with in online spaces. The Emerald team is excited to get back to a full-size CEDIA Expo this fall in Dallas from 28 September 28 - 1 October 2022.

Why In-Person Makes Such a Big Difference

The ability to host and attend in-person events is a big deal. Technology makes it possible to stay connected with others digitally through phone and video calls, which is definitely a positive thing. After all, some people live far away from their friends and family, some travel for work, and others simply like to know they can call someone if they need support.

When all is said and done, though, humans need contact with others. Sensory details sch as handshakes and hugs are what’s been missing from virtual events the last couple of years, Sutton and McGraw both noted.

Not to mention being together with others in one place at one time is efficient, and serendipitous.

Attendees come to trade shows with a number of different objectives. According to Sutton, some of the most common include:

• To reconvene with other members • For the association to meet and connect with non-members • To see new products • To learn • To network • For manufacturers to meet new dealers & showcase new products • To gauge the pulse of what’s going on in the industry • To scout out new business lines or recurring revenue opportunities • To see what’s new and what’s next

All-in-all, in-person events create different opportunities, interactions, and a richer experience. One major advantage McGraw has seen in his 25+ years of attending CEDIA Expo and other major industry events is that attendees “get to see, hear, and sample what’s happening in a broader context that could really help their businesses.” That’s what it’s all about.

In-Person Forecast

Here at CEDIA, we’re extremely pleased with how inperson events have been going so far this year. It’s a breath of fresh air to see our members, make new connections, and support the networking that helps small business owners continue to grow.

“No one can say for sure how the rest of 2022 will pan out, but all current indicators point to a strong return of events,” Sutton emphasized. McGraw, who has also been to several major events this year, says all have been successful so far - some even more than expected.

The home and remodeling markets have been hot as people have been at home more than they used to be. According to McGraw, it has created a “panacea of opportunity for system integrators in the channel.”

Although integrators are known for their fabulous home theatre projects, new opportunities are springing up in the rest of the home as well. As a long-time industry member, Sutton explains that the shifts to smart technology and more robust networks are driving innovation and opportunity in the field.

“Everything is smart, and everything’s on a network today. People want the convenience, the comfort, the control, and the confidence,” says McGraw. There are huge and exciting opportunities for integrators, and industry growth doesn’t appear to be slowing down any time soon.