CEDIA Communicates Summer 2015

SUMMER 2015

COMMUNICATES

Virtual Reality Shaping our Future Discover CEDIA EXPO 2015 Selling Made Easier

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CEDIA COMMUNICATES

Contents

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A NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM Winners of the tenth annual CEDIA Awards revealed

SURVIVING THE DEN

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Sync-box take on BBC1’s Dragons’ Den

ASSISTED LIVING Automated AV talk us through their latest assisted living project

60 SECONDS WITH…

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Rayner Sheridan, Director of Marketing at Meridian Audio

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GRASSROOTS SOCIAL MEDIA Heather L. Sidorowicz provides hints and tips on social media for business

TAKE CONTROL Grant Clauser explores the importance of dedicated interfaces

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SCREEN TEST Five of the best screen launches in 2015

A VR FUTURE Peter Aylett explains why Virtual Reality is a game-changer

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CEDIA COMMUNICATES

Welcome… …to the Summer issue of Communicates, your industry resource for the latest news and stories.

This issue follows the most successful CEDIA Awards Scheme to date. Over 400 people joined us in celebrating 10 years of the awards scheme, and witnessed funny man, Danny Wallace announce this year’s winners. The excitement continued, as the following week, we won our own award for the CEDIA Awards Yearbook.

Awards aside, the industry is continuing to thrive and evolve, and this issue, we delve into some of the most talked about subjects.

We hear how Virtual Reality is shaping up to be a game-changer for the industry, how assisted living projects are opening new doors for installers, and how social media can play an important role in your company. CEDIA membership is continuing to increase, and to support this, we are developing member benefits. Our online education offering is expanding, a relationship with a credit protection company provides members with business support, and localised events and resources help members in thriving EMEA countries.

With CEDIA EXPO just around the corner, we expect to see the industry develop further, with new technology launches at the show. We look forward to seeing you in Dallas.

Wendy Griffiths Executive Director, CEDIA EMEA

Contact Follow us on:

Website : www.cedia.co.uk Email : info@cedia.co.uk Telephone : +44 (0)1480 213744 CEDIA Unit 2 Phoenix Park St Neots Cambridgeshire PE19 8EP, UK Company registration number 3353936

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

Front cover image: BNC Technology, South Africa

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NEWS IN BRIEF

MANCHESTER IS CALLING The fourth CEDIA Tech Forum for this year is due to take place at the Hilton Deansgate Manchester on Wednesday 30th September.

This one-day event includes eight 90 minute Manufacturer Product Training sessions from CEDIA Trade Supplier members, including Aldous Systems (Europe) Ltd, AWE, HDanywhere, Lutron, LILIN, RTI, Systemline and WyreStorm. Taking place in two rooms at the venue, two sessions will run simultaneously every 90 minutes, starting from 9.30am and finishing at 5.30pm.

TRADE SUPPLIERS SUPPORT MEMBERSHIP GROWTH CEDIA is delighted to recognise Buckinghamshire-based distributor, Aldous Systems (Europe) Ltd, as the first company to reach its target and receive £500 as part of CEDIA’s Trade Supplier Recommendation Initiative scheme.

Launched in 2014, CEDIA’s Trade Supplier Recommendation Initiative scheme was formed with the aim to grow CEDIA’s membership through word-of-mouth recommendations, whilst rewarding its Trade Supplier members.

New installer members have the opportunity to share the name of the distributor or manufacturer who had referred them to CEDIA on its membership application form.

Should a Trade Supplier member company achieve eight successful recommendations, it will receive a CEDIA jacket for each sales representative, along with £500 worth of CEDIA credit. This can be used for CEDIA membership fees, to purchase literature, training courses or awards tickets.

Already in 2015, CEDIA has welcomed 90 new members, taking the current number of CEDIA members to an all-time high at 675 in EMEA. For more information on membership, contact Alex Brownhill at ABrownhill@cedia.co.uk

Following the training sessions, CEDIA will host its popular Connect Event from 6pm 9pm, providing attendees with the opportunity to network with peers and CEDIA professional staff. This will feature a ‘State of the Industry’ discussion, focussed on key developments within the smart home industry.

09:30 - 11:00 - Room 1 : AWE: Dolby Atmos for Home Theatre 09:30 - 11:00 - Room 2 : LILIN: Surveillance, Remote Access and Control for Today’s Smart House 11:30 - 13:00 - Room 1 : Systemline: Comprehensive Introduction to Systemline S7 & What the Flac?

11:30 - 13:00 - Room 2 : WyreStorm: 4k & Ultra HD Expelling the myths + Introduction to Enado Control system 14:00 - 15:30 - Room 1 : HD Anywhere: Whole-Home HDMI 2.0 14:00 - 15:30 - Room 2 : Aldous Systems: Visualint Intelligent CCTV, Leviton LS&A, SpeakerCraft MRA/AIM2 16:00 - 17:30 - Room 1 : Lutron: Achieving Success with LED Lighting Control 16:00 - 17:30 - Room 2 : RTI’s Integration Designer - Program a Bespoke Multi-Room Audio/Video System in 60mins or less 18:00 - 21:00 : Connect with CEDIA: State of the Industry Discussion & Networking Visit www.cedia.co.uk/cedia-events for more information.

CEDIA IS HEADING TO INDIA CEDIA is continuing to build momentum in India, by returning to the country for the third time, with a five day training and networking event. CEDIA currently has 39 members in India, so will be supporting these companies, as well as the wider CI community, on 14th – 18th September by hosting a combination of CEDIA education and manufacturer product training at the Le Meridien Hotel in New Delhi.

During its five day visit, CEDIA will host a number of courses, including an Introduction to Lighting Fundamentals, Atmos, Auro 3D & More and Ultra HD/4K. CEDIA has partnered with two local members, Sawan Nichani from MacBee and Harshal Parikh of Trescent Lifestyles to present a number of sessions, including an Introduction to Video Calibration and How to Work Profitably with Architects and Other Specifiers. Dedicated manufacturer product training will also be available to attendees.

Following the first day of training, CEDIA will be hosting a Connect with CEDIA networking event.

Running from 6pm – 9pm, the session provides new, prospective and existing members with the chance to network with CEDIA representatives and industry peers. Attendees will be introduced to the Association, the benefits of membership and the evening will provide a forum for ideas and debate.

With so many great courses to choose from, CEDIA has created a package to help installers get the best out of the training on offer. This package allows delegates to choose from any of the CEDIA Training, excluding any certification exams. The cost for CEDIA members is 30,000 INR, while the non-member price is 45,000 INR. The event is sponsored by California Audio Technology (CAT), Lutron, Screen Research, Stylica Recliners, Touch Lite Automation, rbh and consumer magazines What Hi-Fi India.

For more information, visit www.cediaeducation.com/calendar

CEDIA COMMUNICATES

CAUGHT ON CAMERA

NEW MEMBERS

Following the success of the CEDIA Awards 2015, the Association has unveiled a video of the event. The video captures the atmosphere of the evening beautifully, highlighting some key moments from the big event. Who can forget Danny Wallace making fun of the industry, the winners showing us their best poses for the camera, Sawan Nichani of MacBee jumping on Danny’s back, and of course, Peter Aylett being awarded the Special Recognition accolade.

Welcome to CEDIA and thanks for joining…

For a reminder of these moments, visit www.cediaawards.org

Aperio, UK

3-e Electrical, UK Abstract AV, UK AJAR-tec, UK Audiovogue & Harrogate Home Cinema, UK Automated AV, UK AVA Projects, UK Connected, UK Current Electrical and AV, UK Electricus Audio Visual, UK Elite Technologies, South Africa GMS Intelligent Systems, UK Goat Systems CC, South Africa HDL UK Limited, UK HomeSystems, Ukraine H.O.T., UK Howdens Joinery, UK iControl AV, UK

WOELF WHISTLE

Inicio Automation, India

Following its win in the Best Integrated Home £100K-£250k category at the CEDIA Awards, Woelf has appeared on TV in Belgium. Jan Martens features on TVL, where he talks viewers through what can be achieved with technology, and expresses his delight in winning a CEDIA Award.

Innovate Smart Building Systems, UK

Jan commented: “Winning a CEDIA Award is like winning an Oscar for a movie star. It is nice for a young company like us to get recognition for all the hard work that we put in every day.

This award win is also confirmation that we are doing business the right way and with good ethics. We are the first winner in Belgium, which is a great achievement for us!”

John Ross Hifi, UK

Woelf was successful in the CEDIA Awards as the team delivered a beautifully integrated and exciting project, which incorporates AV, heating, lighting, security, blinds and most impressively, the integration of an elevator.

For more information, visit www.woelf.be

SYMBOL SOFTWARE Following the news of the new Audio, Video and Control Architectural Drawing Symbols Standard in the last issue, the CEA, Infocomm and CEDIA have announced that the software required for this standard is now available.

The software file formats which are available, include .dwg for use with AutoCAD and compatible software, .vss stencils for use with Microsoft Visio, .png graphics with transparent backgrounds, .jpg standard graphic format with

Intelidom Group, Poland Janus Technology, UK Ljudtema, Sweden MDS Norway AS, Norway Mireality, UK MZ Audio Distributors, India O’Brien Hi-Fi, UK Optoma Europe, UK Paragon Technology Solutions, UK QMotion Shades UK Revolution Multimedia, UK Revolve CI, UK Simontech, Italy Sonos Europe B.V., Netherlands Sony Europe, UK Sound Sense, India What You See And Hear, UK

white backgrounds, .gif graphics with transparent backgrounds and .tif graphics for printing, nontransparent.

The ANSI Standard J-STD-710 Audio, Video and Control Architectural Drawing Symbols defines a common set of blueprint icons that represents all facets of pre-wire and installation of electronic systems, products and devices in residential and commercial environments.

To download the standard and software, visit www.cedia.co.uk/whitepapers

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A Night At The Museum Over 400 industry professionals joined CEDIA on Friday 3rd July at the Natural History Museum as it revealed the winners of the tenth annual CEDIA Awards.

CEDIA COMMUNICATES

The full list of winning projects is as follows:

BEST MEDIA ROOM UNDER £10K WINNER: H&H Audio Visual Ltd (UK) – Highgate Media Room BEST MEDIA ROOM OVER £10K WINNER: New Land Solutions Ltd (UK) – Hidden Cinema Highly Commended: Kensington Audio Visual (UK) - Vertice BEST DRESSED RACK WINNER: Cornflake (UK) – Child’s Play BEST HOME CINEMA UNDER £40K WINNER: The Big Picture (UK) – Leafield House BEST HOME CINEMA £40K-£100K WINNER: Art Cinema | 3Logic (Poland) – Connoisseur Cinema Highly Commended: The Big Picture (UK) – Roman Way BEST HOME CINEMA OVER £100K WINNER: MACBEE Pvt. Ltd. (India) – The Red Carpet Cinema BEST LIGHTING SCHEME WINNER: Brilliant Lighting (UK) – Lighting a Georgian Townhouse and Mews

The CEDIA Awards celebrates design, installation and integration excellence in the home technology sector. This year, the scheme attracted over 120 impressive entries from 17 different countries, all competing for the best media room, home cinema, integrated home, super yacht and other category prizes. Attendees to this year’s landmark Awards were treated to a memorable night of high-class dining, networking and comedy in the awe-inspiring Natural History Museum, featuring the iconic 26-metre Diplodocus, Dippy.

Comedian and modern Renaissance man, Danny Wallace, and writer on Dead Ringers and The Mighty Boosh, hosted the evenings proceedings and presented a total of 17 awards to this year’s winning schemes. Alongside the project and showroom categories, Danny also awarded prizes to CEDIA Trade Suppliers competing in Best Innovative Product, Training Initiative and Trade Supplier categories. Journalist Hayley Gilbert secured the media award of the night for the Best Technology Feature, following her article on High-Tech Homes, which appeared in the April issue of KBB Magazine. Finally, Peter Aylett received the CEDIA Special Recognition Award for his dedication to CEDIA and the industry.

BEST YACHT INSTALLATION WINNER: Archimedia (UAE) – Majesty 122 Highly Commended: Archimedia (UAE) – Majesty 135 BEST SHOWROOM WINNER: De Opera Domotica (Netherlands) – Discover Your Senses BEST CUSTOM SOLUTION WINNER: H&H Audio Visual Ltd (UK) – Westbourne Grove Legacy Upgrade BEST MULTIPLE SCHEME FOR A PROPERTY DEVELOPER WINNER: Grahams (UK) – The Paladio Highly Commended: Design Innovation (UK) – Great Minster House BEST INTEGRATED HOME UNDER £100K WINNER: Lifestyle Technologies (Cyprus) – Smart Contemporary Living Highly Commended: Grahams (UK) – London Penthouse 20 BEST INTEGRATED HOME £100K-£250K WINNER: Woelf (Belgium) – Golf Loft Highly Commended: SONA (UK) – Project 1047 BEST INTEGRATED HOME OVER £250K WINNER: Défi Technique SA (Switzerland) – Jewelbox BEST ENERGY MANAGEMENT SOLUTION WINNER: Défi Technique SA (Switzerland) – Jewelbox BEST TECHNOLOGY FEATURE WINNER: Hayley Gilbert – KBB Magazine BEST TRAINING INITIATIVE WINNER: Habitech Ltd (UK) – ProNet Training Highly Commended: AWE (UK) – Foundation Workshop BEST INNOVATIVE PRODUCT WINNER: Habitech Ltd (UK) – Ihiji Remote Network Management Highly Commended: Rako Controls (UK) – Rako NFC Walls Panels BEST TRADE SUPPLIER WINNER: AWE (UK) SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD WINNER: Peter Aylett

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PR COVERAGE

“CEDIA is a lifetime school for us and the Awards represent the highest honour for us and our industry.

We have been founder members since 1997 and the PR that our team has putDiscounted hard work in all these years is nowDiscounted COVERAGE Training being internationallyTraining recognised.

AMX, ELAN, Indigo Distribution, Kaleidescape, LILIN, Origin Acoustics, AWARDS AWARDSPulse Cinemas andPR Rako all supported this year’s PARTICIPATION PARTICIPATION COVERAGE event as sponsors. After the ceremony, attendees were invited to continue celebrating the night’s events at the lively after party, hosted by Artcoustic, at the Natural History Museum.

Although we come from the very small island in Cyprus, the challenges are there, the demanding clients are the same, and our work proves to be of international standard and professionalism. We would like to thank CEDIA and the whole CI industry for giving us the PRto compete with the world’s Discounted chance best. We are very Discounted COVERAGE Training Training proud for this year’s Best Integrated Home Under £100,000 Award and I dedicate this to the full Lifestyle Technologies team and our esteemed clients. We would prompt younger CI companies to become CEDIA members and follow the Awards, as it is a chance to show the world how good their work is.”

AWARDS PARTICIPATION

AWARDS PARTICIPATION

The tenth annual awards scheme has successfully raised £4,435 – its largest amount raised by the Get to date - for its nominated Get event charity, WaterAid. Industry involved involved As part of the evening, CEDIA invited guestsResources to support a raffle, with all prizes donated by CEDIA member companies. In addition, £5 from the sale of every Awards ticket was donated to WaterAid, totalling over £2,000.

The successful winners and highly commended Get Get projects have all been captured in the CEDIAIndustry involved involved Resources Awards 2015 yearbook. This is available to download from www.cediaawards.org

Takis Sarikas, Lifestyle Technologies

Industry Resources

Discounted Stand Space

Discounted Stand Space

Industry Resources

Discounted Stand Space

Discounted Stand Space

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WINNING words…

“Sometimes our efforts as custom installers make a lot of difference in a customer’s life.

This award is a sign that we are aiming for the right goal. Thank you CEDIA for an amazing experience and something to work towards each year! It’s truly inspiring.”

Sawan Nichani, MacBee

“We are absolutely delighted to have received the recognition of CEDIA at CI’s premier award event. We are constantly told that the only way to stay ahead of the competition is to be better at what we do. There is only one way to get better and that is train. Any top athlete will tell you that. So we are delighted to receive this award as it demonstrates our commitment to building and growing our market sector. Hopefully we will personally gain from more direct business, but we also hope that it will strengthen the CI sector to further the industry as a whole.”

Jonathan Pengilley, Habitech

“It is fantastic to win Best Lighting Scheme at the tenth anniversary year of the CEDIA Awards. What makes this CEDIA Awards special to us is the fact that the entries go through a rigorous judging process. Design, documentation and technical excellence are all under the scrutiny by the judges, so it is an honour to be recognised by experts in our industry.”

Iain Shaw, Brilliant Lighting

“It is great to receive such kudos in this high-tech industry by qualifying even as a finalist in these prestigious awards. For The Big Picture to be known as a company that strives to excel year-onyear amongst other great CI companies that have a similar ethos; I believe helps us stand out in a market where customers can find it hard to choose who should be entrusted with their projects.

Congratulations to all our fellow winners.”

Ciaran Wilkins, The Big Picture

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CEDIA COMMUNICATES

BUILD YOUR BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES AT ISE 2016 Integrated Systems Europe is the leading exhibition for the professional AV residential and commercial systems installation and integration marketplace. Co-owned by the CEDIA and InfoComm International trade associations, ISE 2016 will take place in February 2016, with over 1,000 exhibitors spread over 14 halls at Amsterdam‘s prestigious RAI exhibition centre.

The four-day event is a must attend destination for residential installation professionals who need to gain hands-on exposure to the latest AV products and technologies.

ISE 2016 – Four days, for your business, for you, for the better!

Find out more www.iseurope.org.

Show registration is open as of October 1st.

Use this invitation code 706374 to register FREE for ISE 2016

A joint venture partnership of

CEDIA COMMUNICATES

CEDIA AWARDS YEARBOOK SCOOPS

“PUBLICATION OF THE YEAR”

AT PRESTIGIOUS TAF AWARDS

The CEDIA Awards Yearbook, produced to promote and celebrate the quality and skills of CEDIA members participating in the organisation’s annual awards scheme, is now itself a winner, taking the title of “Publication of the Year” at the 2015 Trade Association Forum (TAF) Awards.

The prestigious accolade was presented to the CEDIA team, led by Wendy Griffiths, Executive Director, at a glittering ceremony in front of more than 250 guests at the UnderGlobe at Shakespeare’s Globe, London on Thursday 9th July. Supported by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, the TAF Best Practice Awards recognises, rewards and promotes best practice amongst trade associations in the UK. The CEDIA Awards is the flagship Awards scheme for the home technology integration sector, typically featuring more than 120 entries from across the EMEA region.

The CEDIA Awards Yearbook is a beautiful, high value ‘coffee-table’ style publication which showcases the work of all entrants into the scheme, covering excellence in integrated media room, home cinema, whole house, superyacht and other home technology industry categories.

This glossy book celebrates the

professionalism and talents of CEDIA members, and also provides an important window into the industry for architects, interior designers, house builders and homeowners.

“It is a great honour to be awarded Publication of the Year in the TAF Awards,” comments Wendy Griffiths.

“We are thrilled that the work our team has invested in the publication, as well as the content of all CEDIA Award finalists that feature in the Yearbook, have been recognised by such an established and prestigious Trade Awards scheme. The home technology industry is going from strength to strength, producing unique, problem solving solutions for 21st century living. The CEDIA Awards and the CEDIA Awards Yearbook provide a great opportunity to showcase the innovation and skills of our industry and the lifestyle benefits that a professional home technology installation can bring.”

The 2015 CEDIA Awards Yearbook is now available to download from www.cediaawards.org For more information on the TAF Awards, visit www.taforum.org/best-practiceawards-2015. CEDIA also appeared as a category finalist for “Event of the Year” with the CEDIA Awards.

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GET IN THE DRIVING SEAT You require a new company vehicle, but where do you start? There are copious variables to consider, each affecting a range of operational factors, such as your company finances, your brand image, and if you are compiling a list of vehicles for your staff to review, there is also their welfare to take into consideration.

BRAND IMAGE Image is everything, and choosing the right brand speaks volumes about how well your company is doing. It also has a direct correlation to whether a prospective client judges your quote to be the right price, whether you will be there in the future to service their system, or whether a potential retailer sees that you have the belief in the product you are trying to sell. Therefore, company vehicles have to fit in with the rest of your visible assets to properly represent your brand image.

Andrew Fox, Business Development Director at UK-based Planet Leasing discusses the decision process for purchasing a new company vehicle.

FUEL ECONOMY AND ROAD TAX If your business cars are going to cover high business mileage, you need to think hard about economy. This is a variable that can have a lasting impact on your overall company car expenses and bottom line profits. If you have just the one business car, and it is a bit of a gas guzzler, then the fuel consumption may go unnoticed, but if you have multiple vehicles, the high fuel costs can scale pretty quickly. Road tax is another cost that can add up fairly quickly if you are running multiple company vehicles. The good news is that there are some vehicles which are now tax exempt, depending on the levels of carbon dioxide emitted from the engine.

INSURANCE COSTS Insurance is one of the highest costs when it comes to motoring. There are various factors that affect the cost of premiums, some of which you can control and others which you can’t. The value of a vehicle is a major factor as this affects the amount of financial risk the insurer is willing to take on. So, remember that even though the monthly lease cost for a high end vehicle may be low, the associated insurance costs may not be.

MAINTENANCE COSTS When leasing a vehicle there is the option to have maintenance included. Maintenance packages cover everything and anything that could go wrong with your vehicle during the term of the lease. This includes servicing, maintenance and tyres, and if you have the vehicle for long enough, the MOT. Maintenance packages provide fixed cost motoring, which allows for manageable cash flow forecasting.

SO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU? As you will have probably surmised by now, this is not a straightforward question to answer. The information above will provide you with a good starting point and perhaps allow you to narrow the choice down. But like a customer trying to choose the right AV equipment for their home simply by looking in a magazine without considering aesthetics or compatibility, you may end up making a costly mistake. The smarter customer will go to an expert who will look at room plans, take into consideration their budget, listen to their requirements and ascertain their needs in order to choose the best kit for the client.

Consider me your expert for all things vehicular and with my 25 years experience in all sectors of the AV industry, I have the knowledge to recommend the correct vehicle and funding method to meet your needs, whether you decide to fund them through your business or personally lease, buy outright or fund them in any other way.

For more information, visit www.planet-leasing.com, email andrew.fox@planetleasing.co.uk or call +44(0)20 8508 6668. @PlanetLeasing

CEDIA COMMUNICATES

Following his impressive, smiley and successful appearance on BBC1’s Dragons’ Den, Duncan Summers gives us the low down on all things Sync-box

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Surviving the

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ync-box is a totally unique recessed power and AV socket, for use when installing wall mounted flat screen televisions.

Essentially, it is designed around a standard double socket space using the same module components already being used around the globe. Sync-box is recessed by 40mm and has a unique cover plate, which when in location, has a slender 10mm profile. Therefore, it is now possible to install a new ultrathin LCD or LED screen, with all cables connected professionally and stylishly behind the screen.

I first met Steve Noyes when he came to my home to install some AV equipment eight years ago. I was intrigued by the AV world and we became friends. Steve owned an AV business and I was the owner of my own successful business.

Steve had a few whacky business ideas, which we discussed. However, the AV industry was changing quickly and none more so than the flat screen TV market.

It was becoming impossible to mount a flat screen to the wall professionally.

Steve came up with the idea of recessing the cables and connections, which would solve the problem of mounting these televisions to a wall. We quickly started down the road of designing and prototyping Sync-box!

After a year of trading, Sync-box was growing quickly. We had sold 2,000 units worldwide, with large enquiries coming through from major developers. We designed and prototyped other products to run with the Sync-box product range, and realised that we required funding to take Sync-box to the next level.

Having approached various investment channels, it was proving to be a long and painful process. I considered applying to Dragons’ Den for investment, as I was

confident in the product and thought, it can’t be any more longwinded or painful than the other avenues of investment we had tried!

To my surprise, we were called by the BBC and invited to the London Television Studios for a screen test.

This was a few months after the initial application, so as you can imagine, it was a shock when the BBC called. The screen test was a brilliant experience! The BBC was just fantastic. The actual day of filming Dragons’ Den was amazing. The format has changed this year, as we were interviewed before and after we went into the Den. Despite, the hard time we received from the male Dragons, Peter Jones was a true gent. He congratulated us afterwards and had a nice chat with us.

It’s a day that we will never forget!

Since appearing in the Den, the phone and email enquiries have exploded. We have received multiple calls from various distributors, worldwide. We are talking to a large distributor, based in Dubai, who approached us after seeing the show.

This is with regards to supplying Syncbox to three brand new Trump Hotels in India and one in Dubai! We have received so many kind words and congratulation messages!

Our plans now are to grow the Syncbox product range. This includes a dry wall version (for plaster board walls) and high end metal cover plates for the multimillion pound complexes. It is our intention to grow the business to a £5m turnover in three years, by gaining a large presence in the US as well as EMEA. We also have other product solution ideas, which we would like to take to market.

So, watch this space… www.sync-box.com

@_syncbox

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FROM

DEPENDENT TO

INDEPENDENT David Taylor, Director of Dorset-based installer company, Automated AV, talks us through his latest assisted living project, and explains how technology helped to give their client his independence back.

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ur client is heavily disabled, with no use from his neck down, after serving in the armed forces. When we met with the client, his main requirement for us was to provide him with a smart home system that would give him some independence around the home.

He didn’t want a house full of black boxes, or for the home to look like it had been set up for his disability.

Following the brief, our aim was to

provide our client with full home automation, including lighting control in all the key rooms, heating control for the whole house, blind control in the lounge, study and bedroom, and full AV control of all the key rooms. We also wanted to try something that would change our client’s lifestyle, so considered unique eye and voice systems to provide him with control over basic functions.

As an authorised dealer of Control4, we decided to specify its control

system for this project. This system looked after the different components within the project and provided the interface for the client to have control via Eyegaze. We used Voice Viper for the voice control, and set some basic phrases for the client to operate the devices within his home, such as ‘TV on’, ‘Lights on’, and ‘Blinds Down’.

Rako is another brand we are associated with, so we used a number of their products throughout the property. We interfaced Rako keypads

CEDIA COMMUNICATES

to allow visitors and carers to have control over the system. Rako wireless lighting provides lighting control, while Rako DMX control offers a relaxing colour changing effect within the master en suite.

The system includes full HD distribution in 4 rooms, with a large 55” screen and full 5.1 surround sound system in the main lounge.

Audio is distributed via Sonos, and the en suite benefits from an Aquavision bathroom TV. Heating control is via Heatmisers NEO system, and Silent Gliss blinds were used for shading in this property.

The end result is a system that can be controlled via the client’s Eyegaze and voice control. It is fully functional and easy to use for visitors and carers. With all equipment hidden, the home doesn’t look any different to any other property.

The client is very happy with the solution that we provided, and loves the way he has regained some independence back.

This is the first assisted living project that we have completed, but we see it playing a big role in the company going forward. Established in October 2013, Automated AV is a family owned business in Dorset, and is run by professionals who have many years of experience in the home automation industry. Automated AV became a CEDIA member in May 2015.

www.automatedav.co.uk @AutomatedAV

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60 SECONDS WITH…

Rayner Sheridan Who are you?

Rayner Sheridan, Director of Marketing for Meridian Audio.

Where is your company based?

Meridian Audio is based in Huntingdon, near Cambridge in the UK, where our manufacturing facility is also situated. In addition, we have sites in New York and Atlanta in the US. How did you get into the industry?

I previously worked in the consumer durables and electronics sectors, but my passion for music and film led me into this industry and to Meridian.

Which custom installation technology do you consider the most important today and why?

There are two. Firstly, the User Interface (UI) – it is absolutely key.

There’s no point in having the best technology installed if it’s not intuitive.

If it’s not possible to easily understand how to use the system, then the overall experience is poor.

Secondly, as music formats and distribution have evolved from CD, to download, and now to streaming and lossless audio, one constant has remained and that’s the importance of the loudspeaker. There’s no point in having a visually impressive installation, stuffed with the latest gadgetry, if the audio experience is only ‘good enough’ or worse.

What do you consider your biggest achievement as a CEDIA member?

From the very start, we’ve always been at the forefront of innovation and have pushed the boundaries of what’s possible in high resolution music and video. Our development of active loudspeakers is well documented, but in addition, we’ve had some other notable achievements, including the launch of the Meridian 565, the world’s first Digital Surround Decoder in 1994. In the mid-2000s, we saw the integration of our MLP technology into Dolby True HD and Blu-ray, and in 2014

we launched our Special Edition range of loudspeakers.

What’s the biggest issue for custom installation businesses today and how can they deal with it?

We need to recognise that CI, as an industry and as a vocation, is still relatively young and needs to continue on its path of professionalization. We need to look at other professions, such as architecture and design, and see how they’ve grown and developed. A lot of great work has already been undertaken by CEDIA in terms of education and personal development to support this, but we mustn’t be complacent.

If you could change one thing in the industry what would it be?

A better representation of women.

What’s your favourite album?

Far too many to mention and it really depends upon my mood. AC/DC, Led Zeppelin and The Who are perennial favourites, but really, anything from techno through to country. Thanks to my daughter, I’m also very familiar with the soundtrack from Frozen.

If you weren’t in the custom installation sector, what would you like to be doing and why?

That’s a difficult one as I absolutely love my job and can’t imagine doing anything else. It would have to be something to do with music and technology, ideally with a Dodge Viper as a company car.

What’s the best product that Meridian has launched into the CI market in the last year?

Our DSP320 loudspeaker launched earlier this year. I am still blown away that a loudspeaker of that size (300mm square) is capable of producing such an amazing sound. Individually or as part of a larger system, the performance is stunning and it’s a real testament to the skill of our teams here at Meridian.

The fact that these, like all of our

“

There’s no point in having the best technology installed if it’s not intuitive

“

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other products, are designed and manufactured here in the UK makes me incredibly proud.

What’s the next focus for Meridian?

We are very serious about sound quality, it’s in our DNA, and we have a roadmap to evolve our Sooloos audio platform rapidly in a number of directions over the next 12 months.

As well as a number of other product launches planned for the next 12-18 months, the most important focus for Meridian is the continued development of our Design and Specification Service. This dedicated team provides accurate and customised audio visual system designs for our Trade Partners, including two-channel, multi-channel and multi-room system designs for the home or marine environment. www.meridian-audio.com @MeridianAudio

CEDIA COMMUNICATES

TRAINING & EVENTS CALENDAR Sept 2

8-10

11

14

Introduction to Smart Home Wiring

Technician EST1 Bootcamp

Rack Building & Wiring Fundamentals

Connect with CEDIA

CEDIA HQ, St. Neots

CEDIA HQ, St. Neots

CEDIA HQ, St. Neots

New Delhi, India

14-18

15

16

21-25

24

India Training Event

Introduction to Lighting Fundamentals

Residential Lighting Control

Technical School and EST2 Exam

RIBA Roadshow

New Delhi, India

Epsom, Surrey

Epsom, Surrey

CEDIA HQ, St. Neots

Manchester

25-27

29

30

Homebuilding & Renovating Show

CEDIA Outreach Intructor

CEDIA Tech Forum

ExCeL, London

CEDIA HQ, St. Neots

Manchester

Oct 5-7 6-11

8-11

14-17

Networking School

UK Construction Week

Grand Designs Live

CEDIA EXPO 2015

CEDIA HQ, St. Neots

NEC, Birmingham

NEC, Birmingham

Dallas, USA

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20

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22

Essential Install Live!

North

CEDIA Certified Presenter

Introduction to CAD Design

Introduction to Smart Home Wiring

EventCity, Manchester

CEDIA HQ, St. Neots

CEDIA HQ, St. Neots

CEDIA HQ, St. Neots

28-30

29

Integrated Systems Russia 2015

RIBA Roadshow

Moscow, Russia

Edinburgh, Scotland

Nov 3-4

4-6

Home Cinema Design Package

Lighting Design Package

Epsom, Surrey

CEDIA HQ, St. Neots

Book training at www.cediaeducation.com/courses

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CEDIA COMMUNICATES

POSITIVE ENERGY Barrie McCorkle, a US-based consumer electronics industry veteran explains how having positive energy can help your business boom.

When someone asks you what is trending in our industry, what is your response? Typically, you would tell them about that new widget you saw or new technology that was just released.

Although both are correct responses, I would like to touch on something a bit different. The big topic right now is that you have made it as far as you have.

all had back in 2007. This is all negative energy that drags us down and also keeps us living in the past.

It’s time to look forward and start using some of that positive energy. Forget about what made your business boom the first time and concentrate on what will make it boom now. The good news is you are here now! You have made it through the rough patch and it’s time to find your calling again. I’ve got news for you, it will be different than before and it will also be better than ever before.

your business and look at it from the outside in. Really take a good look and analyze what you like, what you don’t and what your ultimate vision would look like. After that, use your drive and passion that built your business and move forward without looking back.

Recently, I had a friend at a trade show ask me how I was doing. A simple question that we all get on a daily basis.

It’s a fact that this question makes a liar out most of us by the generic answer we always use… “good”. I always answer this question honestly and 99% of the time the answer is “awesome”.

After answering this way, she looked at me with a huge smile and said “thanks, I needed that” and continued with “how is it that you are always able to remain so positive?” My answer was simple. I strive to make every day my best. I’m going to live life to its fullest, I will not settle for mediocrity and I will not let others drag me down. If something bad happens during the day, you work through it. And if at the end of the day you feel exhausted and think you’ve had a bad day, guess what, you get to reset. The moment you lay your head on that pillow should be a reset. When you wake up the next morning, it should be the best day of your life again.

You didn’t build your business from rainbows and butterflies

As someone who has been in the industry for over 25 years, I’ve seen my fair share of ups and downs, exciting new products, cutting edge ideas that never made it and brands leap frogging for top position. If there is one thing I have learned it is that not only is change constant, but it happens quicker than most of us like sometimes.

I would like to discuss energy. Not power from your wall, but positive and negative energy and how it affects your attitude, and ultimately, your business success. For too many years, there has been a stigma about where we are now after the recession, complaints about commoditisation and a constant search to get back to the blissful margins we

I believe what you put in comes back to you in spades. It’s not a one-time deal though, you need to be consistent about it. Just like customer service, you have to provide consistent high quality customer service, all the time, no questions.

To implement positive change, first you have to commit to taking new risks and the possible failure that comes with that.

I also want to stress that failure is not a negative word. You cannot succeed until you fail. You didn’t build your business from rainbows and butterflies, you’re not going to make it successful once again by calmly watching the world change around you and being reactive. Be proactive, think about what you want on a day to day basis, remove yourself from

Every day you wake up is a good day.

Every moment you get to spend with your family should be treasured. Love your life, and if you don’t, change it so you do. Same thing goes for your business.

FOLLOW BARRIE : @barriemccorkle “Reprinted with permission from Technology Integrator”

CEDIA COMMUNICATES

Education is at the forefront of CEDIA’s ethos. The Association aims to provide training to the industry, to ensure home technology professionals can learn, master and grow.

EDUCATION AT YOUR

FINGERTIPS

CEDIA continues to host a vast array of training courses at events around the world. These sessions are well attended, and cover the latest technological advances, to allow installers to complete projects to a high standard.

While face-to-face training remains extremely important in the industry, online training is useful to those who find it difficult to take a full day out of work. It is for this reason, that CEDIA introduced an online training portal. Both members and nonmembers can access the portal

by visiting the CEDIA education website and registering their details. Once registered, the content remains accessible for up to 90 days.

The online training portal offers 24 hours, 7 days a week access.

IN TOTAL, WE NOW OFFER OVER 100 ONLINE RESOURCES Luke Amos, CEDIA’s Director of Online Learning explains the online portal in more detail.

“CEDIA’s online training may be one of the lesser known offerings at CEDIA. However, the industry is becoming more aware of the service, and last year, we had 3,000 registrations.

Our previous self-paced training offering was very limited, and static in nature. Over the last few years, we’ve converted more than 35 instructor-led courses into self-paced sessions. In addition to expanding our offerings, we’ve made the training more mobile friendly, and have introduced interactive elements that cater to the learner. These include scenario-based activities that test the learners’ comprehension throughout the course. Lessons are short, free to member sessions that quickly cover a topic of interest. Webinars have also been a staple that we continue to offer.

In total, we now offer over 100 online resources.

“Future plans involve expanding the courses further, and creating packages for specific training needs. Our goal is to provide access to everyone in the industry.”

In April, CEDIA EMEA launched a six month offer which allows installers to redeem one education voucher against two online courses, until 1st October, 2015.

Got a voucher to use against online training?

Please email Aneta alevin@cedia.co.uk For a full list of courses, visit www.cediaeducation.com/resources

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Grassroots Social Media Heather L. Sidorowicz President of US integration firm Southtown Audio Audio provides hints and tips on how to get involved in social media.

Why put forth any social media effort?

The world is changing; in fact, over 50% of the world’s population is under 30 years old, according to Socialnomics.com. Of Millennials, 96 percent have joined a social media platform. This is how they find places to shop, eat, and explore. Not being on social media is the equivalent of having a retail showroom without a sign. You would not have dreamed of starting a company 20 years ago without first having a phone line, right? Social media is today’s connection to the world and consumers around you.

Marketing is no longer about the stuff that you make, but about the stories you tell Seth Godin

The age of social media has changed the way we play the game. It took radio 34 years to reach 50 million users. TV took 13 years, the Internet took 4 years, the iPod 3 years and then along came Facebook who added 200 million users in less than a year (Socialnomics.com)!

CREATE AN ALTER EGO Like Clark Kent and Superman, you too can have another persona. Before you jump onto one of the sites below, think about who your audience is and who is speaking to them. If you are to open a Twitter account as your company, what would the personality be? Hint: The more human, the better.

INTERACT You can post on Twitter daily and have no followers; same is true for other social sites. Interact, follow, retweet, comment and share to grow your networks. If you just installed a beautiful system using Paradigm speakers, tag Paradigm, and maybe they will share it on their pages, and this will help you grow.

BE HUMAN

Today in the US, Facebook tops Google for the most weekly traffic and in the UK, 50% of mobile internet traffic is from Facebook.

Their fastest-growing segment this year is 55-65-year-olds.

There is nothing more boring than following a company page to have them share stark facts and statistics. Post ‘did you knows,’ and photos of the team being, well, human. It creates a connection with the company (you in essence) and that connection is what will have them calling when they are ready to buy. You are their friend in the business. Your company should take over that persona without forgetting to be human.

Now that I’ve got you convinced, where do you begin?

REMEMBER ORGANIC GROWTH ONLY GOES SO FAR Once upon a time I started a Facebook page about my village encouraging people to shop local and sharing all the great events that happen here. That page has now grown to over 7,500 without ever spending any funds. However, recently Facebook made changes to their platform dropping organic reach down to 2 percent for most pages, according to Ogilvy Social. If you want to break into the largest platform, you will have to put forth some capital. Otherwise, concentrate on the other networks.

One thing is for sure; social media is not going away anytime soon. You need to be where you customers are, and that is on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google + and LinkedIn.

Now get out there and get social.

FOLLOW HEATHER : @Tech_Chi

CEDIA COMMUNICATES

YOUR GUIDE TO

CEDIA EXPO 2015 DALLAS, 14-17 OCTOBER

With only a few weeks to go until CEDIA EXPO 2015, here’s a look at what you can expect to see if you are heading Stateside.

This year’s CEDIA EXPO will be home to over 470 exhibitors. With the 2014 show attracting around 18,500 visitors, CEDIA is predicting the same this year, as visitors continue to flock to the show each year. Besides the show floor product launches, there are a number of other features and opportunities to take advantage of.

KEYNOTE Famed Practical Futurist®, awardwinning investigative journalist and world-renowned speaker, Michael Rogers will be delivering the Opening Keynote. Michael Rogers is an author, futurist and technology pioneer who recently completed two years as futurist-in-residence for The New York Times. He is a columnist for MSNBC.com and his consultancy, Practical Futurist, helps businesses and organisations to think about the future.

Rogers will deliver an entertaining and common-sense vision of change that taps into technology, economics, demographics, culture and human nature.

TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION

HIGH PERFORMANCE AUDIO ROOMS

As always, training will play a big role in the show. This year, the sessions will be focussed around Business Growth, Emerging Trends, Forging Alliances, Operational Excellence, Technical Excellence and Certification.

Step away from the hype on the show floor and head to the High Performance Audio rooms in the Omni on the second level to experience the latest audio product releases. Away from the noise of the show floor, visitors can judge for themselves the sound quality of these products and speak one-on-one with brand representatives.

A number of leading manufacturers will also be hosting product specific training sessions throughout the show.

For more details on training visit www.expo.cedia.net

Participants: • Millson Custom Solutions • Pioneer Home Entertainment U.S.A.

INNOVATION ALLEY For those visitors who will be looking for new manufacturers breaking into the industry, head to the Innovation Alley on the show floor and discover the companies and products that are bringing fresh innovation into the market.

• Steinway Lyngdorf

TWO-CHANNEL EXPERIENCE

• Cairnstack Software LLC

In the past, visitors have expressed the need for more two-channel representation at the show. CEDIA listened to the request and is introducing the inaugural Two-Channel Experience this year.

• Custom Integration Solutions

Participants:

• DLS Audio US

• Amphion Loudspeakers

• Electrocompaniet Distribution Inc.

• Audimute Soundproofing

• Eleetus

• Earbyte Inc dba Antelope Audio

• emberlight

• MBL North America, Inc.

Participants:

• Holosonics

Rogers’ keynote will help visitors understand central trends, their impact on the rapidly shifting residential integration landscape, and how to capitalise on these trends in order to improve long-term profitability.

• Lime Technology, Inc.

The Opening Keynote will take place on Wednesday, 14 October at 5:30 p.m. in the Forks Ballroom of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.

• SYMPL, Inc

• Mantel Mount • Simpfony LLC • Soen Audio • Switchmate Inc.

Registration for CEDIA EXPO is now open.

Visit www.expo.cedia.net to register.

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Grant Clauser, USbased technology writer explores the importance of dedicated interfaces in home automation systems

take

CONTROL Mobile apps are great supplements, but they don’t replace the real thing.

Even as the DIY smart home market extols the virtues of using apps to control everything from lights to thermostats, experienced professionals know that a dedicated interface, including touchpanels, keypads and handheld remotes, are a necessity in every home system, even in every room. iPads and their ilk, when loaded with a well-designed control app, can be excellent devices for certain types of control in certain situations. Homeowners love to use them, and installers know that showing a client how easily they can control a system through an app often is the tipping point that ends in a sale.

In addition, compared to dedicated touchpanels, tablets and smart phones, they are inexpensive. Every reputable home automation company has apps for their systems, and nearly every homeowner has several tablets or smart phones already.

It would seem like a match made in heaven.

For a home cinema system, a dedicated remote is a must-have

CEDIA COMMUNICATES

In many ways it is, but now that the app has become the de facto control interface in the industry, it’s time to consider where tablets and apps fall short.

“They can do anything,” says The Source Home Theater founder and CEO Todd Anthony Puma about iPads. However, in addition to iPads, Puma emphasises that each project should include dedicated touchpanels, remotes and in-wall keypads.

One of the key benefits of a comprehensive home automation system is its ability to integrate many tasks into fast and simple processes. While convenient for some things, smart tablets can actually hinder that main benefit. “Just to get an iPad to wake up takes a couple of steps,” says Puma.

The main feature that mobile devices have over dedicated interfaces is, of course, that they’re mobile. You can take your phone and tablet with you wherever you go, and in effect take your home automation system with you. If a client needs to access their system when they’re away from home, a smart phone or tablet is the perfect solution for checking lights, temperature or security status. In the house, the mobile device can run into problems.

Aside from the fact that controlling anything from a smart phone requires multiple steps before you even get to the control app, mobile devices can suffer from connection issues.

“When you’re roaming in a home, access point hand-offs can lock it up,” says Puma. When you want to turn down the audio system or activate a lighting scene, you don’t want to wait for your tablet to grab onto the Wi-Fi network. You want it to work immediately.

Another problem with mobile devices is that they’re multifunction devices. An iPad’s ability to check emails, play streaming videos and display ebooks is why they’re so popular, but that’s not always a good thing for home automation. Any iPad user knows that when you load it up with apps, after a

while, performance starts to degrade. An installer can advise the client not to do that, but human nature often prevails.

“When we do sell iPads [for a control system] we tell the client not to use it as an iPad. They never listen, they download apps, and the iPad slows down,” says Puma.

Puma says that often new clients will say they want only iPads for their control system, “but they always call us back to add touchpanels and keypads”.

Tablets and smart phones have also become popular for home cinema or media room control. A well-designed app can make turning on a complex system easy, and can be great for navigating a large media library. They’re not so great for common tasks, such as adjusting the volume or changing a channel. For a home cinema system, a dedicated remote is a must-have. Remotes allow instant and easy control of a system with one hand. “You’re never in a comfortable position when you’re using an iPad or iPhone,” says Puma. A tablet turns the simple task of pausing a movie into a two-handed, multi-step process.

With dedicated interfaces, especially installed touchpanels or keypads, the controls are always in the same location, are always reliably connected and require the least steps to operate. Dedicated interfaces should be installed at several key areas of the home, including the main entry way, the kitchen, the main living area and the master bedroom. Apps on mobile devices can be wonderful supplementary tools.

Explaining to new clients the benefits of dedicated controls over mobile apps can be a challenge. Puma uses a demonstration kit and shows the potential user how many steps it takes to perform a task with an app vs the instant results with a touchpanel or remote. That’s a powerful demo that works every time.

FOLLOW GRANT: @geclauser

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CEDIA COMMUNICATES

Lucie Davis, Will Writer at RIFT Wills asks the question...

Where would your business be without you?

Think about your business assets for a minute and what do you come up with?

Tools and equipment? Premises and vehicles? Your staff, their knowledge and experience? What about you? Yes, you – the person who’s spent many long days (and nights) building your own business, possibly from scratch. You’ll have taken steps to protect your business from the loss of essential assets, but what about yourself? What would happen to your business if something should happen to you?

T

he single most important thing you can do to protect your business is to make a Will. If you’ve already got one, be aware that it also covers business assets that are in your name, even if you haven’t specifically mentioned them. If you haven’t got a valid Will when you die, the law of intestacy comes into play, and doesn’t always work as you would expect (but that’s a different article).

and staff to consider. Not making a Will means leaving everything up in the air – who takes charge? Who handles the finances? Any uncertainty could leave the future of your business in jeopardy.

The two main reasons people put off making a Will – time and money.

Your business growth so far has probably been guided by a business plan (or at least a plan in your mind).

Think about your Will as the logical extension to this. Estate planning offers ongoing structure for your business partners, if you have them, and security for your family, especially at a difficult time. It’s your ‘personal business plan’, designed to take care of the bigger picture. But unlike the business plan in your mind, it does need to be written down.

I know from working with many business owners that there are two main reasons people put off making a Will – time and money.

In terms of money, not making a Will can create untold problems, which then gets expensive. This is especially true if you have a business partner, contracts, customers

If it’s not money, it’s finding the time.

You could make a Will online in your downtime, but it doesn’t give you the chance to talk through your situation with someone who knows how it works. So could you trust an online Will to hold up when the time comes?

Is it worth risking everything you’ve worked hard for?

At RIFT Wills, we take a flexible approach to making a Will – you can talk to us in the evening or at the weekend, by phone or by email. All our Willwriters are members of the Institute of Professional Willwriters, so you can be sure of our high standards. If you already have a Will in place, we’d be happy to check it to make sure it still meets your needs – all it takes is a phone call.

Visit www.riftwills.com or call +44 (0)1233 653983 for more information.

CEDIA COMMUNICATES

GET TO KNOW

THE CEDIA TEAM Alexandra Brownhill

WHAT IS YOUR ROLE AT CEDIA? Membership Development Officer.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING AT CEDIA? One and a half years.

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT WORKING AT CEDIA? Being part of a growing community and being able to spend time building relationships with our members throughout the world.

WHAT COUNTRY HAVE YOU SEEN THE BIGGEST MEMBERSHIP GROWTH SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN IN YOUR CURRENT ROLE? The biggest growth area has been India.

WHAT’S WAS YOUR OBJECTIVE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR? My objective was to continue to build on a successful acquisition and retention programme. I have ensured that this has happened by regular communication with our current members, adding to the member offering and being a one stop shop for all enquiries related to CEDIA membership.

WHAT’S YOUR GOAL FOR THE END OF THE YEAR? I would love for us to reach 700 members by the end of this year.

WHY SHOULD NON-MEMBERS CONTACT YOU ABOUT BECOMING A MEMBER? Non-members should get in touch as no matter where they are based in the world, CEDIA offers an opportunity to be a part of a growing Association that is striving to educate and add value to businesses throughout the EMEA region.

WHAT’S A NORMAL WORKING DAY LIKE? There really isn’t a normal working day at CEDIA HQ. Every business is treated as an individual and they all have specific needs that are particular to their businesses and possibly their culture, so no one day is ever the same!

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT THIS INDUSTRY? I personally enjoy hearing about how technology has really helped people in their day to day lives, particularly when it is helping people with disabilities or the elderly, that’s when you really see that technology can change lives for the better. I have also found that this industry seems to be full of genuinely nice people and that makes my job much easier.

Time to delve a bit deeper…

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB? My first job was working for a computer company as a Marketing Assistant. It was a great first job as I was given advanced training in Microsoft Office and was the job that made me realise that I love to talk.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE QUOTE OR MOTTO? A rolling stone gathers no moss.

WHAT’S THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN? If you are lost, stay where you are.

NAME ONE PERSON YOU’D LIKE TO HAVE DINNER WITH (AND WHY)?

I would love to have dinner with Bob Marley, he’s always been a major idol of mine and I have loved his music since I was knee high to a grasshopper.

FOLLOW ALEX @CEDIAAlex OR EMAIL ABrownhill@cedia.co.uk

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SCREEN TEST THE DISPLAY MARKET IS PACKED FULL OF TV AND PROJECTOR SCREENS - CURVED, OLED, 4K AND UHD TO NAME A FEW. HERE, CEDIA FOCUSSES ON FIVE OF THE BEST PRODUCT LAUNCHES. AQUAVISION Originator of the world’s first waterproof TV, Aquavision has developed an in-wall 4K UHD version, thereby bringing the ultimate viewing experience to every room in the house.

Aimed at the luxury market, the 4K Elite range includes 42”, 55” and 65” sizes. All models are waterproof to IP65, featuring heated (anti-mist) screens and are available with waterproof remote controls. A wide selection of inputs, television tuner standards and RS232/Discreet IR Control ensure compatibility with any installation.

Available either in Black or unique MirrorVision+ glass to allow the television screen to be concealed behind a mirror, Elite’s unparalleled viewing angles and sleek aesthetics make it the perfect choice not just for bathrooms, kitchens and spas, but also for bedrooms, living areas and media rooms.

Offered in bespoke size, finish and frame options, all models are covered by a standard 2 year in-situ warranty, extendable to 5 years via Aquavision’s in-house UK technical support team. www.aquavision.tv

DRAPER TecVision projector screens, available through Draper, are individually formulated and programmed, and manufactured with multiple checks for quality, consistency and uniformity from start to finish. With the introduction of TecVision Engineered Screen Technology, Draper has several solutions for ambient light, depending on the installation situation.

TecVision XH700X Grey provides optimal uniformity and high contrast in moderate ambient light. XH700X Grey works great on curved screens, and has a 180 degree viewing cone. XH900X Grey is best for moderate to high ambient light and also features uniform performance through a 180 degree viewing cone. MS1000X Grey is best for moderate ambient light, providing superior contrast and a uniform image across a 70 degree viewing cone.

Like all other TecVision products, these grey surfaces are certified by the Imaging Science Foundation for colour accuracy, and are 4K ready. www.draperinc.com

CEDIA COMMUNICATES

LOEWE

(AVAILABLE THROUGH AWE) Loewe has launched a new Reference 4K UHD screen, and it is available exclusively through AWE. This new screen combines stylish design with optimum viewing experience. The 4K Ultra HD display includes an integrated multichannel audio decoder. Impressive surround sound is courtesy of a single built-in sound bar, with eight internal speakers driven by 120 watts of amplification. The Bluetooth function allows customers to stream their music from their smartphone. Taking this a step further, Loewe has confirmed that it will soon be possible to upgrade the TV to connect to wireless headphones.

A highly advanced contrast glass filter has been placed in front of the screen to enhance the viewing experience by increasing contrast and minimising reflections. Loewe’s sophisticated Image+ processing delivers a picture that is vibrant and detailed, yet natural and cinematic. Up-to-the-minute interfaces including HDMI 2.0 with HDCP 2.2 and HEVC make the most of ultra-high-resolution content from external sources, while Loewe’s advanced super-scaling technology provides a significantly enhanced viewing experience with SD and HD content. www.awe-europe.com

SÉURA

(AVAILABLE THROUGH REDLINE) Séura has unveiled a new range of “Storm” outdoor TV’s, available in 42”, 55” and 65” sizes.

The new Storm screens feature sleek and slim weatherproof cabinets, with seamless glass faces, discreetly bevelled edges and subtle aluminium mitred frames. At just 75mm deep, the new Storm range is more than 30% shallower than its competitors.

The Séura “Storm” has been designed for shaded locations.

With 450-Nit brightness and anti-glare safety glass, it is ideal for a wide variety of outdoor and indoor viewing applications.

The range topping 65” Storm also features UHD 4K. Connectivity is comprehensive with three HDMI inputs, RS232 via RJ45, USB, 5V and 12V DC outputs, optical and coax audio out and built-in 10W speakers. The range is IP66 rated and features Séura’s Triple Lock Seal system, providing unrivalled protection from the elements. The Storm can be left outside in all conditions 365 days a year. www.red-line.co.uk

STEWART FILMSCREEN (AVAILABLE THROUGH INVISION UK)

Developed to meet the demands of the most sophisticated architectural applications, the Stewart Filmscreen LuminEsse fixed frame front projection screen systems come standard with a 3/8” sleek, thin bevelled frame. The high-performance Stewart Filmscreen front projection material is laminated to a rigid surface, allowing for a super-thin frame while still ensuring the screen remains flat.

An optional LED light kit can be added to provide bias or mood lighting, while still rendering an elegant, minimalist aesthetic.

Designed with a nearly flat bezel, LuminEsse pairs exceptionally well with Ultra Short Throw projectors where traditional frames can interfere with the acutely angled light path causing a shadow on the viewing surface. Whether chosen for a residential home theatre, a conference room, classroom or other commercial application, LuminEsse fits the bill. www.invisionUK.com

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AR OUN D T HE WOR L D

L O P

D N A

FIRST STOP

POLAND

In the first of a series of ‘Around the World’ features for Communicates, CEDIA delves further into the Polish market, and looks at what benefits the Association is offering Poland-based companies.

F

orecasts show that the Polish construction sector is thriving, with an expected growth of 6.8% in 2015.

One of the drivers for this is residential construction. As we all know, these days, new properties require a certain level of infrastructure to be installed, to allow for smart home technology – something which consumers now expect.

What this means is that Polish home

technology professionals should be seeing an increase in business in the not so distant future. With this in mind, installers should be using this time to get up to speed on training, read up on new developments in the industry, and position their companies so that when the jobs come in, they are primed to take them on.

CEDIA membership now includes 14 companies in Poland. This figure has doubled in the past two years,

CEDIA COMMUNICATES

highlighting that home technology professionals and trade suppliers can see the benefit of being part of the Association.

Here, CEDIA provides a round up on the most recent activities and initiatives in the country.

Training and Networking

Last year, CEDIA attended several exhibitions in Poland, including the AV & Home Cinema Show, which was held in parallel with Smart House 2014, and the Integrated Multimedia Systems event.

Both events provided CEDIA with a platform to network with Polish installers, and to host two training sessions.

In May 2015, CEDIA returned to Poland to host a CEDIA Outreach Instructor workshop. This session provided CEDIA members with the information to teach them the basic skills necessary to deliver an effective CPD presentation to design professionals.

Resources

CEDIA provides the industry with a number of resources. The CEDIA Smart Home Recommended Wiring Guidelines document, which has been translated into Polish, allows installers to understand the correct cabling infrastructure necessary to support the technology typically required for the modern home.

This publication is free of charge and provides a useful and practical step-by-step guide. It identifies the key

requirements for an installation and defines three grades of recommended cabling infrastructure.

CEDIA is currently working on translating its CPD course into Polish, to allow the industry to reach out to architects and interior designers.

This Accredited CPD (Continuing Professional Development) will help design professionals understand the basics, so that they can talk intelligently with the client and the other members of the design team. It will highlight what is possible, describe some alternatives and explain how to incorporate the various systems without detracting from the design. As home technology professionals continue to work closer with design professionals, it is important to provide this audience with the understanding of home technology.

Dawid Hulisz of FDtech comments: “We joined CEDIA early last year as it’s the most important organisation in the smart homes industry and being a part of it, confirms that our company offers high quality services. CEDIA’s training and resources are a great asset to us.

“We are experienced professionals, so at first, we did not expect the training to be particularly useful. As it turned out, we were wrong. The training sessions provide us with a great deal of practical knowledge, most of which can benefit any installer, regardless of their experience. The courses we have attended have provided us with extremely valuable tips, which we

currently use with a great success. We would encourage every company in the smart homes industry to join CEDIA. The support and expertise offered by CEDIA are extremely valuable, and can significantly raise the prestige of the company and the skills of its employees.”

Success

At the CEDIA Awards 2015, Krakowbased installer, Art Cinema I 3Logic walked away triumphant as it was awarded Best Home Cinema £40,000 - £100,000 (€56,000 – €140,000). The installer provided a solution that was nothing less than flawless in terms of acoustic, sound and picture. Art Cinema I 3Logic is the first ever CEDIA Awards winner in Poland, and hopefully one of many more to come.

Following the win, Patryk Gut from Art Cinema | 3Logic commented: “CEDIA as an organisation is setting standards of professionalism in the custom installation market. As a member since 2004, we implement those standards in the Polish market. The award for Best Home Cinema which we received this year, is confirmation that the highest level of professionalism is really appreciated.

We are pleased that we met the requirements of an extremely demanding customer, and the fact that we received a CEDIA Award, proves that we did it in the best possible way.

Moreover, we are glad that every year the CEDIA Awards are coming more international. This type of competition is great for the whole industry.”

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A Coordinated Approach to

Successful Integration

David Myres Associate Director of ADAM Architecture and CEDIA Awards judge explains the importance of consultants working together on residential projects

CEDIA COMMUNICATES

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was lucky enough to be asked to be a CEDIA Awards judge this year.

One of the privileges of being on the panel was the opportunity to see a wide range of projects which neatly combined great interior design with smart home technology.

Whilst most of the discussion surrounding the judging was focussed on the technical aspect, I was very interested in seeing how successfully the design of such installations had been organised. After all, at the heart of every great project are the three c’s communication, collaboration and coordination.

Almost invariably, the most successful projects combined the technical and installation expertise of a home technology professional, with the design knowledge and implementation of other consultants, including an interior designer, architect and/or lighting designer.

We always recommend that our clients appoint all consultants as early in a project as is possible, as we all need to work together in the beginning stages. This will allow the team to anticipate key decisions which, if not allowed for, might result in expensive unpicking of either design or building work.

Of course, we don’t mean that from the outset of a project we need to know what particular tap is going to be specified, or carpet material will be chosen. We are talking about the factors which impact on the overall design.

Much of the work that ADAM Architecture undertakes is the high end residential properties.

Our clients come to us because we design traditional, classical and vernacular buildings. However, this style doesn’t mean that the client doesn’t want 21st century technology integrated into the home. To achieve this, and to not disrupt from the design and style of the property, the cabling for the technology needs to be in place at the beginning stage of the project.

For projects to be successful, careful consideration has to be given to the planning, design and coordination between all those involved in the design and AV installation. It is important to have one party responsible for the coordination of all the information, which should include a set of detailed drawings to show every element of the

designs and how they all fit together. This is usually the role of an architect or a good interior designer.

We generally recommend that every room is drawn up by us, at a scale that includes all the visible elements of the room. We then incorporate other consultants’ information into these drawings.

The client, in particular, will then be able to see what a room will look like in every detail and will also see what the impact of the less sexy things (depending on your point of view) like power points, data points and speakers is likely to be.

This provides the client with the reassurance that everything will fit, and work together.

The drawings provide the consultants with the opportunity to review the effect of their design in relation to others. Such highly detailed drawings are also vital to the quantity surveyor in compiling and developing cost plans and budget estimates which are fed back to the client for their review and approval.

Above all, these coordinated drawings, once approved by the client, are the instructions that we issue to the contractor to enable them to build the house or interior. If they feel that the drawings are as complete as is reasonably possible, and coordinated proficiently, then they will have confidence and reassurance that they can proceed with their work in the most efficient and cost effective manner. Making such a package relies on clear decision making, detailed coordination of all the information from the consultant team and a responsive and experienced contractor who appreciates the level of work that goes into such a project in advance of implementation.

We think that this type of approach is more likely to lead to a higher quality of project. If I am lucky enough to return to the CEDIA Awards judging panel next year, I hope to see evidence of communication, collaboration and coordination between architects, designers and home technology professionals.

Photo credit: CEDIA Awards 2015 entrant, BNC Technology, South Africa

At the heart of every great project are the three c’s communication, collaboration and coordination.

www.adamarchitecture.com FOLLOW DAVID: @ADAMArchLondon

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Research. But up until now, it has been less than impressive. The 3D spatial and video resolutions, the latency and frame rates haven’t been great and neither has the content. But Oculus and others developing product in this arena, including Google and Sony, are going to change our perception of VR and will revolutionise the way people experience interactive content.

AVR FUTURE Peter Aylett CEDIA Instructor and Technical Director at Archimedia explains why Virtual Reality (VR) is shaping up as a home technology game-changer.

A profound revolution is coming our way in home entertainment.

phone’s camera to present “reality” then overlay data and other images.

A very significant personal virtual reality product is going to be released in all likelihood at the start of 2016 – the Oculus Rift.

In contrast, Virtual Reality (VR) is completely simulated. There is no view into the real world when you are immersed in virtual reality. This requires a head-mounted display, often with 3D optics, to immerse the viewer in a computer-generated world.

Oculus Rift is a ground-breaking virtual reality headset for immersive gaming, supported by the top video game companies, including Valve, Epic Games and Unity. Oculus, the parent company behind the product, is now owned by Facebook, which in itself is telling us something significant.

First up, let me just clarify the difference between augmented and virtual reality.

Augmented Reality (AR) is a mediated reality, in which your natural view and perception of reality is enhanced and modified by electronic visual overlays.

In an AR environment, you still see what is around you but electronic images float into and on top of your field of view. For example, many smart phone apps use the

VR has been evolving since 1985 when Jaron Lanier founded VPL

The future of VR is not going to be restricted to gaming either. Technology wise the audio and video elements will work together so that as you move your head around, yes you’re seeing different things, but you’re also hearing different things. From an acoustics point of view, the VR headset will be able to figure out where you are in the space and change what you’re hearing which is very cool.

It’s a short step from here to cinematic virtual reality. The concept here is that when you’re immersed in a movie then you really are immersed in that film. For example, on a movie battlefield you’ll be able to turn around and as you turn your head, see action all around you. It will be a completely different way to make and enjoy films and it is going to have a huge impact on our industry.

Just like 3D, cinematic VR will not be suitable for every single bit of content.

But as an industry, our customers will be expecting us to provide the latest, immersive entertainment systems. So, we have to be on top of it and we have to be aware of it.

Beyond this step, shared VR is a likely progression. Many people connected into the same experience. So, in the movie battlefield scene, you’re there with the rest of the family, standing next to you. Reaching this point will just be a matter of processing power. In the home, our industry will be challenged to build these VR rooms that can be shared by several users. These first VR rooms will be extremely difficult to design and install, and therein lies the huge opportunity for trained CEDIA professionals.

The next ten years will bring more practical implementations of that special room in the home where education, training, health consulting, business meetings and multi-player gaming can all take place.

Virtual reality is going to change our world. Be ready for it.

FOLLOW PETER @getmoregadgets

CEDIA COMMUNICATES

CREDIT WHERE

CREDIT IS DUE

CEDIA has developed a relationship with the CPA (Credit Protection Association) to provide assistance to its members to allow them to recover debt. Members can also benefit from 24/7 legal advice for their businesses.

A snapshot of the services on offer to CEDIA members:

WHAT THE CPA CAN DO FOR YOU The CPA will help CEDIA members with accounts that have become due for payment. By simply inputting customer’s (debtor’s) details, the CPA will then contact the customer on the CEDIA member’s behalf, with a personalised correspondence, reminding them of their payment obligation.

The CPA will subtly request debtors to pay the CEDIA member direct, thus minimising delay and consolidating the all-important relationship between them and their customers. CPA clients usually receive an immediate response or payment following the instruction.

GUARANTEED RESULTS CPA clients receive a full written moneyback guarantee, underwriting the cost effectiveness and performance of the ‘DebtRecoveryLINK’ overdue account recovery service.

Thousands of regular users know from past experience, that the CPA drastically cuts laborious internal workload. It also hugely boosts their cash-flow and reduces bad debt write-off to a minimum.

› › › › › › › › › ›

Credit Reports - with monitoring and alerts for all Ltd companies, PLC’s and LLP’s.

Credit Reports - non-corporate businesses within Great Britain.

Overdue Account Recovery – action via ‘Debtlink’ for all UK and overseas debtors. Money recovered goes straight to CEDIA members, with an average of 84% recovered within 18 days of instruction.

Litigation service for few who do not pay on our ‘Debtlink’ service.

No win, no fee, on B2B debts, subject to conditions.

VerifyLink’ – address people service finder throughout UK ‘MarketingLink’ – sales prospects/suppliers source screen search and download of files Companies ‘DefaultersLink’ – privileged access to see when other CPA subscribers have not been paid by specific companies.

Tracing – instructions to field agents to find ‘gone missing’ debtors.

Legal Commercial Advice – telephone helpline open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year for all aspects of commercial law.

Telephone Helpdesk - advice and assistance from CPA to members.

CEDIA has negotiated a special fixed rate for 12 months for all Home Technology Professional companies. For Trade Suppliers members, CEDIA will provide a £200 rebate for each company that joins.

For more information on CPA services visit www.cpa.co.uk or contact abrownhill@cedia.couk for more details on this member benefit.

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SELLING MADE EASIER WITH TECHNOLOGY Richard Kirkham, Director of Avicci Limited discusses a recent smart home project in Nottingham.

“Homes which include a level of technology have a greater chance of selling, compared to those without.”

CEDIA COMMUNICATES

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ecently, a Nottingham-based developer had a dream to build 15 modern, purpose built properties. Like many developers these days, this company is building for the future. With consumers demanding some sort of home technology in their property, the developer for this project decided that with a little ingenuity and thought, he could provide modern day ‘nice to have’ solutions. This is where we came in. Having met with the developer, it quickly became clear that our aim was to ensure the properties would appeal to technology minded buyers.

Further discussions led us to understand that the developer wanted each property to include multi-room audio, multiroom video distribution, Wi-Fi, internet connectivity, integration of garage doors and heating.

The first property in the development was a detached three storey modern townhouse. When we arrived onsite, the cabling had already been installed by a third party. There were bundled cables to various locations, but primarily in each of the four bedrooms, lounge, kitchen and study. Additional data cables were located in the garage, loft space and boiler room.

There was also a rack location, which was neatly, but prominently, located in the lounge.

Our job was simple. Terminate all of the cabling, leave in a completed state, and test accordingly. We consider this testing to be the most essential part of the installation. If it’s not tested to conform to the performance set out by the category of cable installed, then how do you know your hardware will operate efficiently?

The cabling was terminated, tested and labelled ready to be a smart home.

We turned our attention to sound and installed a series of Sonos CONNECT amps and KEF in-ceiling speakers to create a fairly straight forward 6-zone audio system. The lounge area had the addition of a 5.1 surround system, powered by a Yamaha AVR and a Sonos CONNECT to provide the same audio streaming as the rest of the property.

For audio, all zones benefitted from wall-mounted TV’s. Four of which were chosen to use HDBaseT, through an HDanywhere Modular HDMI matrix.

Two Cisco Wi-Fi antennas were installed to provide the property with complete blanket coverage. These deliver simultaneous 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz bandwidth coverage, and enable roaming between the two antennas with ease and no loss of connectivity.

All of the above was integrated using a Control4 HC-800 controller, which gave us the ability to control equipment such as Sonos, Yamaha and HDanywhere Modular via IP. With the HC800 controller featuring on board IR ports, we could control any further equipment using this method, if RS232 or IP control is not available.

This developer is known for building bespoke houses, and playing close attention to every bit of detail. With this in mind, we had to consider every element of the installation, as we wanted to ensure we impressed the developer.

We were delighted at the end of the project, as our client loved what we had achieved. He also concluded that homes which include a level of technology have a greater chance of selling, compared to those without. Great feedback for us, as well as the industry as a whole.

KIT LIST • Control4 HC800 • 5 x Sonos CONNECT Amp • 1 x Sonos CONNECT • 8 x KEF- Ci130 in-ceiling speakers • 7 x KEF –Ci160 in-ceiling speakers • Yamaha rxv677 AVR • HDanywhere 4x4 modular HDMI matrix • HDanywhere Platina HD cables • Draytek 2860 router • 2 x Cisco 371 Wireless access points • Netgear 24 port POE gigabit ethernet switch

www.avicci.co.uk @Avicci_RK @Avicci_JK @digital_plumber

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