Home Tech Pro Magazine by CEDIA - E2 2023 - EMEA

CEDIA EXPO

2023 EDITION

I AM CEDIA

Cover Story: Galia Ben-Dor

Improving Lives by SETTING TECH STANDARDS

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT HELP

Has Arrived

Uncovering

How

What to do and where to eat after the Expo show floor closes

Two CEDIA members share how they’re using the toolkit

BY SETTING TECH STANDARDS

How the Australian Disability Task Force is helping people with disabilities live independently

ARTIFICIAL...INTELLIGENCE?

A roundup of integrators going for gold this year AWARDS

SMART HOME

IT’S EXPO TIME!

If you’re reading this, you’re likely in the midst of CEDIA Expo 2023. If you’re here in-person, I’m pleased to welcome you to Denver and hope you’ll say “hi” at the CEDIA booth (#2527) or at the Members’ Reception. If you’re following along on social media, I hope you share some of the excitement we’re all feeling in CEDIA Expo’s return to Denver. Either way, this edition of Home Tech Pro should whet your appetite for the excitement September brings to our industry.

8475 Nightfall Lane

Fishers, Indiana 46037 USA

Email: info@cedia.org

Telephone: +1 800-669-5329

Unit 2, Phoenix Park St Neots

Cambridgeshire, PE19 8EP, UK

Email: info@cedia.org

Telephone: +44 (0)1480 213744

www.cedia.net

FRONT COVER

WALL-SMART LTD.

Galia Ben-Dor. & Michael Ben-Dor

Photo Credit: Tom Saimon

www.wall-smart.com

CONTACT COPYRIGHT

All material in Home Tech Pro is the copyright of CEDIA and any reproduction of said material would require written permission from the association. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of published content, CEDIA cannot accept responsibility for any factual errors that may occur or for the veracity of claims made by contributors.

Starting off with the cover, we have Galia Ben-Dor. Galia is the co-CEO of WALL-SMART as well as a passionate CEDIA volunteer and advocate. Her story turned out to be one that was especially appropriate for this issue as she credits CEDIA Expo 2012 for catapulting her into the industry. I hope you’ll find her story inspiring as she details WALL-SMART’s humble beginnings in the basement of her home and recounts how her determination to run her business her way led to a major change in her country’s law.

To dive into industry topics, like network security, business succession planning, how to prepare for a recession, and much more, be sure to catch the CEDIA Expo Conference happening all week. This year’s program features over 90 sessions, half of which are brand new for 2023. There is no better place to learn about the latest technology trends and gain valuable business advice from industry leaders than the CEDIA Expo Conference.

Finally, I’d like to congratulate the finalists for the 2023 CEDIA Smart Home Awards. This year’s entrants, both integrators and manufacturers, not only created something remarkable, but closely identified a need that their services or products fulfilled. Enriching the lives of the people we serve is what the CEDIA channel is all about.

Now, it’s time for me to get back to the show floor. Happy CEDIA Expo 2023!

Daryl Friedman

CEDIA Global President & CEO

EDITORIAL

Jessica Guyon Content Manager jguyon@cedia.org

home tech pro

DESIGN

Allison Hemphill Marketing Director ahemphill@cedia.org

Keaton Stancato Graphic Designer kstancato@cedia.org

Rachel Tindall Content Writer rtindall@cedia.org

CONTRIBUTORS

Mandy Beckner Vice President of Education and Training mbeckner@cedia.org

Steven Rissi Senior Director of Technical Training srissi@cedia.org

Paul Skelton Regional Development Consultant, Australia and New Zealand pskelton@cedia.org

Justin Keys Graphic Designer jkeys@cedia.org

MARKETING

Christine DeJoy Vice President of Communications cdejoy@cedia.org

James Bliss Brand and Communications Manager, EMEA jbliss@cedia.org

Felix Cunningham Digital Marketing Specialist fcunningham@cedia.org

SALES

Walt Zerbe Senior Director of Technology and Standards wzerbe@cedia.org

Jody Larsen Director of Business Development and Sales (US) jlarsen@cedia.org

Steven Carter Senior Manager, Business Development (EMEA) scarter@cedia.org

Unri v alle d

Uncompressed 4K 60Hz 4:4:4 via

Un comp re sse d 4K 18 G bps HD B a s eT™ E x t e n der S e t

J Supports eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) from display via HDMI, and standard ARC from HDMI and Optical (S/PDIF) digital inputs

J Supports uncompressed distribution of the latest HDR resolutions including HDR10/10+ and Dolby Vision

J Features USB 2.0 for KVM with speeds of up to 350Mbps

J Bi-directional Ethernet (1Gb), IR, & RS-232 pass through

H E X 18 G-KI T

Un comp re sse d 4K 18 G bps HD B a s eT™ E x t e n der S e t

J Advanced uncompressed, unconverted, HDMI over HDBaseT™ technology CAT6A cable

J

J Supports uncompressed distribution of the latest HDR resolutions including HDR10/10+ and Dolby Vision

NEWS IN BRIEF

TAKING CEDIA

NEXTGEN: SMART HOME CAREER TOOLKIT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

It’s been about six months since CEDIA NextGen launched and it’s been successful in the early stages. Some of the most useful elements, according to integrators who’ve used it, are the pre-written job descriptions and the presentation. Members and CEDIA staff have also used the brochure for career fairs.

A second version that includes North American Spanish and additional resources for the Asia Pacific region is now available. The EMEA region is working on an updated presentation geared toward younger audiences. Want to see what NextGen is all about?

Get your copy at cedia.net/nextgen-toolkit.

NETWORK WITH PEOPLE WHO WANT TO PROMOTE YOU!

Join members of the CEDIA Association in-house marketing team for a meet and greet during the show. Ask questions, share your ideas, and learn who’s behind the Association’s creative content.

Perks of joining the meet and greet include:

• Face-to-face recognition

• Networking with people who want to help you

• Learning about marketing tools and assets CEDIA offers to help your business

To get updates on when the event will be held, follow the official CEDIA social media channels:

CEDIA on LinkedIn

@CEDIA.Region2 on Facebook

@CEDIA on Twitter

@cediahq on Instagram

+ on Threads!

NEW VOLUNTEER STRUCTURE REVEALED

At a Volunteer Town Hall meeting in Feb. 2023, CEDIA Global President & CEO Daryl Friedman announced structural changes for volunteering at the company.

Highlights include:

• Professional Development and Technology Advisory Councils will merge into the Technology Education Committee.

• The Membership Advisory Council will be broken into regional committees globally to represent targeted growth areas.

• Committees will now have project-based task forces with specific start and end dates. All groups will support the global CEDIA Strategy.

Read more and share your interest in volunteering at: cedia.net/volunteer.

THE CEDIA TOWN HALL: RECRUIT TALENT TO EXPAND YOUR BUSINESS

With a worldwide labor shortage, how can integrators recruit top talent to their businesses and bring the next generation into the CEDIA channel? At the CEDIA Town Hall, learn from those who have implemented CEDIA’s NextGen: Smart Home Career Toolkit to successfully attract workers and hear from a new entrant into the field on what motivates young workers today. Join us for this free networking breakfast and discussion on Sept. 7 at 7:30 a.m. in Mile High Ballroom 1 and 2 at CEDIA Expo.

CEDIA

REIMAGINES 2023 TECH SUMMITS

This year, thanks to input from our members, we’ve revamped the CEDIA Tech Summits to be a fresher, more impactful experience for all attendees. We’ve established new key locations, like Salt Lake City, revisited old favorites in California, and even added a second destination in Canada. We’ve also restructured our schedule to allow you to experience all the education you want without sacrificing valuable networking time. After a break for summer, the CEDIA Tech Summits are returning with seven stops across North America and Australia. To learn more and find a Tech Summit near you, visit cedia.net/techsummits.

NEWS IN BRIEF

OUR MEMBERS

WHAT CEDIA MEMBERSHIP MEANS

CEDIA Expo is an ideal place to network within the industry and get quality education at the CEDIA Expo Conference. Did you know CEDIA members get additional benefits at CEDIA Expo?

• Exclusive members reception before the CEDIA Smart Home Awards on Friday, Sept. 8

• Discounts on the CEDIA Expo Conference, single classes, and the All-Access Pass

• Wide social exposure – you never know who CEDIA members can introduce you to. You may walk out with new clients, manufacturers, distributors, and/or friends. (Plus, the CEDIA Marketing Team loves to share your content on social media!)

Members get great benefits all year round, too. Follow along on cedia.net/blog as we do a deep dive into what members really get.

EVERYONE SHOULD BE EXCITED ABOUT THE IMMERSIVE AUDIO SYSTEM DESIGN RECOMMENDED PRACTICE (RP22)

The CEDIA/CTA-RP22 Immersive Audio Design Recommended Practice (RP22) is designed to level the immersive audio playing field. This is the first time in our industry where system performance metrics are defined by four levels instead of vague “good, better, best packages” or “low, middle, high-cost models.”

Learn more about RP22 at the CEDIA Expo Conference program at CEDIA Expo in Denver Sept. 6-8:

• Immersive Audio System Design Recommended Practice Workshop – CSC02

• Fundamentals of Home Cinema – CSB12

• Room Acoustics for Better Bass – CSA03

• Anatomy of a Speaker – What do I need to know in order to pick the right one? – CSA15

• Audio Calibration and EQ – Manual or Automated – How do you know you got it done right? – CSA16

• Subwoofer Room Gain – The Science and Engineering of Using it to Your Benefit – CSB02

• Design and Implementation of Ingra Bass in Private Entertainment Spaces – CSB10

• The Double Bass Array – Next Generation Bass – CSB07

• The Science of Sound – CSA18

Register for these classes (and more!) at cediaexpo.com.

In addition, there will be an RP22 stage talk in the CEDIA Association booth. Follow official CEDIA social media channels for the latest news!

The CEDIA NextGen: Smart Home Career Toolkit is aimed at industry employers who are interested in engaging potential new talent and increasing community awareness about their businesses and the local industry

The toolkit includes:

Ready-to-use resources for outreach and awareness about the industry to colleges, technical schools, and others

Outreach messaging examples including job descriptions, templates, and call scripts

Insight into the industry and career pathways and average salary ranges for various roles

Industry promotional video showcasing the fantastic career opportunities on offer

CEDIA I AM

GALIA BEN-DOR

WALL-SMART Co-CEO, Galia Ben-Dor shares how a basement startup catapulted into a successful technology business and how her determination led to a major change in her country’s law.

INTERVIEW BY: JESSICA GUYON

How did you get started in the industry? Describe the early days of your career.

I earned my BA in psychology and sociology from the University of Haifa and completed my MBA in organizational behavior studies at Tel Aviv University. After graduating, I worked in various human resources positions, and became CEO of an outsourcing engineering company which provided mechanical design, harness design, and chipset design.

In 2012, I decided to see what my husband, Michael Ben-Dor was working on. He’s a mechanical engineer with almost 30 years of engineering experience. We had an idea that there may be a market for products that combined technology and interior design. So, we packed our bags and a few prototypes for a U.S. trade show that we had heard was “the way to get into the AV industry.”

That show was CEDIA Expo.

We showed up without a company and without knowing many people in the industry. My husband and I manned a 10x10 booth with our prototypes, and to our delight, people were interested. Shortly after the show, we decided to officially launch WALL-SMART.

What is your current position? How does your company fit into the industry?

My husband Michael and I act as co-CEOs. I work primarily

on the business development side of things while he heads up R&D and engineering. WALL-SMART is a privately-owned Israeli company with dealers around the world. We design and manufacture flush mounts that combine functional control and aesthetic design to seamlessly integrate technology into any wall or ceiling.

We firmly believe partnerships are the best way to do business. Being an accessory for all of the major brands in the CEDIA channel, our partnership varies from OEM, distribution, dropship, and mutual marketing efforts with different manufacturers. We also sell direct to authorized dealers.

We actively seek partnerships and are committed to understanding what’s new in the market and how we can help our dealers.

When and why did you join CEDIA?

CEDIA Expo was truly the launching pad for our business and our first introduction to the CEDIA channel. We officially established WALL-SMART in January 2013, and became CEDIA members in 2014.

CEDIA has always felt like home. Because the channel isn’t too outrageously big, we’ve gotten to know so many people on a deep level. While we each bring a unique perspective to the table, we share the same passions and feel similarly about the industry. Talking to other CEDIA members transcends any differences

between us in terms of accents and time zones –they’re always willing to share knowledge and advice.

Can you talk about some of the volunteer work you do?

Yes – and CEDIA’s volunteer opportunities are one of my favorite benefits of CEDIA membership. There are a number of opportunities to get involved with education, certification, standards, and more. I personally volunteer on CEDIA’s Governance

What advice would you give to someone just starting out in this industry?

Throughout your career, and especially while you are first starting out, it’s important to use all the resources at your disposal. Attend events, like CEDIA Expo or Tech Summits, introduce yourself, and build relationships with people. If you are unable to attend events in person, connect with your peers and mentors online. While it may feel intimidating to put yourself out there, know that industry veterans have just as much to learn from you as you do them.

Lastly, be prepared to teach others about the industry and speak passionately about what you do. One time at a show, someone approached our booth and asked to take some photos and videos of our products. We gladly agreed and later came to find out that the person was a famous YouTuber. The traffic they received on their video generated so many leads for WALLSMART. You truly never know where your next big opportunity lies!

Are there any other parts to your story that you’d like to share?

Committee, which ensures the CEDIA Board of Directors has strong and responsible leadership together with a balance of skills, knowledge, experience, and diversity. I’m proud to say that the board includes many unique voices from all over the world.

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Washington, D.C. for SelectUSA’s four-day Investment Summit. SelectUSA is the U.S. government program led by the U.S. Department of Commerce that focuses on facilitating job-creating business investment into the country and raising awareness of the critical role that economic development plays in the U.S. economy. I learned a great deal from fellow attendees about how we can improve penetration into the U.S. by working together.

When Michael and I first launched WALL-SMART, our legal team advised us to get a divorce. Shocked and appalled, I came to learn about the outdated tax laws in Israel that practically prevent married couples from being in business together. I decided then not to change my own life, but to set out to change the law.

I rallied other couples in the same situation, and together we made noise at congress meetings, on morning talk shows, and in the newspapers. We refused to back down, and just a few years later, the law was changed.

I truly believe that, if it hadn’t been for the work we did, WALL-SMART would not be a company today.

Talking to other CEDIA members transcends any differences between us in terms of accents and time zones – they’re always willing to share knowledge and advice.

Blockbuster Power

The McIntosh MHT300 Home Theater Receiver (or AV Receiver or AVR)is an uncompromising 7.2 (or 5.2.2) channel home theater powerhouse sure to heighten your emotional connection to what you are watching. With support for breathtaking 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz video and leading home theater surround sound audio formats Dolby® Atmos and DTS:X™, plus delivering 120 – 150 Watts of legendary McIntosh power to your home theater speakers, the MHT300 will make your home theater dreams come true.

FINE SOUNDS ARE THE UK DISTRIBUTOR FOR MCINTOSH & SONUS FABER I HI-FI I CI-FI

Distributors of the finest high-fidelity audio components www.finesounds.uk | info@finesounds.uk

Over 20 years ago, three graduate students at IRCAM, the French institute for the study of music and sound, found a common passion for the advancement of sound reproduction and joined forces for a research project. Little did Arnaud Laborie, Remy Bruno and Sebastien Montoya realize that this humble beginning was the first step in creating one of the most successful audio businesses in France. Fast-forward 20+ years, and as the company celebrates its 20th anniversary, it is recognized across the globe as a leader in digital audio technology. Its three cofounders remain very much at the helm today, and are joined by over 60 colleagues based across 6 time zones.

While an anniversary year is a great time to look at past accomplishments, the company has strong plans for even more exciting achievements in the future.

We started in my grandmother’s living room, which we had turned into an acoustic lab covered with more than 20 custombuilt speakers. Looking back, I realize how much we have done and I am very proud of what we have accomplished”, says Arnaud Laborie, co-founder and CEO.

ADVANCE AND EDUCATE THE INDUSTRY

Along with Trinnov’s deep roots in basic research, with more than 40% of the team dedicated to R&D, the company is deeply committed to the advancement of standards and knowledge in the three verticals the company serves: Pro Audio, Commercial Cinema and High End/Home Theater. In fact, in the spring of 2023 Trinnov won an award for Quality: Best Training Program from CEPro magazine.

Throughout 2023 and into 2024, Trinnov will roll out separate certification programs worldwide for Pro Audio, Commercial Cinema, and High End / Home Theater / Cinema. Each certification will offer multiple levels. Level One will provide students with competence in installation, setup, and an intermediate understanding of the Trinnov Optimizer.

Certification Level One is already launched and available online and in-person to Trinnov High-End and Home Cinema dealers. The in-person class will be delivered in each of the following Trinnov training facilities: Connecticut, LA, and Paris. Certification Level Two is due at the end of this year and will only be offered in-person.

REVOLUTIONARY WAVEFORMING TECHNOLOGY

The result of more than 6 years of research, Trinnov has announced a disruptive advance in digital acoustics with the upcoming introduction of WaveForming technology. WaveForming delivers a solution that answers the most challenging aspect of home cinema: eliminating the effect of room modes that make accurate low frequency reproduction difficult if not impossible to achieve. WaveForming combines a new algorithm and new home theater design guidelines to effectively reduce the low frequency problems inherent to small rooms by limiting the creation of room modes in the first place.

With speakers placed in carefully defined layouts, WaveForming achieves the ‘holy grail’ of low frequency reproduction: minimal variance from seat to seat and vastly lower reverb times, producing unprecedented clarity, impact, and definition.

Previewed at ISE in Barcelona in February to massive acclaim, WaveForming will make its US debut at CEDIA Expo in Denver. Interested dealers can now contact Trinnov for design assistance implementing WaveForming into qualified projects.

To assist system designers in planning for the implementation of WaveForming, Trinnov has published the eagerly awaited partner paper to the unified layouts of the Trinnov Speaker Layout Guide.

The Trinnov Subwoofer Layout Guide provides system designers with the knowledge gained in the development of WaveForming to enable integrators and installers make better decisions on where to place subwoofers and also to answer that age-old question - how many?

WaveForming implementation is detailed, with specific information on creating layouts based on levels of performance, room dimensions, budgets, and number of seats. You can download a PDF copy of the guide at the link below or by flashing the QR code.

From its founding roots in a student research project, Trinnov Audio has grown to a multimillion dollar global business that holds five international patents and employs over 60 team members. In combination with an installed base of over 10,000 products, Trinnov has come a long way in the past 20 years, and we look forward to seeing what happens in the next 20 years.

BY RACHEL TINDALL

CEDIA EDUCATION & TRAINING SPANS THE GLOBE C

EDIA’s mission is to connect, empower, and champion home technology professionals and businesses that enrich our lives. How do we fulfill this mission? Through advocacy, connection, and education. You’ll probably also see these pillars called ACE.

Education has always been a focus for CEDIA. With the unprecedented amount of growth and development in the industry over the last couple of years, the need and desire for quality training has grown, including for hands-on jobs that make up a large part of our industry.

Our goal actually boils down to something pretty simple: we want to set members up to build their businesses. Successful businesses rely on knowledge and competent workers – a significant obstacle if you’re a small business that’s already overscheduled. Growth is already difficult enough without worrying whether your new employees can learn the skills they need through participating on projects. You need training that you know works that you can keep building on.

This is where CEDIA training comes in. Our training is brand agnostic, which means we provide skills technicians can work on with any brand –not a preferred set of companies. When employees have the foundational skills, you can choose more specific training to build their knowledge with what sets your company apart.

Does Working with CEDIA Look the Same for All Businesses?

Nope! Because CEDIA serves such a wide range of members across the industry, we recognize that not everyone has the same set of needs.

Everyone is welcome to come to CEDIA headquarters for in-person training, and the CEDIA Academy has an abundance of online learning opportunities – both technical and business-oriented.

The alliance between CEDIA and other businesses comes in when you want or need to train a larger group. There are licensing options

to use CEDIA’s learning management system (LMS) to provide professional development to your employees anywhere in the world.

Whether you want to focus on a core program like the Cabling & Infrastructure Technician (CIT) or a variety of industry-specific training courses, there are ways to do that.

If you prefer, you can also arrange for a CEDIA instructor to come onsite and teach your employees. For those who have at least 10 people to train, this can be extremely valuable because CEDIA trainers all have years of lived experience working in the field.

Did You Say Global?

Yes! CEDIA is a global organization that serves members all around the world. We offer training in the United States, Mexico, Canada, the UK, India, and Australia.

The coolest part?

We also have connections with certified trainers in Egypt, China, and the United Arab Emirates.

These organizations are CEDIA members who have gotten certified and now teach the materials in their local communities in their native languages. CEDIA provides training and supporting materials, and our amazing, knowledgeable members do the rest.

This raises global standards, and ensures professionals are learning from peers in their area who know the nuances and can express the ideas in ways that make sense to the learners.

Are There Requirements to Work with CEDIA Education?

There are requirements to work with CEDIA Education, although they’re less than you might think.

First and foremost, businesses must be members to contract for using the LMS. We have a number of successful connections with buying groups like Nationwide Marketing Group and trade partners like Integrate U that contract with us to use our LMS to provide training to their employees.

You also need to know what you need. CEDIA staff are more than happy to talk through the education options but ultimately you need to determine a starting place for your business.

Other than that, if you have a desire and willingness to connect with CEDIA and use our training to provide professional development, we’d love to hear from you!

If you’re interested in knowing more or starting the conversation, reach out to education@cedia.org. We can’t wait to see what’s possible when we work together.

True Cinema Sound at Home

Cinergy Series

Designed to make every moment of cinema pin-sharp, crystal clear and unforgettable, Cinergy’s versatile design and ground-breaking technologies bring a true cinema experience home.

Explore more Listen Again.

WHERE THERE’S A WILL,

THERE’S A WAY.

BY RACHEL TINDALL

Years ago, in 2009, Ian Morrish was watching television with his wife - a program called “The Secret Millionaire.” It featured Donna’s Dream House, a holiday home for terminally ill children in Blackpool, UK. The program struck a chord in his heart because his wife was pregnant, and they would soon have their own child.

He considered donating, but then thought he could gather a group of connections in the AV industry to make a real difference onsite. A little more than a year later, the

first Together for Cinema room was completed at Donna’s Dream House.

He recalls one moment that was particularly meaningful when the theatre was complete: “I was getting to watch two little girls watching SpongeBob SquarePants on this new £25,000 cinema system. One little girl, called Bethany, was not in great health and passed away not long after. It was at this point I had to walk away and have a moment to myself, as the impact on me was so huge. If we, as an industry united and can make this much difference, we really should try to create another cinema room.

And so began the journey of Together for Cinema.

Morrish has been in the smart home technology industry for more than 30 years. He started with a job putting brochures together for Hi-Fi retailers before contracting with CEDIA and later worked as an international sales manager at Integrated Systems Europe (ISE).

Throughout this time, Morrish was working on the business “on planes, trying to beg projectors and combining my work for ISE with a little bit of Together for Cinema.” He managed this way for 11 years.

He left ISE in 2020 when his new contract was postponed indefinitely due to COVID-19. None of the job offers he received were what he wanted to do and people in the industry began asking what was going to happen to Together for Cinema. He often heard, “Everyone loves what you do. It’s just got to continue.”

Having achieved 25 cinemas by that time, the industry rallied to support him and the organization. “They said, ‘Look, we’ll put some money on the path. We’ll sponsor you.’ Now, I have almost 60 sponsors from the industry. Sponsors make it possible for Together for Cinema to be, and we have a properly good model,” explains Morrish.

In March 2021, he committed to Together for Cinema full time. He’s established it as a Community Interest Company (CIC), which means the business benefits the community instead of private investors or other stakeholders.

WE’VE COME A HELL OF A LONG WAY. IT’S AMAZING WHAT THE INDUSTRY HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO TO HELP PROVIDE FOR THESE KIDS.

Creating Dreams through Cinema

Although he started Together for Cinema, Morrish is quick to say that it’s an industry-wide effort. He’s thankful for his previous experiences that made the organization possible: “This would never have happened without people knowing and trusting me as an individual.”

New and potential sponsors could also rely on Together for Cinema’s track record. In the 13 years before it became a CIC, they successfully installed 37 cinemas in children’s hospitals – all of which had been openly donated.

That’s not all.

The company is “a pure and unquestionable good.” Morrish emphasizes, “The industry is hugely supportive. We have someone who does web design free of charge, for example. Everyone seems to have an immense respect for what we do and wants to see it continue.”

The cinemas aren’t all about hardware, either, although that plays a significant role. Together for Cinema is also working to provide access to premier content from studios like Disney. “All the studios I’m talking to have said ‘Where there’s a will there’s a way’ to try to provide content to these kids,” he explains.

What’s Ahead?

In 2022, Together for Cinema delivered eight installations, and in 2023, they’re expecting another seven.

A new milestone will occur in 2023 as well: Together for Cinema will achieve the £1M mark of installed cinema rooms, all donated.

“We make a real difference,” Morrish says. “Together for Cinema is just a very small part of trying to create good times and memories for the children and their families.”

As for what’s next, Together for Cinema is working on creating a recycling program. The organization will take secondhand and discontinued stock from installers, manufacturers, and distributors to give to good causes. The technology will go to businesses or people who “don’t have the budget to buy new equipment, but the recycled equipment can enhance their AV experiences.”

People from all around England, where Together for Cinema operates, will benefit from this recycling program when it launches, likely in 2025.

As Morrish notes, “There are loads of times where you’ll sit and go, ‘Oh, I should do that’ but you never do. In 2009, I just happened to get up, make something happen, and get on a roll with it.”

Together for Cinema is still on a roll. Since Morrish has been working there full time, he says, “We’ve come a hell of a long way. It’s amazing what the industry has been able to do to help provide for these kids.”

To get involved in this great cause, you can contact Ian Morrish via email at ian@ad-con.uk or at the Together for Cinema website. He’s always looking for sponsors to support ongoing installations and projects.

EDUCATING THE FUTURE OF TOMORROW

BY RACHEL TINDALL

As a young man, Kyri Androu realized he excelled at working with his hands. Even though he passed his A Levels and qualified for university, it wasn’t what he wanted to do. So, he moved into the electrical industry and trained with his uncle who was an electrician.

After learning how to do electrical installations and security systems, he completed an apprenticeship to get his electrical qualification. By 2008, he decided to build his own business. Electricus was born and Kyri was self-employed. By 2009, they were a limited company.

Fast forward a few years to when the projects were more complex. AV began to play a bigger role, whether through lighting control, music, or video. The bigger the project, the more people were communicating, making decisions, and stalling progress.

Kyri found himself waiting on clients to see the updated design or someone else to run the cabling needed for his part in the project. It was an arduous and frustrating process for everyone. So, he started learning and installed his first lighting system in 2014. He programmed more than 400 lighting circuits and keepers, at which point he said, “If I can do that, I can do anything.”

Not long after, Kyri formed Electricus Audio Visual, which has a more comprehensive set of services from simple AV to electrical to security and anything in between. Your contact from Electricus speaks to the builder, architect, interior designer, or anyone else involved, and they speak to Electricus, removing communication delays and frustrations he saw early on in his career.

What started out as a two-man AV business is now a team of eight, plus subcontractors.

Why Work With Students?

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kyri realized he needed to add more engineers to the growing Electricus Audio

Visual team. There was just one problem: the engineers he was working with didn’t have the necessary experience.

He set about creating a strategic solution: train the workforce early.

“Electricians know how to run cables, but they can’t terminate. If you can terminate a cable properly when you’re dealing with high voltages, why can’t you terminate low voltage?” Kyri questions. When he was approached by Waltham Forrest College, he knew it would be a great way to “educate the future engineers of tomorrow.”

He’d taught himself the AV trade, but it doesn’t have to be as complicated for new students. He explains, “Why not give a kickstart to someone else who’s doing their electrical apprenticeship?”

As they learn, they may continue with electrical career pathway or love AV and decide it’s a career they’ll enjoy. Either way, Kyri emphasizes, “through Waltham Forrest College, we’re giving them a foundation.”

The goal of working with the college is to offer better opportunities. “It’s about giving back. And giving someone a chance to do something they didn’t think they could do, but now they can,” he says.

It’s an added benefit that this early training also helps AV companies and “reenergizes the opportunities” to get people in the door.

Electricus offers four classes at Waltham, including fascinating subjects like smart lighting and music. All the training answers two simple questions:

• How does it work?

• Why does it work?

Kyri has found that since he’s been working with students, he’s more effective during client conversations because he’s better able to explain why he’s making project choices.

How Do We Face Workforce Challenges?

The path to successful workforce development is not without challenges. Kyri has noticed a general lack of awareness about the industry, as well as the fact that many clients aren’t managing their own smart home systems. Integrators often work with maintenance teams who understand how the technology works more than the clients.

For Kyri, grassroots workforce efforts are key to facing these obstacles. Having conversations and providing opportunities for young people and career changers to learn about the smart home technology industry is vital.

Integrators and other industry professionals should get connected with colleges that offer electrical courses. “I’d say more information targeted towards colleges would be good because they’re steady. People could walk through the door and have the smart home courses as part of their learning options. It might open someone’s eyes to go, ‘What’s that about? Let me read more about it,’” he says.

As for Kyri, he’s not slowing down his efforts. In fact, he wants to carry it on to more learning institutions. He explains, “I’ve got proof of concept. I know it’s working. I know I’ve helped a few people at least because they’ve come to our Instagram and messaged us saying ‘I really love what I’m doing now. You gave me good insights and it’s opened the door.’”

That’s what it’s all about.

So far, Kyri’s model has directly impacted three students from the college. The students “got opportunities in three different companies they may never have gotten before. And the companies may not have known about these guys before, either.”

It certainly gives students – and the industry – hope.

Opportunity has been top of mind for most people hiring and looking for work in the smart home technology industry, and this new focus on workforce development brings a new level of excitement. Educating the future of tomorrow, as Kyri likes to say, is a win for everyone.

“ “

It’s about giving back. And giving someone a chance to do something they didn’t think they could do, but now they can.

DOWNLOAD OUR WAVEFORMING SUBWOOFER PLACEMENT GUIDELINES

DISPELLING 4 MYTHS ABOUT CEDIA CERTIFICATION

BY MANDY BECKNER | VICE PRESIDENT OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING

The Cabling and Infrastructure Technician (CIT) and Integrated Systems Technician (IST) are core elements of CEDIA’s workforce development strategy. These ANSI/ ISO-accredited certifications, supported by vetted training, preparation programs, and textbooks, get us in the door with parents, teachers, and program administrators.

Inside our own industry, however, there are a lot of myths about certification that persist. If we’re going to attract the next generation of talent and seize the opportunities before us, we need to dispel those myths now.

Myth #1 – It Doesn’t Matter Whether You’re Certified

Electricians, architects, and engineers recognize the meaning of ANSI/ISO accreditation, and are more likely to engage with partners who can verify their expertise to an accepted standard.

“Every day, I speak with architect associations, builder groups, and government agencies. The conversations always follow the same path,” says Paul Skelton, Regional Development Consultant for CEDIA in Australia and New Zealand. “They’re excited about the industry, but they want to know how they can tell whether an integrator is qualified.”

When subcontracting to an allied trade, having multiple certified staff members gives you a crucial competitive edge. As part of the bigger picture, a critical mass of certified integrators will prove to allied trade groups, government agencies, and lawmakers that this industry holds itself to rigorous, defined standards.

Myth #2 – You Don’t Need Certification If You Have Experience

Pete Trauth, CIT-SME, IST-SME, ESC-T, ESC-N, ESCD, Owner of Nirvana Home Entertainment, once told me, “I can’t ask my staff to commit to certification

if I don’t first commit to it.” As the banner of letters behind his name attests, he has committed fully –and found personal growth in the process.

Certification is a journey that doesn’t end with passing the test. CIT and IST holders must renew every three years by refreshing their knowledge with any new material that’s been added to the exam content outline.

“There’s a difference between ‘years in the industry’ and ‘experience,’” says Trauth. “You can do the same things over and over again, but you don’t grow from that. Certification keeps you up to date. Keeping your learning going throughout your career is what builds real experience.”

Myth #3 – You Don’t Have Time to Train for Certification

You may arrive at a project with a clear plan and explicit instructions for inexperienced staff members, but things can change quickly on site.

“When a new person makes unsupervised decisions on a job site, a single mistake can cost a lot of money and time in rework,” says Amanda Wildman, ESC, CIT-SME, IST-SME, Owner of Trumedia and CEDIA Board Secretary. “CIT helps define what decisions a technician is qualified to make, and what decisions require approval or oversight from an ISE-certified staff member.”

Myth # 4 – CEDIA Certifications are US-Centric

“We worked extremely hard to make sure these certifications would be relevant in all the regions where there is significant CEDIA activity,” says Mike Ranpura, CIT-SME, IST-SME, ESC-T, ESC-N, Director of Smart Life AV. The CIT and IST, however, are different. Making these new certifications reflective of the global CEDIA community was a core goal of CEDIA’s certification volunteers. As a result, preparing for certification empowers CEDIA members to communicate with their peers globally.

Be a Catalyst for Change

If you want an edge against competitors in your marketplace – especially licensed professionals like

security integrators and electrical contractors – you need to get certified. If the industry wants recognition as a profession, its members must demonstrate their commitment to professional accreditation and standards.

CEDIA and its certification volunteers have built rigorous certifications; building the community of certified integrators is up to you. Visit cedia.net/ certification to get started.

The dream of experiencing true cinema sound in your own home is now a reality thanks to Monitor Audio’s incredible Cinergy system. Cinergy offers all the thrills of the very best cinema, but focuses the experience around you and those closest to you. With Cinergy you create a completely bespoke cinematic experience; immersive, precise, natural, and private. - Transparent Design Philosophy

At Monitor Audio we believe the ultimate loudspeaker is one capable of producing sound as laid down by the artist so accurately that it becomes transparent. The physical design should be sympathetic to any environment and work in harmony with the desire for transparency. Cinergy was created as a result of this Transparent Design Philosophy and is engineered to ‘disappear’ into your home cinema, allowing you to experience the visceral thrill of the very pinnacle of movie sound, without distraction.

THX Certified Ultra

THX is the gold standard for audio and visual fidelity: a globally recognised mark assuring Cinergy delivers the ultimate home cinema experience. It’s not simply a set of measurements done on a computer or in a lab; THX certification is only achieved using the dynamics of real-world listening, so you can have the utmost confidence that Cinergy will deliver a breathtakingly realistic home cinema experience.

Midrange drivers

The midrange drivers do a lot of the heavy lifting in any movie-focused system; these frequencies contain a lot of the dialogue and atmospherics that make films so engaging. That’s why the Cinergy midrange drivers use cutting-edge Monitor Audio acoustic technologies to ensure they deliver pristine performance, including RDT II cones, for the required dexterity. The midrange drivers also sits within a mid-pod driver array that can be rotated to allow any speaker in the range to be positioned either vertically or horizontally.

MPD 11

Our Micro Pleated Diaphragm II (MPD II) technology ensures Cinergy’s high-frequency transducers deliver accurate, lifelike sound without any distortion. The wider, smoother, more focused soundstage it creates is exactly what you need for totally engaging movie sound.

Mid Pod

Cinergy’s mid-pod driver array can be rotated to allow any speaker in the range to be positioned either vertically or horizontally. This flexible approach makes system creation a breeze, ensuring the perfect set-up for your cinema space.

RDT II

Rigid Diaphragm Technology II uses a ‘sandwich’ of ultra-thin, low-mass skins bonded to a honeycomb Nomex® core, making our bass drivers both exceptionally strong and lightweight. This combination allows them to deliver both the incredibly dynamic and the wonderfully delicate with breath-taking dexterity.

Bass drivers

Bass is vital to cinematic sound. That’s obviously the case with the deep, powerful low end delivered by dedicated subwoofers, but upper bass is also a vital ingredient, providing as it does the link between low-end rumble and the midrange. Cinergy’s powerful, dexterous bass drivers utilise RDT II technology to ensure they match perfectly with the midrange drivers, while also being able to punch above their weight in terms of low-end power.

The best home cinemas are purpose-built from the ground up, enabling you to create a completely bespoke experience all of your own. Cinergy gives your installer the creative flexibility to design and build a cinema that exactly meets your requirements. Modular designs, bespoke isolation options, clever fixing methods and a range of versatile, high-performance loudspeakers combine to provide an experience that’s perfectly attuned to your chosen space.

TURNING THE SMART HOME INTO THE CONNECTED HOME

BY: WALT ZERBE | CEDIA SENIOR DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY AND STANDARDS

When everything is the “standard” in the smart home, nothing is the standard.

That’s where the idea of Matter was born. The industry-unifying standard promises to create more connections between more objects, simplify development for manufacturers, and increase compatibility for consumers.

But we’re not there yet, and even when Matter officially takes shape, it may not be what everyone imagined.

Matter will likely allow disparate devices to connect on some kind of core level. When it comes to audio, for example, devices from different brands may be able to play, pause, skip, etc. but a voice assistant may not understand if you ask for detailed information about an artist. In the end, the decision lies with the manufacturers and what they choose to allow within their product lineup.

So, what’s a homeowner to do?

The DIY Dead End

As it stands, consumers essentially have to “pick a horse” for their DIY smart home, which traps them and their home’s capabilities by limiting their options on the shelf. The alternative is no better. Having a collection of smart products from a variety of brands is going to leave you with a mess of different apps, chargers, remotes, and functionalities. Worst of all? None of those products will natively communicate (or “talk”) to one other.

And suddenly, your smart home sounds pretty dumb.

WHEN YOUR DEVICES AREN’T TALKING TO ONE ANOTHER, IT FEELS LIKE NO ONE IS LISTENING, BUT THERE ARE SOLUTIONS BEYOND THE SHELF.

That’s because the word “smart” is a misnomer. What people really want, even if they don’t always realize it, is an integrated home. That is, a home where all the devices work holistically under the control of a single app or interface. The type of home an integrator can help create.

Integrators to the Rescue

It’s difficult to know what you need for your home when you’ve only just scratched the surface on what’s possible. That’s where a professional technology integrator comes in. Part of their job is to understand you, your family, your habits, and your likes and dislikes.

They’ll ask questions like: Do you work from home? Are you away from home a lot? Do you like to entertain? Cook? Do you like music? Are you into landscaping or hanging out in the backyard with friends? Are you

concerned about energy management and lighting control?

This is often called a “discovery process,” and the answers help inform what kind of technology is best suited for the home. The integrator will also ensure your connected home is properly supported, meaning things like firmware updates won’t break communication between your devices, because we all know how rapidly technology is evolving.

AI Has Entered the Chat (Literally)

Just as the new AI chatbot, ChatGPT has taken the world by storm, so will this same type of AI in our homes and it’s important to be prepared.

With AI, our devices will be able to create more personalization based on individual users and their habits. Not only is this technology going to make devices work better together,

but more importantly, it’ll be able to understand our motivations and lifestyles, so these automated functions perform more intelligently. Think, walking into a room and your devices knowing what your preferences are for the temperature, lighting, music, and more.

While this sounds new to some, integrators have been following these trends well before they entered the mainstream. They understand which products can support AI, and of those products, which will fit properly into a home’s ecosystem. But best of all, when the data-led functions of AI combine with the empathetic touch of an integrator, homeowner’s have a perfect combination of features they need and ones they didn’t know they needed for a system that’s fully cohesive, intelligent, and reliable.

Now, that’s a smart home.

YOUR SOUND EXPERIENCE WITH VICOUSTIC’S VICSTRIP SPACER KIT

Vicoustic’s new assortment of outstanding home cinema solutions establishes new standards for high-end performance in room acoustic treatment: unparalleled sound quality environment, trending design, and eco-friendly materials.

Selected by many installers as the renowned brand for home cinema rooms treatment, Vicoustic has consolidated itself over the last 16 years as the world reference in solutions to control reverberation, echoes, and sound reflections. Acoustic panels, such as Vicoustic’s line, are becoming increasingly important in ensuring that sound is reproduced accurately. As most installers argue, a cinema room is not complete without acoustic treatment.

VICSTRIP SPACER

KIT, CRAFTED FOR INSTALLERS

In 2023, Vicoustic is presenting VicStrip Spacer Kit, a kit specially crafted for installers to apply in home theatres. Much more than a sound panel, the kit comprises a VicSpacer XXL metal frame structure to be fixed to the wall. It boosts the acoustic performance in medium and low frequency regions by providing an air gap of 40mm between the panels and the wall. An additional layer of 8mm VicPET Wool is included in this kit. Once assembled in the VicSpacer, this layer will be overlaid by the 12mm VicStrip panels, making a total depth of 20mm of PET that will help improve the sound absorption performance.

This kit was engineered to enhance the performance of the innovative VicStrip panel, a slat panel that matches the trending design of wood strip solutions with the added value of using recycled materials and not real wood.

Sustainable material

At the forefront of acoustical technology, Vicoustic stands out for fully integrating performance with trending design and other sustainability goals, such as air quality, human safety and health. Producing acoustic panels in an eco-friendly and environmentally conscious way, Vicoustic developed a new raw material that is being extensively used in all product lines, the VicPET Wool. This non-wooven textile was engineered for superb sound performance and is produced mostly from recycled plastic bottles.

VicStrip is a light, flexible and sustainable outlier VVicStrip is an outlier among other slat panels that stands out for being lightweight, flexible and eco-friendly. It’s easy to be cut, glued and screwed, free of wood or metal nails, washable and humidity resistant and sustainable by being manufactured with VicPET Wool.

Strip panel improved for home cinemas

Both VicStrip and VicStrip Spacer Kit fit perfectly with furniture and other acoustic panels from Vicoustic, and can easily be assembled in the background of a screen set. With this sound-engineered solution, VicStrip stands out among decorative strip wood panels, as a sound-absorbing solution suitable for select home cinema rooms.

VicCinema VMT Kit, the acoustic panels mix for theatres

Another acoustic kit stands out for being engineered to maximize the sound conditions of a home theatre. The VicCinema VMT Kit combines Flat Panel VMT sound absorbers inserted in a VicSpacer structure, with VicPattern Ultra Triangles panels, a highly durable solution. All of them can be assembled using VicFix J Profile in walls and ceilings, which allows to change the panels according to each one needs. The kit is also available with Mega Bass Trap Kit, developed for corners to treat low frequencies and room modes by acting as broadband bass traps.

Depending on the size of a room, or the performance intended, by acquiring one or more of these kits one will be able to achieve the main goal of a Home Cinema: a neutral acoustic environment, that assures a clear and complete film audio experience without introducing any sound distortions.

Cinema VMT, the highest sound absorbers

Vicoustic has developed its highest performance sound absorbers into the Cinema VMT Family, comprised of Cinema Piano, Cinema Forte and Cinema Fortissimo VMT. This topof-the-class sound absorbers combine the unique qualities of VMT, ViCycle, MDF and Lacquered Steel, with the added value of being completely customizable.

Award-winning designs

Installers have been distinguished with CEDIA Smart Home Awards for cinema projects using solutions designed by Vicoustic, a brand founded in Portugal in 2007, where products are handcrafted, and distributed worldwide in over 80 countries, with thousands of acoustic project designs delivered.

Discover the exceptional Vicoustic line of sound panels, available through a network of official distributors worldwide. For more information visit vicoustic.com or contact sales@ vicoustic.com.

CEDIA NEXTGEN: RECRUITING HELP HAS ARRIVED

BY RACHEL TINDALL

Two CEDIA members share how they learned about CEDIA’s NextGen: Smart Home Career Toolkit, how they used it in a joint-presentation, and what they would say to those considering how it could work for them.

Richard Westmoreland, CEO of Stuart Westmoreland Ltd

Richard joined Stuart Westmoreland Ltd in 1999. He was the driving force for the company to enter the e-commerce

and custom installation spaces. Since 2020, he’s been leading the company’s day-to-day operations.

Alan Matthews, Founder & CEO of Automated Spaces

Automated Spaces designs, installs, and supports smart home solutions, home cinemas, and assistive technology. Alan is passionate about assistive technology and has recently added it as a pillar service for the business.

How are you connected with CEDIA?

Richard Westmoreland (RW): We celebrated our 20th year as a CEDIA member in January 2023. Over the years, we’ve been able to take advantage of the training, accreditation, and outreach services – they’ve been instrumental in our business.

Alan Matthews (AM): We’ve been a member since 2016 and held various roles in different working groups. We’re also a CEDIA Member of Excellence.

What were your initial impressions of CEDIA NextGen Smart Home Career Toolkit?

RW: I first learnt about the CEDIA NextGen: Smart Home Career Toolkit in an email from CEDIA CEO Daryl Friedman in February 2023. I’d already had some brief discussions with Alan (Matthews) regarding opportunities to talk to local school children, and this seemed a great way to present the information to them. The presentation and the pointers for delivery were great building blocks for our presentation.

AM: I was having discussions with local schools back in 2020 that got put on the backburner due to COVID-19. At the CEDIA Awards in October 2022, [CEDIA Global President & CEO] Daryl Friedman asked if there were resources available to talk about the smart home sector, would everyone volunteer to talk at local schools? The next thing I know, the NextGen initiative was launched. When I looked at the collateral, I thought, “Oh, fantastic. Someone’s done the heavy lifting for me. This is great.”

How have you used NextGen? Have your impressions changed now that you’ve used it?

RW: Yes, we were able to present to a local school in March 2023. The reception was good, and the children were engaged. I look forward to revisions to the initial presentation based on the feedback of those who’ve delivered it. I think it’ll be a great tool for awareness of our industry.

AM: Because we were talking to a local school, I felt it was appropriate to get another local smart home installer involved. I reached out to Richard [Westmoreland] to present as a unified front. I also felt it would be relevant to invite [CEDIA EMEA Education Manager] Aneta [ArmovaLevin]. We did our presentation for 80100 students. A few stayed at the end to ask questions. Richard and I were enthused by the experience. I gave a presentation at the Leeds Tech Summit in April 2023 and the students reacted similarly.

If someone is thinking about using the Toolkit but not quite sure it would work for them, what would you tell them?

RW: Talk to your local schools and explain that this industry is open to everyone. It offers something different to the usual employment avenues. The Toolkit provides a great springboard to be able to share information with minimal preparation. If the response you get is anything like ours, it’ll be deeply rewarding.

AM: Whoever is using the Toolkit should feel confident knowing they don’t have to stick to the script on the slide deck. You can add your own content. The goal is to talk about your experiences and dayto-day job, so it can be relaxed.

Want to see what the CEDIA NextGen Smart Home Career Toolkit is all about? Get your free download today: cedia. net/nextgen-toolkit.

IMPROVING LIVES BY SETTING TECH STANDARDS

BY PAUL SKELTON | CEDIA REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

I’ve been in the industry for almost 17 years, and a lot has changed in that time.

For years, we’ve built our industry around being a luxury. It’s time to recognize it as a necessity. Smart home technology has become a tool that elevates the quality of life for the most vulnerable people in society.

That’s what the Australian Disability Task Force is all about: ensuring people with disabilities can live in their homes independently.

What does the disability standards initiative hope to achieve?

In 2013, the Australian Government introduced legislation designed to better the lives of people living with disabilities. This would come to be known as the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), and it’s arguably the most significant legislation focused on the disability sector in Australian history.

After the legislation passed, the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), which oversees the NDIS, launched the Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) Design Standard. This document detailed a set of requirements for SDAs covering improved livability, robust construction, full accessibility, and high physical support.

Unfortunately, the standard fell short and left the NDIS open to error. Sub-par or completely inappropriate systems are being installed in homes for people living with disabilities around the country.

Two years ago, I was contacted by eXperience ONE and Livigy Chief Executive Matt Manalis who sits on the CEDIA Certification Commission. He expressed concern about what was happening and asked if CEDIA could help. I immediately said yes.

The CEDIA Australian Disability Task Force launched with nine volunteer integrators and suppliers who felt passionately about this market. The lineup of volunteers may have changed in the intervening years, but the goal remains the same.

We first dissected the existing SDA Design Standard to identify shortcomings. The group then turned its attention to developing a minimum performance recommendation for these systems.

This proposal was sent to the Federal Minister for the NDIS, the NDIA, and property developers in the NDIS sector. It was also submitted as part of the official NDIS review, which is currently ongoing.

Who are the current volunteers involved?

• Matt Manalis from eXperience ONE, Queensland

• Steve Thomas from Geohaven, Victoria

• Stuart Robertson from Sound Living, Victoria

• Justin Kern from JFK Automation, New South Wales

• Regan Webb from eXperience ONE, Queensland

• Kenton Matthews, Queensland

We’ve also received help from other volunteers along the way.

What role do property developers play in this initiative?

Summer Housing is one of the largest property developers in the NDIS sector. Their mission is to ensure young people living with disabilities don’t have to move into aged care facilities, which traditionally have been the only place for them.

Summer Housing has been incredibly generous with their time, explaining the pain points they experience as a developer so CEDIA can tailor recommendations to the needs of property developers in this space.

Most recently, Summer Housing enforced our recommendation that a project must be completed by a certified CEDIA member and approved by another independently certified CEDIA member.

How has the Australian Disability Tech Summit helped this initiative?

After two years of hard work, it was time to bring the industry up to speed.

The CEDIA Australian Disability Tech Summit was a half-day virtual event that took place in April 2023. 135 members of our industry registered to attend, and it featured eight presenters talking about technology, government funding, empathy, and the challenges ahead. By any metric, it was a resounding success.

What are the benefits if/when this becomes the official recommendation from the government?

The goal is to eliminate dodgy installations currently taking place and ensure people with disabilities can live independently in their own home.

Integrators have a responsibility to deliver systems that will profoundly impact the quality of someone’s life.

Next Steps

If you have any intention of working in this space, particularly in Australia where government incentives are available, you need to get certified. Find out how at cedia.net/certification.

SHIFTING ENERGY LANDSCAPE

Climate change has driven the global shift towards renewable energy sources. In many countries, government discounts aimed to promote solar panel installations, but proved costly and unsustainable. The ROI for such installations declined when it was prohibited feeding surplus self-generated energy back to the grid.

To accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels, the European Union is implementing strict measures. Replacing defective oil boilers is already illegal, and after 2025, new buildings will have new limitations to other source of energy like gas. As a result, electricity is becoming the primary energy source, leading to the rise of high-consuming devices like heat pumps and electric cars.

CEMS to the Rescue

To address these challenges, system integration companies such as IoT Domotica Solutions implemented the Customer Energy Management System (CEMS) based on Energy Management with KNX. This innovative solution tracks and monitors energy consumption, enabling customers to efficiently consume or store self-generated energy. By aligning consumption with actual energy pricing, CEMS minimizes reliance on the grid while maintaining comfort levels. It provides customers with graphical representations of their energy parameters, allowing them to assess their energy profiles effectively.

The Role of KNX

As a KNX installer and systems integrator, they leveraged KNX combined with IoT technology to develop the CEMS. KNX was the ideal choice due to its extensive history as a proven building automation system, boasting over three decades of successful implementation. With more than 8000 KNX products available from over 500 manufacturers worldwide, seamless interoperability is guaranteed.

HOW CEMS WORKS

CEMS is a cloud-hosted system that communicates with a local Customer Energy Manager (CEM) installed at the customer premises. The CEM collects real-time values from various connected systems such as heat pumps, solar panels, and electric car chargers. These parameters are compared against the customer’s energy profile, and if any thresholds are approaching, CEMS adjusts the operating state of the relevant end-systems to ensure limits are not exceeded. The system’s flexibility allows different connectivity options based on the specific devices in use.

CONCLUSION

In times of uncertainty, consumers face challenges in predicting and managing their energy costs effectively. However, by adopting a Customer Energy Management System like CEMS, individuals can regain control and minimize their bills while maintaining desired comfort levels. Real-time monitoring of high-consuming devices and self-generated electricity, along with intelligent interventions based on electricity costs, ensure that energy profile limits are not surpassed and grid peaks are avoided.

Using a CEMS with a comprehensive automation platform such as KNX that works with the IoT, which means that even non-KNX devices can be integrated into a common (KNX) platform, ensuring an intelligent and future-proof system.

START@KNX

If you are interested in starting with KNX, but do not know where to begin, visit start.knx.org for valuable information and resources.

ABOUT KNX

KNX is a standardized protocol that is widely used in building automation systems. It is designed to allow different devices from various manufacturers to work seamlessly together, and be controlled from a central point.

KNX controls all aspects of home and building control such as: lighting, heating, ventilation & air conditioning, energy management, blinds/ shutters, security and door communication systems, audio and video, metering, and more.

EXPLORE DENVER

With one of the most unique city park systems in the United States – almost everything is walkable! – and its own herd of bison, it’s safe to say that Denver is a high-energy city. It has 6 professional sports teams, a booming live music and art scene, and is sunny for 300 days of the year. We can’t wait to visit during this year’s CEDIA Expo, September 6-8.

5 FUN FACTS ABOUT DENVER

Known as “the mile high city,” Denver really is a mile above sea level.

BREWS THE MOST BEER

The first permanent building in Denver was a saloon (and it still brews the most beer of any city in the U.S.).

INVENTED THE CHEESEBURGER

A Denver drive-in owner patented the cheeseburger in 1935, so technically the cheeseburger was invented in the city.

PRODUCES MORE COINS

The Denver mint produces more coins than anywhere else in the world.

SOLD OUT EVERY HOME GAME

The Denver Broncos have sold out every home game since 1970.

DISCOVER DENVER

INTERESTING ACTIVITIES

16th Street – Pedestrian-only street that has food and fun for everyone

Union Station & The LoDo District – Lower downtown area, Denver’s oldest neighborhood, with shopping, dining, and plenty of sights to see, including Coors Field

Washington Park “Wash Park” – Enjoy the city’s green spaces with walking trails, flower gardens, and recreation areas

Red Rocks Park & Amphitheater – One of the most beautiful & well-known open air concert venues in the U.S.

Denver Botanic Gardens – Explore one of the world’s largest collections of cold climate plants

Meow Wolf – An immersive art experience to remember

Upstairs Circus – “Where DIY Workshop Meets Bar”

The Wild Animal Sanctuary – Rescued animals roam in a serene, open setting while you observe & learn from the elevated walkway

Skyline Park Beer Garden – Brews & cocktails, food trucks, and outdoor activities like mini-golf

SPORTS STADIUMS

Empower Field at Mile High - Denver Broncos (NFL) & Denver Outlaws (MLL)

Coors Field - Colorado Rockies (MLB)

Ball Arena - Colorado Avalanche (NHL), Denver Nuggets (NBA), Colorado Mammoth (NLL)

Pepsi Center – Colorado Avalanche (NHL)

Dick’s Sporting Goods Park - Colorado Rapids Soccer (MLS)

Infinity Park - Glendale Raptors Rugby Club (Pacific Rugby Premiership), Denver Barbarians (Super League Rugby Union)

“THE MILE HIGH CITY”

FOOD FOR EVERY OCCASION

Only in Denver

Sam’s No. 3 ($) – Denver’s best diner (self-proclaimed – test it for yourself!) www.samsno3.com

The Cherry Cricket ($$) – Create your burger as a “work of art” in this quirky burger & beer joint www.cherrycricket.com

Denver’s Biscuit Company ($$) – Made from scratch meals with delicious biscuits www.denbisco.com

Bastien’s Restaurant ($$$) - Home of the world-famous sugar steak www.bastiensrestaurant.com

Fun & Funky

Illegal Pete’s ($) – A sassy, build-your-own-burrito joint that gives back to the community www.illegalpetes.com/

La Loma ($$) – A family-owned restaurant serving Southwest flavors in a historic location www. lalomamexican.com

Marco’s Coal-Fired ($$-$$$) – The only restaurant in the state to be certified by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (VPN) culinary discipline…yes, please! www. marcoscfp.com/

All About Experience

Root Down ($$) – An accommodating experience for anyone with dietary restrictions and a “fresh-from-theearth” menu www.ediblebeats.com/root-down

54thirty Rooftop ($$) – Sip on hand-crafted cocktails while enjoying the best rooftop view of the city and mountains www.54thirty.com

True Food Kitchen ($$) – Tasty food that’s (actually, scientifically) good for you www.truefoodkitchen.com

Buckhorn Exchange ($$$$) – Any meat you could want served with class in a National Historic Landmark building www.buckhorn.com

Sushi Den ($$$$) – Beautiful presentation + delicious flavors = best sushi around, at least according to locals & reviewers www.sushiden.net

Photo courtesy of La Loma

Photo courtesy of Illegal Pete’s

Photo courtesy of Sushi Den

Photo courtesy of 54thirty Rooftop

“CAN’T MISS” COURSES AT THE 2023 CEDIA CONFERENCE

There are many exciting courses and workshops available at the CEDIA Expo Education Conference 2023, which is in Denver from September 6-8.

Here are a few you should check into as you plan your week at the show.

THE 3 P’S OF BEING A DESIGN PROFESSIONAL PROJECT PARTNER

• Design/Build Track

• Holly Andre, Thea Enterprises

• Session Number: CSC01

• Wednesday Sept 6 @ 8 am – 12 pm

• 4 CEU credits

Learn to position yourself as a Smart Homes Project Partner with architects, interior designers, and builders. Build skills and knowledge to promote our industry using CEDIA’s Outreach Instructor (COI) Program.

This session will cover:

• How to understand and work with architects & designers

• How to adapt your business to focus on being a project partner with design professionals, including key presentation skills & learning styles

• How to build relationships with architects & designers and what to expect, as well as best social media practices

You’ll walk away with materials to help you effectively work with design professionals, including (but not limited to), new CEDIA CEU content and a business plan.

If you’re planning on sitting the final hour of this session to become a CEDIA Outreach Instructor, please reach out to ident@cedia.org.

DISCLAIMER: The additional hour (11am –12pm) is exclusive to CEDIA members to provide access to CEDIA CPD content. If you attend this portion of the class, you’ll earn CEDIA Outreach Instructor (COI) credentials. To be a COI and gain access to the CEU material, you’ll need to join CEDIA with a company membership: cedia.net/join.

WIRELESS NETWORKING WORKSHOP

• Networking Track

• Shawn Lemay, Sound & Theater; Ian Bryant, Premier SAV

• Session Number: CSC07

• Wednesday Sept 6 @ 8 am - 12 pm

• 4 CEU credits

Today’s clients are demanding more complex and converged systems than ever before. This workshop will teach you how to design and install robust, multiple-access-point wireless networks for these projects. Built on the foundation of basic wireless technologies, this lab puts your networking skills to the test!

ADVANCED DOCUMENTATION

• Design & Integration Track

• Michael Cogbill, REV2 Consulting, LLC

• Session Number: CSB01

• Wednesday Sept 6 @ 1 – 3 pm

• 2 CEU credits

THE BUSINESS OF LIGHTING

• Lighting Track

• Mike Libman, DMF Lighting Systems; David Warfel, Light Can Help You

• Session Number: CSA33

• Wednesday Sept 6 @ 3 - 4:30 pm

• 0 CEU credits

This course was so popular last year that we’re offering it twice this year!

This masterclass is geared toward managing the design & installation of a typical, multidisciplinary CEDIA residential project. You’ll learn about managing a project end to end from initial contracting through the transition to service when a project is completed.

The class provides detailed checklists to guide you through each phase:

• Kickoff

• Pre-Wire/Rough

• Trim

• Final

• Service Startup

• Design Documentation

During class, you’ll also receive many documentation examples from real projects (think: CAD drawings, design schematics, submittals, and more) you can adapt to your own projects.

Why sell lighting? This session will tackle practical advice and strategies for building & growing a profitable lighting fixture business.

Some key topics include:

• Feature vs. solution sales approach

• Why buy lighting through a CI integrator

• Addressing control compatibility issues

• Enhancing your clients’ home

• The value of lighting for each stakeholder

• Stakeholder priorities and how to address them (from lighting designers to homeowners to electricians)

• How to present lighting as a solution for all stakeholders to manage light in the home

You’ll learn how to tailor your sales approach for retrofit, fixture upgrades, and layout and lighting design upgrades. The goal is to be able to best highlight the things people love about their home through the lighting solutions you provide.

Ready to sign up? Register for the CEDIA Conference now and use code WEBCEM!

Expo: Sept 7-9, 2023

Conference:

September 6-8, 2023

Denver, CO

Experience cu ing-edge innovation, learn from top experts, and connect with like-minded peers at the only event dedicated to residential technology.

Register for FREE as a CEDIA Member!

Simply verify your membership during registration. Scan the QR code to get started.

We’re building bigger, bolder, be er!

To see course descriptions and room numbers, scan the QR code or visit cediaexpo.com for the full conference schedule.

WE ARE THE GLOBAL MEMBERSHIP ASSOCIATION THAT SERVES THE HOME TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY

ADVOCACY

We position the smart home industry as essential to homeowners, allied trades, and governments.

CONNECTION

We connect the professionals who connect our homes around the world.

EDUCATION

We develop content to share knowledge and raise the bar on industry best practice.

Scan to discover more:

ARTIFICIAL... INTELLIGENCE?

BY STEVEN RISSI

With ChatGPT amassing an estimated one billion website visits per month, Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications have become the focus in the world of technology. While ChatGPT and other AI services appear to offer responses commensurate with human speech, I have to ask, are they in fact intelligent?

AI systems are extremely complex, but by defining some of the key terms and buzz words we can better understand the technologies and how they operate within the larger scope of the overarching concept of “AI.”

Many of the new computing processes developed to support AI have been designed to mimic the human brain. The idea is to build logic programs similar to the biological neural networks found in nature - Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs). The artificial “brain” receives a signal, processes it, and weighs potential outputs to make sure they’re accurate. Sometimes this process occurs several times.

AI functions are typically trained, or rather, conditioned. The goal is to feed data to the system and

establish a target within a specified margin of error. One popular application is predictive language functions. This is where the “GPT” part of ChatGPT comes from. It’s a Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) that has been taught to respond to requests like a human would.

Knowing AI programs like ChatGPT are simply really large data sets conditioned to function in a specific way, can we consider it intelligent?

The engineering behind these advanced software applications is extremely impressive. The responses mimic human speech quite well, and objective answers are usually accurate. However, I believe intelligence goes beyond what machines can produce based on statistics and probability.

Intelligence and the ability to reason to a conclusion are strictly human attributes in my estimation. A machine cannot perform the activities of thinking abstractly or imagining like a human can. AI programs can only produce something that has already existed, even though the nearly real-time responses to complex questions seem novel. Can we believe in the “intelligence” of something that can’t create an idea or imagine something new? Can we trust something if we don’t know how it was conditioned or what target output was programmed? I have no doubt AI will have a profound effect on our industry and what we do. It will improve efficiency from systems programming to business marketing.

But are those really the most important topics of discussion?

I’m much more interested in the long-term implications of what these new technologies will mean to humanity and our understanding of what it means to be human.

As a father of four young children, I want to know how AI will affect things like:

• The broad cultural approach to education. Will we continue to replace human learning with processes of conditioning?

• The impact of idealizing technological improvements as the greatest good. In continuously improving and idealizing AI, will we begin to treat humans more like robots? What does that say about intelligence?

• Our understanding of human anthropology. In pursuing the never-ending advancement of technology, are we slowly losing our own humanity?

• The ability to trust digital content as being true or real. If we don’t know who programmed the system or how it functions, how can we trust the output?

These systems aren’t “intelligent,” and I have no fear of SkyNet coming online and my son growing up to fight alongside John Connor. I do have deep concerns related to how our culture will be influenced by AI in general, and more specifically, what nefarious applications these tools could be used for. I’m reminded that just because you can do something, doesn’t mean you should.

AI will be a tool like many others before it. It may help to get you where you want to go, but it will never replace you as the driver.

Meet the new Sony BRAVIA XR TV Line-up 2023

GET READY FOR SONY’S BEST HOME ENTERTAINMENT EXPERIENCE.

Introducing the 2023 BRAVIA XR TV line-up from Sony, which provide their best ever image. A key upgrade to this line-up is the Cognitive Processor XRTM featuring Sony’s all-new XR Clear Image technology. This powerful processor improves noise reduction, enhances clarity with motion, and enables better backlight control by increasing local dimming zones.

The BRAVIA XR lineup offers four headline models: The X90L Full Array LED, X95L Mini LED, A80L OLED, and A95L QDOLED. With dimensions ranging from 55 inches up to an immense 98 inches, there is a wide range of options for every install. The X95L now features the innovative Acoustic Multi-Audio +TM, as do the A95L and A80L models. This technology uses actuators that vibrate to produce sound from the entire screen, resulting in an immersive audio-visual experience. It’s features such as these that make the BRAVIA XR range a top contender for clients looking for high-quality audio without using an external soundbar or speakers.

UNLOCK A NEW LEVEL OF GAMING

Selected by many installers as the renowned brand for home cinema rooms treatment, Vicoustic has consolidated itself over the last 16 years as the world reference in solutions to control reverberation, echoes and sound reflections. Acoustic panels developed in a specialised laboratory, such as the Vicoustic’s line, are proving to be increasingly elementary to ensure that the sound is reproduced as the filmmaker intended. As most installers argue, a cinema room is not complete without acoustic treatment.

“The new models are uncompromising in realising our vision and bring together decades of Sony’s expertise.” - Masashi Takiguchi, current Head of Pan-European Home Entertainment and Sound and the incoming President of Sony Europe

The BRAVIA XR Breakdown

BRAVIA XR X90L 4K HDR Full Array LED TV (98”, 85”, 75”, 65”, 55”)

The BRAVIA XR X90L 4K HDR Full Array LED TV boasts up to 130% more brightness than its predecessor, the X90K, due to precisely controlled backlighting. It also features XR Contrast Booster and XR Triluminos Pro technologies, providing enhanced contrast and billions of accurate colours. Additionally, the TV has HDMI 2.1 gaming capabilities, making it ideal for high-performance gaming. The sleek, aluminium Seamless Edge Bezel and 3-way aluminium wedge TV stand offer a premium look and feel to complement any interior scheme.

BRAVIA XR X95L 4K HDR Mini LED TV (85”, 75”, 65”)

The BRAVIA XR X95L 4K HDR Mini LED TV features thousands of Mini LEDs and billions of accurate colours, controlled by the precision of XR Backlight Master Drive and XR Triluminos Pro technologies, providing ultimate contrast. The TV also has X-Anti Reflection and X-Wide Angle, minimising reflection and providing vivid real-world colours from any angle while retaining more colour and brightness. The Seamless Edge Bezel and 3-way aluminium TV stand offer convenience and will blend in with any decor.

BRAVIA XR A80L 4K HDR OLED TV (83”, 77”, 65”, 55”) features

The BRAVIA XR A80L 4K HDR OLED TV has a brightness level 110% higher than its predecessor, the A80K, thanks to XR OLED Contrast Pro and XR Triluminos Pro technologies. The TV features Acoustic Surface Audio+ and Dolby Atmos support, producing true immersive audio with actuators that vibrate to match the action on the screen. The Metal Flush Surface Bezel adds a touch of sophistication to any interior.

BRAVIA XR A95L 4K HDR QD-OLED TV (77”, 65”, 55”)

Finally, the BRAVIA XR A95L 4K HDR QD-OLED TV features a QD-OLED screen, enhanced by XR Triluminos Max technology, providing colour performance approx. 200% brighter than its predecessor, the A95K. The individually lit pixels produce pure black, creating extraordinary detail and depth on screen. With the ultraslim design and aluminium Seamless Edge Bezel, this signature design will feel at home within any interior.

To browse the brilliant BRAVIA XR Sony TV line-up, please visit www.awe-europe.com

-Masashi Takiguchi, Head of Pan-European Home Entertainment & Sound, Sony Europe

CEDIA SMART HOME AWARDS 2023:

THE ART OF

TECHNOLOGY

The CEDIA Awards have been a cornerstone of the home technology industry for decades. Around the world, integrators, manufacturers, and visionaries are celebrated on a grand scale for exceptional work.

That’s something that’ll never change.

But as the industry evolves, so must we, which is why we’re proud to introduce our reimagined awards program.

First, we’ve added a new category: Health, Sustainability or Wellness. We’re delighted to recognize integrators who are actively creating more mindful lifestyles.

Second, the Best Integrated Home category will no longer use monetary values to define its four levels given large variances in cost of living. Instead, we will take into consideration the surrounding areas in which a project was completed.

Finally, we’ve decided to change the name of the CEDIA Awards to the CEDIA Smart Home Awards. It’s a subtle change that we hope will have a big impact. As we continue our long-term goal to build brand awareness for CEDIA, a more descriptive name will help winners’ clients understand the significance of the award.

As for the CEDIA Smart Home Awards celebration, we’re excited to be hosting our annual ceremony at CEDIA Expo once again and across the EMEA and APAC regions. The theme for this year is “The Art of Technology.”

We look forward to sharing technology masterpieces from CEDIA members around the world at the following ceremonies:

AMERICAS

Atlanta Home Theatre

Audio Images

Audiovisions

Cantara Design

ETC Florida

La Scala

Maxicon LLC

Pacific Audio & Communications

SAV Digital Environments

TSP Smart Space

Wenner

APAC

Argus Technologies

Denote PTY (Ltd)

Experience One Smart Home Gold Class AV

Kayder

Liquid Automation

McCormack Concepts

Nisi Group

Ryelec Automation & Energy

Sentiment Electronic Trading Company

WAvetrain

West Coast HiFi East Perth

Zene Private Theate

EMEA

Adair Acoustic Design

ARLED Solutions GmbH

Blackroom

BNC Technology

Butler Hartwell

Cinemaworks

Clarke Infinity

Cyberhomes UK

Dawsons Radio ltd

Habi UI

HENRI

Inspired Dwellings

Knektd Ltd

M.E.G.A. AV Installations Ltd

MacBee PVT Ltd

Mosaic AV

New Wave AV

NV Integration

SMC

Tera Generation Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

The Big PIcture

The Majik House Co Ltd

“

THE LAST 5%

TAKEAWAYS

MORE THAN 3,000 people globally have attended a CEDIA Tech Summit Event!

We’ve had more than 1,200 new followers on the CEDIA LinkedIn so far this year – and that’s just on ONE PLATFORM! CEDIA is GROWING.

“ I absolutely love being able to share my experiences and knowledge to help shape the future of the industry. Contributing to the education and career development of fellow professionals is a very rewarding passion of mine. ”

“ We’re here to raise industry awareness in EVERY PART OF THE WORLD, advance the industry through education and research initiatives, recognize industry achievements, educate the customer, and set standards and best practices. ”

In the last Integrated Home Market Analysis study, the U.S. market size was valued at $20.1B.

What do you think it will be in the next market analysis?

IF YOUR ACTIONS INSPIRE OTHERS TO DREAM MORE, LEARN MORE, DO MORE AND BECOME MORE, YOU ARE A LEADER.

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS

- JONATHAN FRYE | Snap One

- SANKET SAWANT | CEDIA Regional Development Consultant, India