CEDIA COMMUNICATES Spring 2013

ISSUE 25 | SPRING 2013

COMMUNICATES Yo u r i n d u s t r y, y o u r v o i c e … n e w s f r o m t h e C u s t o m E l e c t r o n i c D e s i g n & I n s t a l l a t i o n A s s o c i a t i o n

The latest salvo in the battle for ‘next-gen’ game consoles has been launched, as Sony unveiled plans last month for its ‘Playstation 4’ or PS4.

PS4: A CI Game-Changer?

Michael Heiss, CEDIA Fellow and contributing editor to Residential Systems, sorts the ‘knowns’ from the ‘unknowns’ of the PS4: Following Sony’s announcement of the new PS4 console, what will be the likely impact on residential custom installation projects. Connectivity will be key to the new platform, putting further burdens on home network systems.

The need for speed will see the wired connection upgraded to 1GB Ethernet and the wireless to 802.11 b/g/n. The USB will be significantly faster with SuperSpeed USB 3.0. Given the next HDMI ‘version’ is still not

announced, one of the unknowns is if PS4 will be the first with a new HDMI standard.

Analogue AV and an optical digital audio output will be retained, however, along with Bluetooth 2.1 (EDR) for communication with the remotes.

The hardware will move to a PClike design, using an 8-core, x86/64 bit AMD processor and an AMD next-generation Radeon-based graphics engine.

The PS4 will keep a Blu-ray drive but streaming content will be pushed hard for games as well as for streaming content services. Playback of legacy games from older PS systems may come through downloads, not by playback of the original discs. We don’t yet know if this

will involve new software cost to users.

The system contains the new DUALSHOCK 4 controller with touch pad, as well as traditional joysticks and buttons, a built-in speaker, stereo headphone jack and mono headphone.

The controller has a three-colour LED light bar to help gamers identify one another, detected by dual camera sensors in the new PS4 Eye. Sony says it will have four microphones for ‘sound detection and source origination’, and face recognition for login, to allow ‘...use of body movements or voices to enjoy games more intuitively’. Please note: until the system arrives, its proprietary connection to the console may cause problems for pre-wires.

There will be a hard drive, but size and replaceability are not yet known. While the Move

wands will apparently work with PS4, it is not yet certain if current Blu-ray remotes or ‘BT to PS3 USB’ adaptors are compatible. Also to be confirmed are the games that will be available at launch and whether they will be on physical media or downloaded.

Given that the PS4 offers the new HDMI ‘version’ and the expanded connectivity and processing/ graphics power, 4K content creation and display is a possibility.

These issues, as well as price and availability, may be resolved at E3, the annual gaming convention in June but as you plan upgrades and new jobs, involving the PS4, keep in mind how things might yet change.

In the meantime, we await how Microsoft will respond with its own next-gen console…

WHAT’S INSIDE p2 >>>>

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AWARDS 2013

NEW EDUCATION DIRECTOR

CEDIA IN LYON

60 SECONDS

Get your tickets NOW!

Matt Dodd

Training & networking event

with Ian Morrish

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C O M M U N I C AT E S Yo u r i n d u s t r y, y o u r v o i c e … n e w s f r o m C E D I A

AWARDS HEAD TO THE TOWER

With over two million visitors a year, the Tower of London is one of the City's most iconic landmarks and is the oldest royal castle in Europe. Built by William the Conqueror in 1078, the Tower has played a prominent role in English history serving many purposes throughout time such as a fortress, prison, palace and now, the CEDIA Awards.

The CEDIA Awards are a key highlight in the residential custom installation calendar, with previous sell-out events taking place at the following stunning venues: Hampton Court Palace, One Mayfair, The Globe Theatre, The Brewery and Vinopolis. With over 300 guests expected to attend the gala held in an exclusive Pavilion marquee within the North Moat of the Tower, it is set to be the most successful CEDIA Awards to date.

JUDGING THE AWARDS CEDIA has revealed the independent panel of judges for this year’s scheme.

For the first round of technical judging, the 2013 panel will comprise Geoff Meads, Managing Director of Presto AV and leading education instructor for CEDIA Region 1 alongside Dave Pedigo, CEDIA's US Senior Director of

Technology, and head of CEDIA's Technology Council. Also joining the panel this year will be Duncan Maidens, a senior lecturer at Birmingham City University’s School of Computing, Telecommunications & Networks.

In the second and final round of judging, experienced AV technology journalist

Steve May will be joined by Sky’s Technology reporter, Martin Stanford as well as Michael Holmes, Editor-in-Chief of Homebuilding & Renovating magazine, Luke Tozer, Director at award-wining architects, Pitman Tozer and Dan Hopwood, CPD Director at the British Institute of Interior Design.

w w w. c e d i a . c o . u k / a w a rd s

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EVENT SPONSORS

AWARDS BACK MACMILLAN CANCER SUPPORT CEDIA is proud to be making a charitable contribution from this year’s Awards, by donating £5 from the sale of each ticket to Macmillan Cancer Support. The charity provides patients who live with cancer, as well as their carers, families and communities, with practical, medical and financial support.

Says Pauline Craig, Fundraising Manager at Macmillan Cancer Support, “We are delighted to have been chosen as the charity beneficiary for the 2013 CEDIA Awards ceremony.”

“One in three of us will get cancer and for most people it will be the toughest thing they will ever have to face. £2 a month for one year pays for a Macmillan nurse for an hour, so £5 for each ticket sold is going to have a significant effect on the lives of those suffering from a disease that touches so many.”

As anticipation builds in the lead up to this year’s CEDIA Awards, the Association has revealed the event’s industry sponsors. Exclusive Platinum sponsor AMX, Gold sponsors Control 4 and Crestron, and Kaleidescape and Rako as Silver sponsors, will all have a presence at this year’s event at the Tower of London.

Says Kevin Morrison, MD and VP of AMX Europe, "We are delighted to be the Platinum sponsor of this year's CEDIA Awards, and continue to be impressed with the quality, imagination and innovation of CEDIA ESP member companies, The residential market is a key focus for AMX and it's an area where our products offer significant benefit. We are proud to be associated with an initiative that continues to drive quality and raise standards through the celebration of the very best that the residential custom installation industry has to offer."

P L A T I N U M S P O N S O R

G O L D S P O N S O R S ™

™

S I L V E R

S P O N S O R S

GET YOUR TICKETS FOR CEDIA AWARDS 2013 Tickets for the black tie event, which includes a sit down dinner and drinks are priced at £150 per person, or £1,300 for a table of ten, excluding VAT. For more details on ticket purchasing, please visit awards.cedia.co.uk.

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C O M M U N I C AT E S Yo u r i n d u s t r y, y o u r v o i c e … n e w s f r o m C E D I A

NEW REGION 1 EDUCATION DIRECTOR Matt Dodd has taken up the position of Education Director for CEDIA Region 1.

Matt will head up the development of CEDIA’s expanding education programme within the Region (including Europe, Africa, CIS, Middle East, India & Pakistan), which is aimed at improving skills and growing expertise throughout the residential custom installation industry. He will also be working closely with the other CEDIA Education departments worldwide on developing internationally relevant education.

“As Education Chair on the CEDIA Region 1 Board, Matt Dodd has been a key figure in defining the CEDIA education strategy over the past few years,” says CEDIA’s Executive Director, Wendy Griffiths. “We are very pleased to welcome him into this exciting new staff role.”

Whilst continuing to provide a strategic overview of the CEDIA education programme, Matt will now also adapt and modularise the current CEDIA offerings and deliver content on various platforms to build on the Association’s global offer of on-line education and courses.

Matt Dodd is Co-Founder of Thinkingbricks Limited, a highly respected home automation business.

Prior to forming Thinkingbricks, Matt spent 10 years in the corporate hospitality marketplace developing new training strategies for the finance and marketing directorate, providing education content to over 15,000 learners worldwide.

BOOSTING CONSUMER AWARENESS CEDIA is showing its support this year at a number of consumer shows, including the National Homebuilding & Renovating Show, The Gadget Show Live and Grand Designs Live, to help increase awareness, educate consumers on the lifestyle benefits of an integrated home and promote the importance of using a CEDIA member.

“The shows provide an excellent platform for the promotion of our industry and the ability to talk to end users directly, so we can make sure we are marketing CEDIA and its members in the most effective way,” says Wendy Griffiths, Executive Director at CEDIA. “With home technology becoming increasingly affordable and accessible for consumers, it’s important for CEDIA to act as an industry voice and connect with the end users who benefit from our members’ work.”

The National Homebuilding & Renovating Show, which took place from 21st -24th March, 2013, at the NEC, Birmingham, is one of the UK’s biggest self-build and renovating events, and is renowned as the market leader in the homebuilding field.

A regular at the show, CEDIA took a stand once again this year. Not just raising awareness of the Association and its members, this year’s stand also paid particular attention to promoting the newly released Recommended Wiring Guidelines and CEDIA’s consumer website www.cedia.org. In support of the show’s key messages, a three month advertising campaign launched in April’s issue of Homebuilding & Renovating magazine, and on sale during the show.

Kris Hogg, CEDIA board member and Managing Director of Konnectiv, spoke as part of the show’s Masterclass sessions to give an overview of home technology to

www.homebuildingshow.co.uk

visitors and provide insight into the latest industry developments.

The Gadget Show Live, which took place at the NEC Birmingham during the first week of April provided another great opportunity for CEDIA to reach out to consumers interested in home technology. CEDIA members delivered a talk daily on the ‘Top ten tech trends’, covering the very latest in current and future home technology.

Grand Designs Live, the popular contemporary home show on the 4th -12th May 2013, ExCeL London also forms a strong platform for CEDIA to raise awareness of the Association and its members to consumers. The event will be packed with over 500 exhibitors, across six different sections, covering interiors, gardens, home improvement, self-build, renovations, technology and shopping.

CEDIA is proud to be part of ‘Ask An Expert’ at this year’s show. Located in the heart of Grand Build, the unique service is designed to answer visitors’ project and self-build questions. 18 CEDIA members will be on hand throughout the show, to offer FREE 30 minute consultations on home technology.

A team of CEDIA staff and members are available at several more popular consumer and trade shows this year. Visit www.cedia.co.uk for an updated list of events.

www.gadgetshowlive.net

www.granddesignslive.com

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Allez FRANCE! CEDIA has announced details of a one-day training and networking event for the French residential custom installation sector which will take place on Wednesday 29th May at the Warwick Reine Astrid Hotel, Lyon.

This event offers integrators access to key technical education courses, including the chance to attend a full day Home Cinema Design Workshop or half day sessions on IP for Integrators and HDMI Distribution. In the evening, CEDIA will host a special Connect with CEDIA networking event, providing existing and prospective members with an introduction to CEDIA, an insight into its activities and an informal networking opportunity for integrators and trade suppliers. This evening event will take place nearby at the Warwick Reine Astrid Hotel from 18:00 to 21:00.

Presentations will be led by experts in the CI sector headed by Geoff Meads of specialist AV consultancy Presto AV (English-French translation provided) alongside local subject matter experts.

International

NEWS ITALY CEDIA will be heading to Rome on Friday 7th June to host a combined one-day training and education event for Italian integrators.

EGYPT The one-day CEDIA Certified Outreach Instructor (CCOI) workshop will take place in Cairo for the first time on 8th May*. Covering the CPD course 'Designing Integrated Future-Ready Homes', the CCOI teaches the basic skills necessary to deliver an effective presentation, whilst also allowing you to get a clearer understanding about the course.

SOUTH AFRICA From 29th July to 2nd Aug CEDIA will be running an intensive education programme in South Africa. More details available soon.

COURSES AND PRICES ARE AS FOLLOWS: HOME CINEMA DESIGN WORKSHOP €150 members €200 non-members

*Places on the course have now sold out

IP FOR INTEGRATORS

HDMI DISTRIBUTION

€90 members €120 non-members

€90 members €120 non-members

For more information on the international events and other upcoming CEDIA events across Region 1, please visit www.cedia.co.uk

VAT CUT ON HEATING CONTROLS As part of its drive to improve energy efficiency in homes and reduce carbon emissions, the Government through HMRC is now offering reduced VAT at just 5% on the supply and installation of home heating controls.

“A growing number of residential custom installers are integrating heating controls within the systems they provide their customers,” says

CEDIA’s Executive Director, Wendy Griffiths. “A reduction in VAT will help reduce the price of the overall project and act as a further incentive for installers to fit this type of technology.”

This initiative covers central heating and hot water system controls including manual or electronic timers, thermostats, mechanical or electronic valves, including thermostatic radiator valves.

Further information can be found on the Energy Saving Materials notice 708/6 available for download from the HMRC website http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk.

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C O M M U N I C AT E S Yo u r i n d u s t r y, y o u r v o i c e … n e w s f r o m C E D I A

60 seconds with…

Ian Morrish Who are you?

I am Sales Manager for the ISE show in Amsterdam. Originally, I set up my AV sales consultancy business in 1993 and then began creating product brochures for Hi-Fi retailers, such as Audio T and Rayleigh Hi-Fi. I followed this with eight years of contracted work for CEDIA, helping them with their Expo.

With this background I am fortunate to know many people in the industry. It’s helped me co-ordinate my work for Together for Short Lives.

“

How did you become involved with the charity?

In March of 2009, I was watching a programme called The Secret Millionaire, which featured a holiday home for terminally ill children and their families in Blackpool.

Rather than simply donate, I contacted them to see if we, as the AV industry, could do anything to help. To cut a long story short, about 12 months later, a well-received Cinema log cabin was opened. Since then, we have completed eight more Cinema Rooms for the Children’s Hospices group and our target is 25 by 2020.

I have been staggered by how the industry has got behind the work we are doing.

What is Together for Short Lives?

Together for Short Lives (TfSL) is the leading UK charity that speaks for all children with life-threatening and lifelimiting conditions and all who love and care for them.

They aim to make a difference to these children and their families. In 2012, Children’s Hospices UK merged with TfSL and there are about 50 children’s hospices in the UK in their group, which only get limited government funding.

”

How is the industry getting behind TfSL?

I have been staggered by how the industry has got behind the work that we’re doing. No money has ever changed hands; all expenses are met by the individuals themselves.

Be it PR assistance from Wildwood, exposure from our trade media, stock management from AWE, product donations from manufacturers and distributors to assistance from numerous installers. I want to thank everyone who has played a part in making it all happen, especially my colleagues at CEDIA, who have been most supportive.

Which CI businesses have supported the charity?

Wow...! Where do I begin? For their installation assistance I would like to thank ET Home Cinema, DSE Digital, Loud and Clear, Rayleigh Hi-Fi, Decorum Technology, RGB Communications, Habitech, Pulse Marketing and Orb Design Consultancy.

As for product support, there really are too many to mention but those that have supported multiple times include: Redline with their Velodyne sub-woofers, RGB Communications with their Middle Atlantic racks, Control4 and Epson.

Personal thanks must also go to James Johnson-Flint for his unstinting support for the initiative.

How can more CI businesses get involved?

With three installs a year we need continued assistance, including a bank of installers around the country ready to take on an install. We are currently looking for installers in these areas for our next projects in 2013 and 2014: Somerset, Kent, Staffordshire, Cornwall, West Sussex, London.

A list of manufacturers, ready to donate products, would also help to make the rooms easier to get started and finished and it would be great to have a website where we could post our install reports and images and credit our supporters.

We’re working on that, but in the meantime, if you think you can help with installation or the supply of products, you can contact me on ian@ad-con.demon.co.uk or telephone +44 (0)1372 454366.

For more information about Together for Short Lives please visit www.togetherforshortlives.org.uk

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STRUCTURED CABLING ASSESSOR COURSE UPDATE Two new course dates have been announced for CEDIA’s new Structured Cabling Assessor Course taking place on 11th June and 8th October at CEDIA’s Training facility in St Neots.

The recent introduction of the CEDIA Recommended Wiring Guidelines has proved extremely popular with over 1,000 downloads of the document already and places on the first Structured Cabling Assessor Course in April, completely sold out!

The one-day CEDIA Structured Cabling Assessor (CSCA) course will provide attendees with the necessary tools to issue a Smart Home Cabling Certificate, a key element in the Best Practice recommendations covered by the new Recommended Wiring Guidelines document.

Participants will be able to assess the cabling installed against the guidelines to ensure the installation has been carried out to the required standard and check any documentation. Upon successful completion of the assessment, the contractor, developer or homeowner will be issued with a CEDIA certificate of conformity for the home.

This qualification will also allow the integrator to act as an ambassador for their company, promoting the company’s products and services and giving homeowners the opportunity to maximise the potential of their new smart home.

More dates will be announced shortly. For further information on the Recommended Wiring Guidelines and related courses, visit www.cedia.co.uk.

The purpose of this white paper, is to discuss recommended methodologies for determining the ideal display size for multi-purpose areas based on room size and seating location.

Many consumers believe bigger is best, so it is important for custom installers to be able to explain how different display sizes can affect and enhance the overall user experience.

“Display size can make or break a room especially in a multi-purpose space,” said Matt Dodd, Education Chair, CEDIA. “It is important not only to calculate the appropriate size display for the room, but custom installers also need to be able to explain their recommendations to their client.”

IT EF N BE

CEDIA has created a new white paper entitled, Selecting Display Size based on Room Size and Seating.

R BE EM M

NEW SELECTING DISPLAY SIZE WHITE PAPER

This white paper can help bridge that gap of understanding for both the custom installers and the consumer.”

The recommendations outlined in this document are for displays with 1080p resolution and an aspect ratio of 16:9. Recently, 4K displays have become available for theatres and consumers, but because 4K displays are still less common than 1080p, those recommendations will be discussed in a separate, forthcoming white paper.

The white paper, free of charge to cedia members, is available via the cedia website: www.cediaeducation.com/resources/ whitepapers

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C O M M U N I C AT E S Yo u r i n d u s t r y, y o u r v o i c e … n e w s f r o m C E D I A

Welcome to CEDIA! New members joining CEDIA include: A Jay Services Ltd

UK

HTP

ABISS S.A.

Greece

HTP

Affinitive AV Ltd

UK

HTP

Agent Sonore

France

HTP

Angel Projects Ltd

UK

HTP

Aquila Technology Limited

UK

HTP

Audiviz Technologies LLC

UAE

HTP

AV EMEA BV

Netherlands

Sales Rep

Aventtech Ltd

Greece

HTP

AVL Services

Malta

HTP

Azro Ltd

UK

HTP

Bit Projekt

Serbia & Montenegro HTP

Cablegold Limited

UK

HTP

Cinevision

Denmark

TS*

Comm-tec Srl

Italy

TS**

Connecting Technology

France

HTP

Control and Comfort

Spain

HTP

Digital Com

Egypt

HTP

DZA Technical Ltd

UK

HTP

Eighty A Controls Ltd

UK

HTP

Electrolounge Ltd

UK

HTP

Envision

Kuwait

HTP

GBPL Ltd

UK

HTP

H&H Audio Visual

UK

HTP

HD Connectivity Ltd

UK

TS*

CEDIA | EVENTS DIARY

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Increasing Profits: How to Measure and Track Employee Productivity Online webinar, 5pm GMT, 24th April www.cedia.net/education/elearning_webinar.php Maintenance & Aftercare Course CEDIA HQ, St. Neots, 1st May www.cediaeducation.com/courses/maintenanceaftercare Evolving Connectivity 2013 NEC, Birmingham, 1st May www.cai.org.uk/information/evolvingconnectivity-2013 Grand Designs Live London, 4th to 12th May www.granddesignslive.com CEDIA Certified Outreach Instructor Course Cairo, Egypt, 8th May www.cediaeducation.com/events EST1 Bootcamp (inc. H&S course) CEDIA HQ, St. Neots, 15th to 17th May www.cediaeducation.com/courses/bootcamp EST2 Technical School CEDIA HQ, St. Neots, 20th to 24th May www.cediaeducation.com/courses/techschool Clerkenwell Design Week Clerkenwell, London, 21st to 23rd May www.clerkenwelldesignweek.com

HTP

Home Entertainment Solutions UK

CEDIA Certified Outreach Instructor CEDIA HQ, St. Neots, 23rd April www.cediaeducation.com/events

Integration Fundamentals

Saudi Arabia

HTP

Intelligent AV & Electrical Ltd

UK

HTP

Kimberlee Communications

UK

HTP

Levels

Egypt

HTP

Maxwell Audio Visual Ltd

UK

HTP

MDfx

UK

HTP

Media Distribution Services

UK

HTP

Monitor Audio

UK

TS*

Multi Connecto D.o.o

Croatia

HTP

Nest

US

TS*

P.G. Solvenet Services Ltd

Cyprus

HTP

PPS Audio Visual Limited

UK

HTP

Progressive Living

UK

HTP

Reality Logic Limited

UK

HTP

Room AV

Denmark

HTP

Schneider Electric

UK

TS*

Smart Ethernet Solutions

Germany

Sales Rep

So Smart Sàrl

Switzerland

HTP

SYMM & Co Ltd

UK

HTP

TGM Solutions Ltd

UK

HTP

TVF Audio Visual

UK

HTP

Unitech Systems EE

Greece

TS*

Xpert Publishing Ltd

UK

Affiliate

Connect with CEDIA Brighton, 23rd May www.cediaeducation.com/events Evènement de formation et Connect with CEDIA Lyon, France, 29th May www.cediaeducation.com/events Increasing Profits: How to Create Attractive and Motivational Pay and Bonus Structures Online webinar, 5pm GMT, 29th May www.cedia.net/education/elearning_webinar.php Certification Day CEDIA HQ, St. Neots, 5th June www.cediaeducation.com/courses/est2exam Connect with CEDIA Rome, 7th June www.cediaeducation.com/events

What is a HTP? We recently renamed the Electronic Systems Professional (ESP) category to Home Technology Professional (HTP), which is now being adopted as part of CEDIA’s efforts to align globally.

*Trade Supplier **additional location

CONTACT: Chloe Gibb, Senior Marketing Officer, CEDIA Region 1,

T:

Unit 2, Phoenix Park, St Neots, Cambs, PE19 8EP, UK

E: chloe@cedia.co.uk

+44 (0)1480 213744

F:

+44 (0)1480 213469

W: www.cedia.co.uk