CEDIA Communicates Winter 2016 by CEDIA EMEA

WINTER 2016

COMMUNICATES Looking to the Future Members on show at ISE Security Dark arts or opportunity lost?

COMMUNICATES

ContENTS

4 12 20 24 28 30 36 40

ISE Preview Biggest ever education programme announced

It’s a wrap! AGM rounds off a great year of Tech Forum events

CONNECTED KITCHEN CEDIA award winner talks wi-fi enabled appliances

Assisted living Take advantage of an untapped market

Security Dark arts or opportunity lost?

What Women Want In a traditionally male dominated industry, we speak to influential women

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE We ask CEDIA members for the hot topics of 2016

Putting on a show We visit De Opera Domotica’s demo house

COMMUNICATES

WELCOME

â&#x20AC;Śto the Winter issue of Communicates, your industry resource for the latest news and stories. This issue concludes another busy and successful year for CEDIA. Membership is at an all-time high, with 139 companies joining CEDIA in 2015, taking the total up to 724. We also continue to expand across the EMEA region, and this has been reflected in our new EMEA Board of Directors, with representation from India, Italy, South Africa and the UK. 2015 has seen CEDIA take several big strides. At CEDIA EXPO, we announced a new brand strategy and visual identity, and we are overwhelmed by the praise that we have received for this. Our members have embraced the new look, and have already started updating their websites and signage. We have also achieved recognition from City & Guilds for two of our training pathways, formed a relationship with the British Standard Institution to produce a British Standard PAS for smart home wiring, partnered with Frost & Sullivan for a research project and appointed a marketing agency to drive brand awareness amongst the specifier and consumer markets. As we head into 2016, attention turns to ISE, and with CEDIA announcing its biggest education programme ever, it looks set to be a great show. We look forward to seeing some of our members in Amsterdam.

Wendy Griffiths Executive Director, CEDIA EMEA

Contact

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

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.

COMMUNICATES

NEWS IN BRIEF BOB STUART NAMED AS 2015 CEDIA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENT Bob Stuart, co-founder of Meridian Audio Ltd. and Inventor of MQA, was named as the first European Lifetime Achievement Award recipient at the annual CEDIA Awards Celebration in Dallas. The CEDIA Lifetime Achievement Award recognises an individual who has exhibited outstanding, creative, innovative, and visionary leadership in the growth and advancement of the residential electronic systems industry. Bob Stuart started his career as a consultant for the audio industry. Since those early years, Bob has maintained a unique impact on the custom installation market in two ways, his products and concepts with the Meridian brand, as well as his work establishing new technologies and formats, including the revolutionary new British technology Master Quality Authenticated (MQA). Bob is also actively involved in several organisations that have pushed the performance boundaries of new audio formats that have been pivotal in the industry. When accepting his award, Bob commented: “The sounds of nature, the sounds of wind, the leaves, the running water – these are the sounds that underpin music and human communication and they were here long before mathematics or science. It’s actually something that I think CEDIA should think about - the sound of the natural world. The soundscapes are things that we should be creating in people’s homes, as well as piping AAC around for background noise.” To watch a video CEDIA has put together to commemorate the award, visit the CEDIAHQ channel on YouTube.

KAREN WINS TOP CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD Exeter-based Karen Chugg, Managing Director of Intelligent Abodes, UK, has been chosen as the winner of the 2015 Regional Venus Business Award for ‘Customer Service’. The Venus Awards were formed in 2009 to recognise, reward and celebrate local working women in business. Dubbed the “Working Women’s Oscars” by Channel 4 and now in its third year in Devon, the Venus Awards goes from strength to strength in discovering and recognising the brightest female business stars from the region. Tara Howard, founder of the Venus Awards who opened the evening with a welcome speech said: “The standard was extremely high again this year in Devon. The customer service award is highly contested Karen is a worthy winner.” Karen responded: “I still can’t believe I’ve won this award, it means a huge amount to me. As a CEDIA member, delivering excellent customer service has always been massively important in my work, throughout and after a project - it makes all the difference, especially in an arena that is so very technical and complicated. It’s so rewarding to have that recognised!” Karen now goes through to the National competition for the award category.

IMAGINE IMAGING SCIENCE The Imaging Science Foundation (ISF) has announced that it will be hosting its level 1 and 2 training session at three venues across the EMEA region in 2016. ISF calibrators use test patterns and instrumentation to demonstrate, sell, and maintain video devices. With “High Fidelity Video” demos and periodic calibration services, ISF calibrators are the definable video professionals. The ISF level 1 course covers topics such as global standards, 3D mathematical imaging models, front panel controls, two point colour balance, as well as focussing on the design and calibration of front projection systems with multiple screen technologies. Level 2 provides a hands on approach to ISF software guided solutions for advanced calibration. It also looks at system parameters, including EEDID /HDMI verification, 3D colour management, optimising multiple processing engines and other recent innovations. TRAINING DATES 12th February 2016 – Amsterdam 15th March 2016 – New Delhi 26th July 2016 - London The three day training sessions are open to both CEDIA members and non-members. For more information, visit www.cediaeducation.com/ calendar

COMMUNICATES

JOINING THE CEDIA TEAM

NEW MEMBERS

CEDIA recently welcomed two new members to the team – Jenn McGuire and James Bliss.

Welcome to CEDIA and thanks for joining…

Jenn joins CEDIA as Industry Relations Executive, where her main focus is to develop relationships with professional trade bodies and coordinate CEDIA Outreach Instructor programmes. “I accepted the job with CEDIA, as I saw it as an exciting new opportunity to work in a fast paced industry. I am enjoying meeting our members. Everyone has really strong opinions and I find it fascinating getting to know them, learning more about the companies they represent and where CEDIA fit in to their day to day business. I’m so excited to be part of CEDIA’s future growth.”

ADS AV Solutions, UK

James takes on the role as Brand and Communications Officer and has already begun to get familiar with the industry having attended the CEDIA Tech Forum and AGM in November. “I love the role here at CEDIA. The industry is so dynamic and constantly evolving, and I’m really enjoying the challenge of keeping CEDIA relevant to its members and representing the industry. Now is a really key time in CEDIA’s life cycle as the industry continues to grow, and we have an exciting time ahead of us!”

Anthem AV Solution, UK Audire Technologies, India AV and Custom Integration Ltd, UK Baaroq Designs, India Bespoke Automation, UK Cantex Systems Pvt Ltd, India Cre8tive Rooms Ltd, UK Dextro Solutions LLP, India Domotz Ltd, UK Electric Frog Ltd, UK Electrical Audio Visual Ltd, UK Epixx Ltd, UK Gemini Technologies, India Glasgow Audio Ltd, UK Gratte Brothers Ltd, UK Grupa Arachne Multimedia, Poland Gulliford Hi Fi Ltd, UK Homeplay Ltd, UK Indigozest Ltd, UK Infinitus Home Automation Ltd, UK Jooced Custom Sound & Vision, UK Liv N Lifestyle, India Loud & Clear, India Madhav Enterprises, India Mango AV Ltd, UK McAllister AV Ltd, UK Michael Music, India Mood Installations Ltd, UK

LIFE LIVED BEST AT HOME VIDEO

NA Marketing, India NP Integrated Technology Ltd, UK

CEDIA has produced a new video, entitled Life Lived Best at Home. This video is targeted at end users and introduces them to the world of smart home technology.

Park Electrical Distributors Ltd, UK Pete Leaver Electrical Ltd, UK Quest End Ltd, UK Sagar Smart Homes Ltd, UK

By watching the video, end users will understand how technology can transform their life, and why it is important to partner with a CEDIA member. As it is seen as a great selling tool, CEDIA is allowing its members to upload the video to their websites.

Sensory Integrated Solutions Ltd, UK

To watch the video, visit the CEDIAHQ channel on YouTube.

Tera Generation Solutions (Pvt) Ltd, Pakistan

Sight and Sound India Pvt, India SMC Custom Installations Ltd, UK Sound Advice Audio Visual, UK Stars Audio Visual SL, Spain

The Brighton Building Team Ltd, UK The Electric Playground Ltd, UK

THX 4 THE TRAINING

Touch Lite Automation, India

THX Video Calibration training is coming to Europe in 2016, as visitors to ISE will be able to attend a three day level 1 and level 2 training course which begins on the last day of the show – Friday 12th February.

topics such as signal path and optimisation strategies, 3D colour management systems, the business of calibration, scaling technologies, environmental issues and software and hardware choices.

Hosted by Gregg Loewen from THX, attendees will learn the art of video calibration and become THX certified calibration experts. The three day course combines level 1 and 2, and focusses on

Those who are interested in this course can book either level 1 or 2, or register to do both. CEDIA is offering its members a discounted rate. For more information, visit www.cediaeducation.com/calendar

UK Electrical Testing, UK

COMMUNICATES

BIGGEST PROGRAMME EVER! ISE 2016, 9-12 FEBRUARY, RAI AMSTERDAM, STAND 1-F21

CEDIA, joint venture partners of ISE, brings the most extensive education programme ever to the 2016 show. Attendees will be able to access more than 30 high quality training sessions over the five days of the event, on a vast range of technology and business topics, with places available for prebooking at an early bird discounted rate, available until 15th January 2016. “The CEDIA training programme for ISE 2016 will be the most comprehensive ever for home technology professionals,” says Simon Buddle, CEDIA’s Education Director. “From a technology perspective, courses will cover future innovations heading our way, led by renowned US experts Rich Green and CEDIA’s own Dave Pedigo, as well as immersive home cinema audio, advanced networking, lighting control, hi-resolution audio, rack-building and much, much more. Delegates will also

have the opportunity to take examinations to become an Electronic Systems Technician, Designer and Networking Specialist.” In addition, CEDIA will also be offering a series of free, bite-size TED talks in the Residential Solutions Theatre at ISE, with thought leaders in the industry exploring an array of issues, ranging from slow technology to social media in business. www.iseurope.org/cedia-education

COMMUNICATES

SMART BUILDINGS CONFERENCE The Smart Building Conference is making a return at ISE 2016. The full day programme, which is being held on Monday 8th February, will include expert speakers from across the smart building industry. Kris Hogg will be chairing the residential sessions throughout the day. Attendees can expect to discover key insights into emerging trends, energy savings, home automation solutions, as well as the best practice approaches needed to meet Smart Home and Smart Building design and efficiency objectives. Residential Sessions

CEDIA EDUCATION SCHEDULE DAY ONE

MONDAY 8th FEBRUARY 2016

9:30 – 17:00

Peter Aylett

Home Cinema Design Workshop

9:30 – 17:00

Simon Buddle

Sub Systems Design and Integration

9:30 – 17:00

Geoff Meads

Advanced Networking

9:30 – 17:00

Guy Singleton

Residential Lighting Control

DAY TWO

TUESDAY 9th FEBRUARY 2016

9:30 – 11:00

Nick Pidgeon

Building the Perfect Rack

9:30 – 11:00

Rich Green

Future Technologies: The Inside Scoop from Silicon Valley

9:30 – 13:00

Simon Buddle

Principles of Project Management

11:30 – 13:00

Dave Pedigo

New Technologies Update

11.20

Keynote: Reinventing Home Products

11:30 – 13:00

Dave Robinson

So You Need to Interface With BMS?

12.00

Defining Europe’s Home Market

14:00 – 15:30

David Graham

How to Work Profitably with Architects

12.30

Bluetooth Smart – Universal Solution

14:00 – 17:00

David Meyer

for Home Control?

UHD, HDMI, HDBaseT Bandwidth & System Design

14.00

Enabling the Smart Home with

14:00 – 17:00

Geoff Meads

Wireless Networking

HomePlug Technologie

16:00 – 17:30

Sam Woodward

The LED Revolution

14.30

Smart Home Wiring

DAY THREE

WEDNESDAY 10th FEBRUARY 2016

15.00

Industry Panel: 3D Audio for the Home

9:30 – 17:00

Peter Aylett

CEDIA Outreach Instructor

16.00

What you need to know about

9:30 – 11:00

Making the Most of HD Audio

Multi-Dwelling Units

Richard Hollinshead

9:30 – 11:00

Justin MartinLawrence

The Importance of Remote Management

11:30 – 13:00

Rich Green

Design and Client Discovery

11:30 - 13:00

Sam Woodward

Simplifying Control – How Not to Annoy the Users

14:00 – 15:30

Jon Peterman

Cash is King

14:00 - 15:30

Sam Woodward

Integrating Natural and Artificial Light

16:00 – 17:30

Adrian Ickeringill

How to Work Profitably with Developers

16:00 – 17:30

Rich Green

Sales Estimating and Proposals

DAY FOUR

THURSDAY 11th FEBRUARY 2016

9:30 – 11:00

Peter Aylett

Designing Rooms for Immersive Audio

9:30 – 13:00

Ken Erdman

Essential Maths Skills for Technicians

9:30 – 11:00

Rich Green

Future Technologies: The Inside Scoop from Silicon Valley

11:30 – 13:00

Dave Pedigo

New Technologies Update

11:30 – 13:00

Jon Peterman

Three Vital Steps to Grow a Business

The keynote will begin at 9am, half an hour before the show opens on Friday 12th February.

14:00 – 15:30

Geoff Meads

20 Website “Must Haves”

14:00 – 17:00

Rich Green

Design Thinking and Client Discovery

14:00 – 15:30

Ken Erdman

Securing Your Customer’s Network

www.iseurope.org/friday-keynote

16:00 – 17:30

Sawan Nichani

4K, 8K and HDR – What is the Future of Video?

16:00 – 17:30

Simon Buddle

Wire, Wireless and Fibre – Understanding Bandwidth

DAY FIVE

FRIDAY 12th FEBRUARY 2016

9:30 – 16:00

Ken Erdman

CEDIA Certification Review: Electronic System Technician (ESC-T)

9:30 – 16:00

Geoff Meads

CEDIA Certification Review: Residential Networking Specialist (ESC-N)

9:30 – 16:00

Simon Buddle

CEDIA Certification Review: Electronic System Designer (ESC-D)

www.smartbuildingconference.com KEYNOTE SESSION Dr. Michio Kaku, one of the world’s leading scientific figures, will be delivering the closing keynote at ISE. Michio is a recognised expert in Einstein’s unified field theory and his unparalleled skill in predicting trends affecting business, commerce and finance based on the latest scientific research. Dr. Kaku holds the Henry Semat Chair in Theoretical Physics at the City University of New York. He received his Ph.D. in physics from the University of California at Berkeley in 1972, and has been a professor at CUNY for almost 30 years. He is the author of several international best-sellers.

COMMUNICATES

MEMBERS ON SHOW AT ISE ISE is the show to be at, whether you are an installer, manufacturer or distributor. A number of CEDIA Trade Supplier members are returning to ISE, to once again launch new products. We all know that you need to head to the show with a plan in place, so to help you with this, here is a guide to some of the booths we suggest you stop by.

ELKO EP Booth 1-Q75

HALL 1

iNELS connects all home technologies so that they communicate with each other and can be controlled from one application – a smartphone or tablet. This provides many advantages in terms of control comfort (all at your fingertips), and in savings, because all heat/cooling sources are mutually controlled, utilizing the cheapest and currently available source. The smartphone application also replaces a series of original audio/video/hi-fi remote controllers. Related high-end elements are connected to the Videozone via cable interface or controlled by eLAN-iR. The list of integrated devices keeps growing just like the number of systems that, on the contrary, can communicate with iNELS via an open protocol. www.elkoep.com

URC Available through AWE Booth 1-M16

HALL 1

URC will be announcing the availability of two-way control modules (drivers) which extend the integration of Total Control whole-house home automation systems to two exciting multiroom audio sources, HEOS by Denon and CasaTunes. The new modules provide control features normally expected and extensions beyond. The URC-developed HEOS two-way module enables Browse and Play of HEOS supported music services and allows users to manage the queue of the HEOS player, manage grouping of players, observe ‘Now playing’ status with metadata and provide two-way control of all Transport controls, Volume/ Mute, Queue control, Playlist control and more. The CasaTunes two-way control module allows users to Browse, Search for artist, album or song in current music service or across all services, etc. It also provides the ability to send multiple streams of music from iOS devices to CasaTunes and dozens of other exciting features, including triggering macros with device events. www.universalremote.com

COMMUNICATES

HALL 1 SONANCE – Available through Habitech Booth 1-N70 Visitors to the Sonance stand will be able to see the iPort Surface Mount, the world’s most versatile mounting system for iPad. The new Surface Mount is an elegant snap-in frame and bracket, precision-machined from aluminium in three finishes: black, white or silver. The iPad simply snaps into the Surface Mount bezel, keeping the power button, speaker and microphone available for operation. The Surface Mount system is designed to be the easiest iPad mount to install. Use any wall box, whether EU, UK or US, single gang or double gang. It can receive power from a PoE Switch (via a tiny custom PoE splitter which fits inside the box), 24V DC power supply or power injector. Simply hang the Surface Mount over the box and snap the iPad/ bezel assembly onto the mounting bracket using the power of magnets. Then, apply the security locks to make sure it stays secure in busy places, like offices or restaurants. iPort’s Surface Mount adds complementary style and great utility to the world’s most powerful tablet design in virtually every scenario. www.sonance.com

HALL 1 LUTRON ELECTRONICS Booth 1-P80 A European first debuting at ISE 2016, the new Sivoia QS Triathlon WIDR roller shades from Lutron Electronics are available in sizes from 52cm wide x 30.5cm tall up to 3.65m wide x 3.65m tall. These larger, battery-powered shades are available in a wide variety of beautiful fabric colors and textures. Ideal for shades in hard to reach places, a new Battery Boost option enhances battery life by up to 80 percent for any Lutron battery-powered roller shade that is 96.5cm and wider - providing up to six years of performance. With a 7.6cm roll up for a 3.65m x 3.65m shade, the Triathlon WIDR shade has the smallest roll-up diameter in the industry, providing a pleasing aesthetic. Shades can be seamlessly integrated with Lutron’s RadioRA® 2 and HomeWorks® QS whole-home control systems or used as a standalone solution, easily controlled by a remote or from the Lutron mobile app. www.lutron.com/europe

CRESTRON

HALL 2

Booth 2-C24 Crestron is making it easier for programmers to deliver 4K video distribution and customised controls that work seamlessly across Crestron Pyng® and 3-Series® control platforms. The new Home Elements toolkit provides a robust set of object-oriented modules and templates that streamline set up of core functionality for most systems. As a result, Crestron dealers are able to deliver truly personalised luxury automation faster than ever before. With Home Elements, dealers can ensure a spectacular user experience that includes intuitive dropdown and slideout windows, and scrolling lists across all system interfaces, including TSW touch screens, iOS® devices, TSR-302 and MLX3 remotes, and Crestron’s latest Digital Graphics Engines. Developed in conjunction with Pyng technology, Home Elements delivers the performance, scalability, and reliability of Crestron home automation without dealers having to learn to use any new software. This frees up resources to focus on the sophisticated, one-of-a-kind Crestron controls that require custom programming. www.crestron.eu

COMMUNICATES

HALL 5

WATERFALL AUDIO Booth 5-S100

ORAY, one of the leaders of projection screens, will be displaying a range of its made-to-measure screens at ISE 2016. This includes the Square range, which features a new aluminium design and the in-ceiling Orion screen, which allows integrators to install recessed screens up to 5 meters.

Waterfall Audio will be unveiling its new Hurricane in-wall architectural speaker at ISE. Waterfall uses its famous Hurricane Evo drivers and technologies, with all its high performance features, and places it in a specifically designed back box fabricated with high density ABS material, combining strength, rigidity and resistance. The inner part of the back box features two layers of damping and insulating material, which are nested the Hurricane speaker front panel.

Elsewhere on the stand, ORAY will display its GFO motorised screen, which is now equipped with a safety brake, the Cinevision frame, and the High-Speed Polichinelle screen. ORAY will also be showcasing a range of tailor-made home cinema armchairs.

These speakers are easy to install, thanks to the easy lock system. Design wise, by adding an intermediate black glass or white glass piece, the regular in-wall speaker is transformed into a unique and different product.

www.oray.fr

www.waterfallaudio.com

ORAY Booth 3-C82

HALL 3

HALL 5 TELESTE Booth 5-R117 Teleste provides innovative, easy-to-use solutions for CATV and IPTV delivery that utilises existing coaxial cabling. The Teleste Luminato headend platform is the most compact form factor in the industry, with minimal power consumption and cabling requirements - making it suitable for IP centric Cable TV, OTT and IPTV networks. All modules can be hot swapped and auto configured to minimise service outage, and the module slots can be equipped with any available Luminato receiver and/or output module. For distributing new IPTV, OTT and diverse online video services and applications, Teleste´s innovative data over coax technology - DOCSIS Access Hub (DAH) - allows IP connectivity using the existing cable infrastructure. With speeds of up to 100 Mbps per room, DAH enables the upgrade of the infrastructure without interfering with everyday operations, offering a cost-effective, high-speed internet solution culminating in a media-rich experience. www.teleste.com

TDI GROUP Booth 5-V96

HALL 5

TDI Tremiver Ltd is pleased to once again be exhibiting at ISE. The new TDI trade catalogue/price list will be available to collect from booth 5-V96. New products in the catalogue, include Polk Speakers, a new range of Van Damme Cables and extended ranges of signal converters and switches from CYP and Penn Elcom 19” racks. TDI will have a full range of products to assist with all aspects of custom installation at the exhibition and with over 35 years’ experience we can assure you of our attention to detail and expertise in our field. www.tdigroup.com

COMMUNICATES

HALL 5 CASADIGI Booth 5-R92

BASALTE Booth 5-R83

HALL 5

At ISE 2016, Basalte will introduce the S4 music server to complete its native KNX multiroom audio system, Asano. Tailor-made for the needs of luxury homes worldwide, Asano offers uncompressed hifi music, while its networked structure delivers unequalled flexibility and scalability. Additionally, Basalte will show the first Eve wall mount for iPad Pro, featuring the same minimalistic design and quality aluminium material as its other mounts and stands for iPad and iPod touch. Together with the optional charging, Eve Pro is the perfect fit for private homes. Eve Pro is available in brushed aluminium, satin white and brushed black. www.basalte.be

DEMONSTRATION ROOMS

BARCO - Demo room E107 Belgian high-end residential visualisation manufacturer, Barco is celebrating the art of Cinema at Home and luxury living room media experiences in their private demonstration room #E107. In the dedicated Cinema at Home room, guests will experience DCI level projection, utilising the finest uncompressed visual content available, delivering an immersive cinematic wonderland, an escape from the mundane. This demonstration draws on Barco’s heritage in digital cinema while also showing the brand’s singular point of view and adoration of pure image quality. Blending work with play, we’ve re-thought the high-end home office with a solution that includes large custom designed, high-resolution screens. In this way, you can work with multiple content sources and freely arrange them on screen. Beautifully integrated into the design of your home office, work will never be the same again. www.barco.com

While selecting technology for smart homes, the choice is between technologies that may work and those that have worked. CASADIGI integrates everything inside the home and provides seamless control of TV’s, music and movie servers, lighting, heating and cooling, curtain control, surveillance cameras and door locks. www.casadigi.com

COMMUNICATES

MERIDIAN Booth 7-X180

HALL 7

At ISE 2016, Meridian will be debuting its DSP320 in-wall / in-ceiling loudspeaker, which is revolutionising custom installation with its unique capability to deliver peerless audio performance, whilst saving significant time, cost and space for installers. Within its 300mm square and 100mm deep enclosure, the DSP320 contains all the system’s electronics,

eliminating the need for amplification equipment within the rack, not only saving space, but also reducing power and thermal management requirements. Meridian will also be unveiling developments to its award-winning Sooloos audio platform, with the latest version providing installers with the most

flexible, highest performance and cost effective offering to-date. New additions include a plugin that enables third party NAS integration, a range of significant performance enhancements and extended control options to embrace re-designed iPhone and iPad applications and TouchPC control, alongside third party integration via Crestron and Control4.

www.meridian-audio.com

Savant Systems Europe – Available via RGB Booth 12-C75

HALL 12

Savant, a leader in smart home technology, has a lot of exciting new technology and features on show at ISE 2016. Visitors to booth 12-C75 will witness a blueprint configuration demonstration. Try out the sleek Savant PRO App with its new streamlined interface, its more intuitive controls, and native Sonos integration that will make the best experience in home automation even better. Play with the new Savant Remote™ - combining the convenience of a universal remote with the power of home automation. Learn about Savant’s new family of wireless devices and how these affordable line of products, combined with Savant Instant will be a game changer once available later in the year. Shades can be seamlessly integrated with Lutron’s RadioRA® 2 and HomeWorks® QS wholehome control systems or used as a standalone solution, easily controlled by a remote or from the Lutron mobile app.

HALL 12

Vitrea Booth 12-B73 A leading innovator in the home automation industry, Vitrea develops, manufactures and markets exclusive, highend glass touch switches for a variety of solutions. At ISE 2016, Vitrea will be showcasing VTouch Pro, a complete wireless smart home system based on its RF switches. Because of its unique ability to simply replace regular electrical switches, VTouch Pro’s innovative use of wireless technology provides all of the benefits of a typical home automation system, without the need for expensive infrastructure, renovations or complicated, wired installations. A home’s electrical fixtures can all be connected and managed through an app, calendar or scenario switches. www.vitrea-sh.com

www.savant.com

Don’t forget to visit CEDIA at the show on Booth 1-F21. CEDIA representatives will be available throughout ISE to answer questions and provide information about its work across EMEA and the benefits that membership brings.

U O Y 4 E R MO COMMUNICATES

e better! h t r o f , s s e in s or your bu f , u o y r o f , s y ur da ISE 2016 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Fo ISE 2016 is the international destination of choice for AV system integration and communication professionals. It provides a definitive four-day showcase for the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading product manufacturers and service suppliers in combination with an exclusive training and conference programme - all under one roof.

Find out more and register: www.iseurope.org ISE is a joint venture partnership of

COMMUNICATES

IT’S A WRAP Over 120 industry professionals attended the CEDIA Tech Forum and AGM on 25th November at the British Library, where they benefited from a full day of training, and enjoyed an informative keynote speech from Frost & Sullivan. For CEDIA members, the day concluded with the association revealing its new EMEA Board of Directors and announcing exciting industry news, including an accreditation with City & Guilds and its plan of creating a Smart Home Wiring Standard. This year, event sponsors, Aldous Systems, Anthem AV Solutions, AWE, Genesis, Gira, Habitech, Loxone, Lutron, Meridian, Orluna, Teleste and Wyrestorm showcased their latest products and innovations, whilst a selection also held both product and technical training throughout the day. These well attended sessions provided an insight into LED lighting, a guide to Home Cinema Solutions and other key industry topics. Following a full day of training, over 80 members attended the AGM. CEDIA revealed that 139 companies joined the trade body in 2015, bringing the total up to 724, its highest point ever for the region. International membership continues to grow, and the EMEA office now represents members across 40 countries.

TECH FORUMS IN 2016 Following the success of these events, CEDIA has announced five dates and locations for 2016. More details will follow in due course. • Bristol - 20th April • London - 18th May • Edinburgh - 22nd June • Manchester - 28th September • Dublin - 19th October For more information, visit www.cedia.co.uk/cedia-events

COMMUNICATES

MARKETING CEDIA EMEA announced that it has appointed digital marketing and communications agency Purestone to drive brand awareness across EMEA in 2016 and beyond. Purestone will develop and implement an EMEA-wide integrated marketing campaign predominantly targeting the specifier and consumer markets. This is a huge investment for the organisation to help achieve ambitious goals for greater alignment between specifiers, manufacturers, installers and consumers and to become the voice of the industry in 2016, leading to increased membership. The EMEA-wide campaign will accelerate this growth and reach new target audiences through extensive brand and audience research, strategy development and targeted digital marketing and communications activity.

EDUCATION CEDIA also revealed news on reaching its latest education milestone in being recognised by City & Guilds. This new development means that those who successfully complete either a Smart Home Technician or a Smart Home Designer pathway will receive a joint certification from CEDIA and City & Guilds and become accredited within this area. For more information on City and Guilds, turn to page 15

‘‘

“It’s always a pleasure to attend any event put on by CEDIA, but even they raised the bar this year. We found the Tech Forum to be both informative and constructive, allowing us to meet the right people that matter in our industry. The event gave us the opportunity to have face to face conversations with manufacturers, explaining some of the issues we as installers have on site and heard from the horse’s mouth what new technologies were around the corner, which is always good to know. Keep up the good work CEDIA.”

Robert Sullivan, Electric String

“I enjoyed the CEDIA Tech Forum. The courses were very well presented, and the products on display were to a very high standard. The venue was very easy to get to, and it had good facilities.”

Dean Ashton , Dean Digital Technology

STANDARDS Another big announcement at the AGM was the news that CEDIA is working with the British Standards Institution to produce a British Standard PAS (Publicly Available Specification) for smart home wiring. The aim is to turn CEDIA’s Smart Home Recommended Wiring Guidelines into a British Standard that will increase professionalism and awareness in the industry. This development will complement the standard which was produced earlier his year - Code of Practice on Low and Extra Low Voltage Direct Current Power Distribution in Buildings.

COMMUNICATES

CEDIA PARTNERS WITH FROST & SULLIVAN CEDIA is partnering with internationally renowned growth partnership company, Frost & Sullivan, to access its research programmes, source market information and gain valuable analyst and consulting support.

Brand New Board After counting the votes, CEDIA revealed the new EMEA Board of Directors at the AGM. Out of the impressive selection of nominees, CEDIA members voted for their fellow peers whom they believed will make a significant contribution to the future of the industry. The Board will represent the organisation and serve all members, helping to promote the smart home industry. The new Board has representation drawn from across the EMEA region including the UK, India, Italy and South Africa. New members appointed to the Board include Melanie Malcolm from Bespoke Home Cinemas (HTP), Rob Sutherland of Inspired Dwellings (HTP), Sawan Nichani from MacBee, India (HTP) and Philip Turner of Philharmonic Audio Visual (HTP). Re-elected to the 2016 Board are Hamish Neale from Barco Residential EMEA (TS), Laura Lazzerini of Studio Lgl, Italy (HTP) and Tom Butler from Artcoustic (TS). The new CEDIA Board will support existing Chair,

“The smart and connected homes market is growing rapidly,” says Wendy Griffiths. “But it’s unclear quite what will happen next in terms of technology, applications, business models, suppliers, and customers. Engaging with Frost & Sullivan will help CEDIA EMEA and its members make sense of it all and enable them to plan how their businesses will evolve to be successful for the future. Members can also purchase any Frost & Sullivan report with a 20% CEDIA member discount.”

Kris Hogg, and Christiaan Beukes, owner of South African-based home automation company, Sphere Custom Design (HTP) and Giles Sutton, Managing Director of James and Giles Ltd (HTP). “On behalf of CEDIA EMEA, I am delighted to welcome the new and returning CEDIA Board members for 2016,” comments Wendy Griffiths. “As the leading organisation for the smart home industry, CEDIA plays a vital role in shaping the direction of the industry, regulating the Association’s activities and representing the home technology profession across the EMEA. This year, the Board represents a fantastic geographical spread across the region. Together, we look forward to introducing more initiatives that are focused on delivering value for the industry as a whole.” The CEDIA Board of Directors defines the Association’s vision and identifies its strategic direction. It is responsible for maintaining a dialogue with members, making sure CEDIA’s strategic principles remain relevant to the industry and reflect members’ ever-evolving needs.

“The last five years has seen a strong period of technology innovation,” adds Jonathan Robinson, Principal Consultant within the Energy, Environment & Building Technologies Practice within Frost & Sullivan. “But, can this be carried forward into viable business models that will ensure long-term market opportunities? The Internet of Things (IoT) has enabled the journey toward a smart home, but are consumers prepared to take it? On these and other issues facing the residential custom installation sector, we will help CEDIA EMEA by sharing consumer insights, industry research and projections on how we think the market will develop and evolve.” For more information, email marketing@cedia.co.uk. www.frost.com @Frost_Sullivan

COMMUNICATES

SIGNED & SEALED: CEDIA Partners with City & Guilds What is City & Guilds? City & Guilds is the governing body for training, recognised both in the UK and internationally. Chartered in 1900 by Queen Victoria, this body remains administered by the Royal family and today operates in over 80 countries worldwide. As the global leader in skills and development, City & Guilds has a presence in every further education college in the UK and in 10,000 training centres across the globe. The body offers young people the opportunity to take a range of high quality C&G qualifications and also awards accreditations for bespoke training programmes from external providers. The external qualification programme spans 26 countries and is an instantly recognisable mark of quality and credibility, acknowledging the process and delivery of a tailored training programme. City & Guilds evaluates its external training against a comprehensive benchmark that has been developed from over 130 years’ experience in managing quality systems and training courses.

How has CEDIA EMEA partnered with City & Guilds? CEDIA is delighted to announce that two of its training programmes have been recognised by City & Guilds who will accredit those who successfully complete these courses as either a Smart Home Technician or a Smart Home Designer. Candidates will receive a joint certification from CEDIA and City & Guilds*.

What’s involved in becoming a Smart Home Technician? A

City

Guilds

Smart

Home

Technician qualification will be awarded to entrants who successfully complete CEDIA’s introductory training track, comprising the 12 training courses which make up CEDIA Boot Camp, ESC Technical and Networking schools, plus the certification examinations (ESC-T and ESC-N). Upon completion of the Technical Track, attendees will receive a joint CEDIA and C&G Smart Home Technician certificate.

What about the Smart Home Designer? The Smart Home Designer Track consists of 8 further courses, which are currently part of the Designer School and the Lighting and Home Cinema Design Packages. In order to obtain the Smart Home Designer certificate, candidates will have to complete the track and successfully pass the ESC-D certification exam.

What does this mean for the smart home industry? The new partnership between CEDIA and City & Guilds will broaden access to the best training courses available in our industry. City & Guilds accreditation will help increase awareness of our profession at a time when employee recruitment is one of the major challenges facing CEDIA member businesses. This partnership

will help attract new entrants into the market which will benefit employers keen to grow their business. City & Guilds accreditations and certifications are awarded to only the highest quality programmes, so this endorsement is also an important validation of the quality of CEDIA training. Achieving the City & Guild’s accreditation for CEDIA’s training programmes is a significant step forward and will help our courses become more globally recognised as the best available. The City and Guilds accreditation is internationally recognised in countries including India, South Africa and UAE where the residential smart home sector continues to grow. Those who achieve the qualification will open doors for their careers not just in the UK but internationally.

Looking to the future… CEDIA hopes this milestone, partnering with City & Guilds, will enable CEDIA to become registered with the UK Government’s Skills Funding Agency, paving the way for new apprenticeship funding to help prospective newcomers enter the industry. This new agreement with City & Guilds adds to CEDIA’s existing accreditations with RIBA and BIID for its CPD courses. In addition, back in 2014, the JIB (Joint Industry Board) accredited CEDIA as an ECS Health and Safety assessment centre after approving the introduction of CEDIA’s new ECS Related Discipline card specifically for Home Technology Integrators.

www.cityandguilds.com @cityandguilds

*Students will be awarded the certificate upon successful completion of all of the relevant courses, from January 1st 2016. However, certificates cannot be awarded retrospectively to those who have completed these courses in the past.

COMMUNICATES

NEW YEAR, NEW LOOK CEDIA Chariman, Kris Hogg, discusses the new visual identity and brand strategy for CEDIA

In 2014, CEDIA celebrated its 25th anniversary. In this time, it has established itself as the association for the smart home industry, and has risen to an impressive membership base of over 3,500 member companies. The smart home industry is constantly evolving, with new technologies being launched almost every month, new companies entering into the market and different approaches coming to fruition. As CEDIA reached its milestone last year, it decided to turn its attention to its own brand strategy. To make a change, CEDIA conducted extensive research to understand the needs of the membership and to find out what the branding said about the association. The general consensus was that members didn’t have a strong tie to the former CEDIA logo. They appreciated the significance of the logo historically, but didn’t believe that it represented them or the industry. CEDIA took this feedback on board and decided to create a brand identity that would reflect the excitement and passion that the smart home industry has. Visual Identity The updated visual identity is sophisticated and better represents the industry and the membership. It serves as a representation of what

the CEDIA brand stands for – vision, collaboration, innovation and passion. Alongside the logo, CEDIA has generated a new vision statement – ‘Life Lived Best at Home’. The community of installers provides comfort, safety, control, connection and entertainment to its customers, and this statement communicates this message. The new look allows CEDIA to not only represent installers, manufacturers and distributors, but extend its reach further, by reaching out to specifiers and consumers – something which will be of benefit to the membership. The visual identify reflects the industry much better, and allows CEDIA to communicate the benefits of establishing a relationship with a CEDIA member. As part of the rebrand structure, CEDIA has also commissioned a CEDIA video. This marketing resource clearly explains what members can achieve, so will be a useful sales tool. This tool is now available for members to upload to their website and use in their marketing communications. Brand Strategy The visual identity is just one part of the brand restructure. Training and education has always been at the forefront of CEDIA’s activities and having gained a more indepth understanding of its members

needs through the research, CEDIA is working on filling gaps in the education programme. Member companies have expressed the difficulty in finding employees. To be able to provide a solution to this challenge, CEDIA is working on initiatives to engage students and veterans, ensuring a skilled workforce for the future. The smart home industry has a strong community feel. To support this, CEDIA is developing programs that will make it easier for members to connect with one another on a yearround basis for networking, mentoring and idea sharing. Lastly, a key initiative that forms part of the brand strategy is for CEDIA to actively partner with manufacturers to leverage new technology and create new revenue streams. CEDIA will proactively work with its members to create training programs and resources to help installers leverage these new technologies. The new visual identity and brand strategy was launched at the CEDIA EXPO in Dallas, and we received nothing but positive response from our members and the industry as a whole. There was a buzz around the show that we have never seen before, and we believe that this was due to the change in direction that CEDIA is taking.

COMMUNICATES

2015 across the EMEA MEMBERSHIP

MEMBERSHIP BREAKDOWN

724

72%

HTP

Affiliates

MEMBERS IN

COUNTRIES MOST SUCCESSFUL

CEDIA AWARDS PROGRAMME EVER!

413

Awarded City&Guilds Accreditation

visits

GUESTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

2015

Professional Services

1,250

9:41 AM

number of people trained

100%

658 likes Ý 67%

150+

training courses offered

ISE 2015

550

1,000+ exhibitors

59,000 visitors

6,337 followers Ý 38%

INTERNATIONAL CONNECT

197

attendees

Correct as of 04/12/2015

Trade Suppliers

SOCIAL REACH

TECH FORUMS

registered

18%

NETWORKING

42,000

EDUCATION

International events

FINDER SERVICE

ACROSS THE REGION

AWARENESS

500+

articles generated in trade and press

1,000+

architects reached with our CPD

COMMUNICATES

60 SECONDS WITH…

Matt Smith Who are you? Matthew Smith Where is your company based?

distribution becoming more prevalent, you can’t afford your network to fall over from inadequate architecture.

Total Solutions, a smart home technology company based in Bristol and operating across the South of England.

How long have you been a CEDIA member?

How did you get into the industry?

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

I started out studying Audio Engineering at University. After graduating, I worked for Roland as a product specialist, demonstrating synthesisers, pianos, V-Drums, Boss pedals and HD Recorders. My role also included technical support for these products. I left to find something more creative, and whilst between jobs, I started working with my father at his electrical contracting company. I realised that I could apply my technical knowledge from University to synthesise more complex systems combining electrics, audio and architectural design. Here, I started to nourish this passion with influences from CEDIA among others and developed myself professionally in the necessary fields. What’s your favourite project and why? A current project is fast becoming my favourite: A multi-use media room with 85” flush mounted television into a floating wall, connected to a 7.2.4 Dolby Atmos system. Sounds pretty standard, but the constraints of the room, including low ceilings and an even lower steel beam, wrapped on two sides by floor to ceiling glass provided significant challenges which we overcame to create a sleek and functional design. Sonically, aesthetically and practically. Which smart home technology do you consider the most important today and why? In my opinion, a robust network infrastructure with a comfortable capacity has to be the most important aspect of any modern home technology installation. The vast majority of devices rely on the network for things such as control and power. Furthermore, with 4K

I have been a CEDIA member for two years.

Having my work retweeted by CEDIA, as this helps spread best practice and standardisation within the home technology industry in a way that is transparent and honest. I get great satisfaction knowing that my work is used of an example of how things should be done! Which CEDIA benefits do you take advantage of the most, and why? The CEDIA name carries the biggest benefit. For example, everyone has heard of the NICEIC, so I tell clients that CEDIA is the equivalent association within the home technology trade. The biggest benefit of being a CEDIA member therefore is the recognition and guarantee of quality that comes with the name. Do you regularly attend CEDIA education? If so, which course has been the most enjoyable and informative? Not as many as I would like, although I have a long list…! I am hoping to change this for 2016, my ambitions are to follow the design route within the CEDIA curriculum as it will allow me to express myself creatively. The last CEDIA Education course I attended was the Rack Building course with Nick Pidgeon. Not only was it really engaging but it also gave me insights which I have implemented within my own rack builds, to great effect. I can wholly recommend it. What would it mean for you to win a CEDIA Award? To win a CEDIA Award would mean a lot to me. It’s always amazing seeing your client over the moon with their installation, but to have your work acknowledged by your peers in such

“

IT’S ALWAYS AMAZING TO SEE YOUR CLIENT OVER THE MOON WITH THEIR INSTALLATION

“

a way would be mind blowing. I am striving towards this, day by day! What’s the biggest issue for custom installation businesses today and how can they deal with it? The issue as I see it is maintaining the quality of installation which is required to realise the full potential of home technology, whilst maintaining customer satisfaction. On many occasions I have been involved in recovering failed or bodged installs which could have been avoided with the correct education and standards supported by an official CEDIA member.

www.totalsolutions.technology @TotalSolutions

COMMUNICATES

TRAINING & EVENTS CALENDAR Jan 12

CAD Design

Introduction to Smart Home Wiring

CEDIA Outreach Instructor

CEDIA HQ, St Neots

Feb 8-12

12-14

ISE

THX Amsterdam

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Netherlands

12-14

22-26

29 Feb

ISF Amsterdam

Boot Camp

Technical School - Project and Business Processes

Netherlands

CEDIA HQ, St Neots

Mar 1

Technical School - Basic Networking

Technical School - Control & Lighting Systems

Technical School - Home Cinema & HD Distribution

Technical School - ESC-T Exam

CEDIA HQ, St Neots

Introduction to Lighting Fundamentals

Residential Lighting

Business Workshop

CSCA

CEDIA HQ, St Neots

15-17

ISF India

Residential Networking

Advanced Networking

Wireless Networking

New Delhi, India

CEDIA HQ, St Neots

21-22

Home Cinema Design

CEDIA Certified Presenter

Epsom, Surrey

CEDIA HQ, St Neots

Book training at www.cediaeducation.com/courses

COMMUNICATES

CONNECTED KITCHEN APPLIANCES Interiors journalist and CEDIA Award winner, Hayley Gilbert provides a lowdown on the new wave of Wi-Fi enabled appliances set to take the kitchen market by storm. There’s always been a trend for making life simpler in the kitchen; from timesaving gadgets that help with food prep to built-in ovens with automatic programmes that take the guesswork out of cooking. Now that our homes are becoming smarter, with apps for everything from heating and lighting to audio, visual and security, the latest innovation is for Wi-Fi enabled kitchen appliances, as Steve Macdonald, Marketing Director of Hoover Candy’s freestanding division, explains, “We have just launched the UK’s first complete family of Wi-Fi enabled appliances called Hoover Wizard. This revolutionary product line includes a fridge freezer, a selection of washing machines and dishwashers, an oven, hob and hood.”

The entire range can be simultaneously controlled, monitored and managed via an app that can be downloaded to Android devices from 4.0 onwards or Apple from iOS 7 or later. “This is a real innovation in the market and allows users to stay in touch with their home from wherever they are,” adds Macdonald. “They can monitor energy consumption, access favourite programmes, receive alert messages and view the status of their appliances and programmes while on the go.” The HOA3VX multifunction oven for instance allows homeowners to create and store customised programmes and recipes, which can then be used at a later date with the app’s Dynamic Chef function.

COMMUNICATES

You can even pre-heat the oven remotely on your way home from work. Another example is the DWTL 413AIW3 washing machine, which communicates with the app to store favourite programmes, schedule a start time for the wash and even assist with the programme selection based on fabric type and degree of soiling. “Consumer expectations will always drive innovation in the appliance sector,” confirms Macdonald, “and Wi-Fi is the next step in this evolution. In fact, by 2017, our vision is for all Hoover appliances to be 100 per cent connected.” Smart Home Clients looking for a complete smart home system have the option of Sub-Zero and Wolf Smart Grid appliances, which are the only kitchen appliance brands to integrate with systems such as Crestron, Control4 and Savant. “We know that our customers are early adopters of new technology,” explains Managing Director of SubZero and Wolf, Craig Davies, “and they seek convenience in addition to top-notch quality and long lasting performance.” Adding convenience to clients’ everyday lives, functions can include a pre-heat notification when the oven reaches the desired temperature and an alert when meals are finished cooking based on the internal temperature probe’s reading. Homeowners can also be notified if their refrigerator door has been left open, a feature that works alongside Sub-Zero’s existing NASA technology to help prevent temperature variances that can lead to food wastage, while lowering the power consumption at different times of the day can be linked to specific lifestyle needs and preferences. Appliances can be monitored through the app and handheld devices, as well as through in-wall touch screens. If anything needs a service, the system will notify the homeowner via an email or text. Smaller budgets Rob Sutherland, CEDIA Member and Managing Director of Inspired Dwellings, a multi-award winning Home Technology Consultancy, says that with everyday products

undergoing ‘smart’ feature upgrades, creating a high-tech kitchen can be achieved simply. “Belkin for example, brings customers its WeMo enabled CrockPot Smart Slow Cooker,” he reveals, “allowing you to control cooking times and temperatures and receive notifications when cooking is complete via an Android application on your smartphone. However, these apps can only control single devices and this is why companies such as Apple, Google and Samsung have created their own Internet of Things platforms to control multiple everyday smart products and allow them to interact with each other.” Apple’s Home Kit currently offers Wi-Fi enabled gadgets such as a Smart Kettle, Drop Scale and iDevices Kitchen Thermometer, which can be controlled from an iOS device. Wider benefits LightwaveRF’s Smart Home platform system really comes into its own in the kitchen and with its recent app upgrade, the system is now capable of controlling an even larger number of devices, turning ordinary appliances into smart ones by allowing your smartphone to control your sockets and turn them on or off. “We’re seeing an increasing number of Wi-Fi enabled products such as kettles, ovens and even chopping boards,” says Mike Lord, CEO of LightwaveRF. “Installing smart sockets is a versatile first step into home automation and it means that homeowners won’t need to replace perfectly serviceable appliances.” No more worrying that you forgot to turn the iron off whilst on holiday. You can even relax in the knowledge that you can lock off sockets to prevent inquisitive children from turning hazardous appliances on. With so much innovation happening in such a short space of time, kitchen chores are only going to get easier. Now if only someone could invent a gadget that loads and unloads the dishwasher… that’s my kind of kitchen.

www.hayleygilbert.co.uk

@HaylGilbert

COMMUNICATES

CEDIA LAUNCHES 2016 AWARDS Following a hugely successful CEDIA Awards 2015, the association has revealed the first details of the 2016 scheme – the 17 categories. With past finalists and winners benefiting from new business as a result of the scheme, CEDIA is encouraging all members to take part in 2016. The CEDIA Awards is the industry’s most prestigious awards scheme in the residential smart home industry, celebrating technical excellence in design, installation and integration across the EMEA. The scheme is popular amongst CEDIA members, as it provides them with a fitting platform on which to showcase their expertise and achievements. Those who take part will benefit from being recognised by their peers, some great PR coverage in the media, and publicity in the CEDIA Awards Yearbook. The 2016 categories are as follows: • Best Media Room under £15,000 • Best Media Room over £15,000 • Best Multiple Scheme for a Property Developer • Best Yacht Installation • Best Integrated Home under £100,000 • Best Integrated Home £100,000 - £250,000 • Best Integrated Home over £250,000 • Best Showroom • Best Custom Solution • Best Lighting Scheme • Best Dressed Rack • Best Home Cinema under £40,000 • Best Home Cinema £40,000 - £100,000 • Best Home Cinema over £100,000 • Best Trade Supplier – voted for by members • Best Training Initiative by a Trade Supplier – voted for by members • Best Innovative Product – voted for by members A large number of CEDIA members enter the CEDIA Awards each year, with home technology professional members and trade supplier members all wanting a coveted trophy. Past winners include members from Cyprus, India, Poland, Pakistan, South Africa and the UK. The scheme is free to enter and open to all CEDIA members across EMEA. CEDIA will announce the opening and closing date for entries shortly, with full details on the event to follow in the New Year.

COMMUNICATES

The Proof is in the Pudding Cyprus-based installer, Lifestyle Technologies was successful at the CEDIA Awards 2015. Having reaped the benefits of being an award winner, the installer is now recommending other CEDIA members to take part in the scheme.

“We would encourage younger CI companies to become CEDIA members and follow the Awards, as it is a chance to show the industry how good their work is” explains Takis Sarikas, Director of Lifestyle Technologies. “The pleasure of winning an award lasts longer than the “night of the awards”. Having a winner’s logo to put on your website and getting your company name mentioned in the press, provides you with a solid tool for winning new business. “Since we started winning various awards, our market status has risen. Clients receive assurance of the company’s good reputation when they see the award winning logos and press releases. Consultants also refer to the award wins when they introduce Lifestyle Technologies to a potential client. The Awards is a must for every serious and professional integration company.” Lifestyle Technologies claimed the CEDIA Award for the Best Integrated Home under £100,000, as it created a seamless, innovative and stylish smart home, blending both state-of-the-art technologies with detailed interior design. Working closely with an interior designer and architect throughout this project, Lifestyle Technologies was tasked with implementing intelligent heating and cooling, lighting and cutting-edge audio and visual technologies. This would all be without interfering with the interior design of the property. All equipment was to be camouflaged by clever interior detail, ensuring all technology remained “invisible”. This project was implemented in two stages. The first stage saw Lifestyle Technologies design and establish a complete control system for the entire property. For a centralised HVAC system, Lifestyle Technologies linked both Crestron and Coolmaster technologies to establish one simple heating and cooling control. Whilst a Coolmaster interface monitors and adjusts the properties cooling requirements, Crestron thermostats are responsible for the heating and are available in all rooms. A hidden in-wall remote sensor can be found in the sitting area, where the homeowner can view the current temperature and set the desired temperature. Whilst the first stages of install prioritised the infrastructure of the technology, ensuring all wiring and HVAC elements were firmly in place, the second stage of this project shifted concentration to the entertainment and ‘gadgets’. Initially, Lifestyle Technologies focused on the new build’s lighting, which was particularly important to the clients ‘bigger picture’ where the interior design of the home was equally as impressive as the technology.

A Lutron system enables the users to control all lighting and shading around the property from elegant laser engraved backlit keypads. The client can select mood pre-sets, as well as control the motorised curtains and shutters from elegant laser engraved backlit keypads. An astronomic time clock system automatically adjusts the lighting and blinds throughout day to maintain depending on whether it’s day or night, or the scenario that is taking place. Music was also an essential technology feature for the client. The family wanted to be able to listen to music at low ambient levels whilst cooking, dressing and relaxing in the bedrooms, when maintaining a louder volume in the gym and pool area. A central audio system, Crestron CEN-TRACK provides the clients with 11 individual listening zones, as well as the ability to listen to thousands of online radio stations, or their own personal music selection from their iPhone, iPad, PC, iTunes library, Apple AirPort Express unit or CD collection. Remaining sympathetic to the property’s aesthetics, invisible loudspeakers by Stealth Acoustics have been concealed in the main ‘formal’ areas of the house including the kitchen, lounge and bedrooms to effectively emit background music whilst visitors to the home cannot see where this sound is coming from. Meanwhile, stylish environmental speakers are displayed on the veranda and in the swimming pool area for a ‘party’ atmosphere. The main entertainment happens in the basementturned-media-room. Here, a Vivitek HD projector and a 92” motorised screen, Audica LCR sound bar, Cabasse satellite speakers and subwoofer provide the client with a true cinematic experience. Hidden behind the projector screen, Lifestyle Technologies has mounted a TV to provide more casual viewing. The specified products, placement and installation all contributed to Lifestyle Technologies meeting the client’s brief. Takis continues: “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 hard work that our team has put in all these years has been internationally recognised. “Although we come from the very small island of Cyprus, the challenges are there, the demanding clients are the same, and our work proves to be of international standards and professionalism. We would like to thank CEDIA and the whole CI industry for giving us the chance to compete with the world’s best. We are very proud for our Best Integrated Home Under £100,000 Award and I dedicate this to the whole Lifestyle Technologies team and our esteemed clients.”

LifeStyleTechnologies

For more information, visit www.cediaawards.org

COMMUNICATES

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AN

UNTAPPED

MARKET Paul Doyle, Access Research and Development Manager at Hereward College discusses the synergies between smart home technologies and assisted living options, and explains why installers should be venturing into this untapped market. There are some inalienable truths we all are aware of. We are all getting older, fact. There are more old people alive today than ever, fact. Medical advances result in people who would have died in the past surviving and living (often with disabilities) for considerable periods of time, fact. At this point you are probably wondering “what on earth has this got to do with me”, given this article is supposed to be about smart home technologies? What I have been describing in the opening of this piece is in fact an extensive and to date (in the UK), a largely untapped market for smart home technologies. This underdeveloped market opportunity can, if nurtured effectively, tap into a wellresourced customer base. Recent Government reports have indicated that the “Purple Pound”, the combined spending power of disabled people in the UK, is £80 billion a year. In the USA, as a direct response to this emerging customer base, the role of the

Aging-in-Place Specialist has evolved from the home remodelling community. In the UK, “Assisted Living” is a recently coined, but increasingly common, term for a wide range of products and services dedicated to increasing independence and making the lives of the elderly and the disabled safe, comfortable, cost effective, and convenient. Sound familiar? In many respects, the needs of the assisted living community are the same as customers of the smart home community. Installers are able to meet the needs of the elderly and less able individuals using smart home technologies. For example, a person who finds it difficult to get to the front door to answer a caller, may use the security features associated with a smart home. They can see who is at the door, using CCTV streamed to their television and if safe, release the door lock to allow the caller in, all from the comfort of their chair, bed or wheelchair.

COMMUNICATES

Smart home technologies offer enhanced comfort, convenience and security amongst their features and benefits. The elderly and or disabled client may use the same technologies but these features not only provide comfort, convenience and security, but more importantly, enhance their independence. So why has this market not fully taken off? I have been working with disabled people (old and young) for over twenty years. What I have learned is that as professionals, we are all nervous when confronting disability for the first time. However, now that I have had the privilege to get to know many individuals from this sector of the community, I have learned that despite appearances, their needs and aspirations remain the same as the general population. Another inhibiting factor is lack of consumer knowledge. As mentioned earlier, lack of funding is not a major issue. What potential customers are hampered by is that old chestnut “they don’t know what they don’t know”. If disabled or elderly people don’t know that smart home technologies can help make their lives easier/safer and consider it the domain of the super-rich, then it is no wonder the market is not growing. Now the good news. The smart home community is well suited to deliver products and services to this emerging market. The

requirements of non-disabled smart home users may differ from disabled clients, in terms of their origins, but many solutions are able to meet the needs of both client groups. Installers already have transferrable skills that can be employed in the assisted living domain. A common factor is the skill set that is needed to ensure a smart home is not only effective, but just as importantly, for both consumer groups, aesthetically pleasing. Just because you have a disability it does not mean you have to live in a property that looks like a “hospital or care home”. Another common skill requirement in both situations is that of capturing and meeting client’s needs. This is achieved using effective communication skills, and as such, are essential in the smart home sector. Accurately delivering what clients want and need is essential to ensure one fulfils their requirements. The result is happy customers. This is very much the same when capturing and meeting the needs of elderly or disabled clients. Although it should be noted that some of the motivations behind the needs and therefore some of control technologies used may be different. In some instances, these clients differ in how they access/control their assisted living/smart home technologies. Older clients may not want “fiddly” or overcomplicated remote controls or access devices. Some control their homes using communication aids (think Professor Stephen Hawking), and may employ environmental controls, dedicated devices that enable people with

physical restrictions to send IR or RF control signals. It is also possible for electric wheelchairs to be adapted to provide remote control of home entertainment and other aspects of the client’s home. How do I know this? As mentioned, I have worked with disabled individuals for over twenty years. One task that I have undertaken is that of specifying and creating accessible residential environments for disabled students at Hereward College in Coventry. Using off the shelf smart home technologies (in this instance KNX) has enabled the College to create student accommodation. Student’s rooms are now able to meet the needs of all students via a process that integrates students’ existing assistive technologies and the KNX installation. By adopting this approach, we are able to create highly bespoke hybrid solutions that when needed can be easily re configured to accommodate the next occupant. So, to sum up. Smart home technologies can and should be considered assisted living technologies too, because the features and benefits we all associate with smart homes can increase the independence of clients who are less able or elderly. There is a growing market on your doorstep, so what are you waiting for?

@pauljcdoyle

www.hereward.ac.uk

COMMUNICATES

Understanding the autoenrolment pension initiative What does auto-enrolment mean for you? Tim Martin, partner Automatic enrolment, the government initiative to help more at Moore Thompson Chartered Accountants people save for retirement, is gathering pace. Over the next two years, around 1.8 million small and micro employers will answers some key need to start automatically enrolling eligible workers into a qualifying workplace pension scheme. auto-enrolment When do I need to start auto-enrolment? questions for You must start on your staging date, which is based on the employers

size of your PAYE scheme on 1 April 2012 – you can check this at www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk.

Who do I need to enrol? For auto-enrolment purposes, workers fall into different categories. Very simply, these are: • Eligible: aged between 22 and state pension age and earning more than £10,000 in the 2015-16 tax year (the figure will be reviewed annually). They must be automatically enrolled and both of you must contribute • Non-eligible: earning more than £10,000 and aged 16-21 or between state pension age and 74 – not eligible for autoenrolment but can opt in, with both of you contributing • Entitled: aged 16-74 and earning less than £5,824 – have the right to join a pension scheme (not necessarily your autoenrolment scheme). You don’t have to contribute. Eligible workers can opt out of auto-enrolment at any time. If they do so, they can then ask to be enrolled at any time.

How much do I need to contribute? You must contribute a minimum percentage, based on a band of earnings (between £5,824 and £42,385 in the 2015-16 tax year, including overtime and bonuses). Until 30th September 2017, the minimum is one per cent, rising to two per cent between 1st October 2017 – 30th September 2018, and three per cent from 1st October 2018. Employees also contribute, with the total (employee and employer) minimum contribution set at eight per cent from 1st October 2018.

But my business doesn’t have a pension scheme. You can use schemes such as NEST (National Employment Savings Trust), Wow or the People’s Pension, or a pensions adviser can set up a new scheme. If you have a scheme already, you must check whether it meets auto-enrolment criteria and make any changes necessary to bring it into line.

It sounds complicated… The best way to ensure you understand auto-enrolment is to meet your legal obligations and budget for the extra costs is to start planning at least six months before your staging date. Working with professional advisers experienced in autoenrolment, like Moore Thompson, is the best way to achieve auto-enrolment compliance in the most cost-effective way.

www.moorethompson.co.uk

@moorethompson

COMMUNICATES

GET TO KNOW

THE CEDIA TEAM Aneta Armova-Levin

WHAT IS YOUR ROLE AT CEDIA? Education Co-ordinator.

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT WORKING AT CEDIA? If I was asked this question a month ago, I would have said the dramatic increase in training attendees, with ISE 2015 alone bringing in more than 430 bookings. However, I am now inclined to say that CEDIA becoming a City & Guilds accredited centre is our crowning achievement in 2015.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT THIS INDUSTRY? I love that the industry is constantly changing and that as the Education Coordinator, I need to keep abreast of these changes. People call the CEDIA office for training advice all the time, and I am the one who steers them in the right direction, which means I need to be familiar with every aspect of the industry.

WHAT’S WAS YOUR OBJECTIVE IN 2015? My goal for 2015 was to see more education attendees – both locally and internationally – and we reached it. It is a bit ambitious, but in 2016, my primary goal is to address the shortage of trained industry professionals by making CEDIA training more accessible, especially in two areas: those transitioning out of the military and those coming out of their studies.

HOW HAVE YOU INCREASED THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE ATTENDING CEDIA TRAINING THIS YEAR? Two things: hard work and persistence. This year, made CEDIA training more accessible within the industry. We did this by partnering with other training centres and trade associations to offer CEDIA courses in different parts of the country. I also try very hard to follow up on all education enquiries and provide future attendees with the best training advice – this way they do not feel lost or overwhelmed and are more likely to start working towards certification. Also, 2014’s Education Voucher Scheme helped increase our training in 2015, as more members began seeing the benefit of this training offer.

WHAT’S THE REACTION BEEN TO THE EDUCATION EVENTS THAT YOU HAVE HOSTED INTERNATIONALLY? The international education events have been extremely positive. In part, this is because we get a chance to meet our members face to face. However, we also get to meet new people who are eager to start their journey in the industry, and work with them to develop training. Perhaps the most successful event so far was the one in India. We saw a fantastic increase of attendee numbers.

HOW DO YOU ENSURE THAT YOU ARE CONSISTENTLY HOSTING RELEVANT AND INFORMATIVE EDUCATION SESSIONS? That is perhaps the hardest part of my job – making sure that we offer CEDIA members relevant and useful information, presented in a clear and concise manner. We listen to the industry and try to address their training needs by constantly introducing new course content. Also, our Education Committee often brainstorms ways to introduce new training topics.

FOLLOW ANETA @CEDIAAneta OR EMAIL ALevin@cedia.co.uk

COMMUNICATES

Security - Dark Arts or Opportunity Lost?

Adrian Johnson, of Visualint reports

The smart home market has always largely ignored security system installation, preferring to simply contract this discipline out to traditional security companies or in many cases, not bid for the work at all. Many would argue that security is too shrouded in mystery or tied up in legislation, but I for one believe that this continued attitude will not only result in lost revenue for the installer, but will also, more importantly, limit the client experience delivered by what is after all a major part of the Intelligent Home. The smart home community is blessed with some of the most technically gifted individuals and organisations who constantly strive to push the boundaries, creating beautifully engineered solutions for the most demanding of clients, so take a second to think what you imaginers could bring to the security arena if you really put your mind to it. Integration of security systems should be more that simply patching the limited functionality of the security components into the home. Let’s be honest, simply allowing the client to set and unset their alarm system from a touchscreen and viewing their CCTV cameras or intercoms through their TVs is hardly pushing the boundaries is it?

Einstein wrote, “The measure of intelligence is the ability to change” and this sentiment directly applies to security technology. Simple connectivity delivers a connected home, but to truly deliver an intelligent home it needs to be able to understand its own environment. The latest generation of intelligent security products includes technology that actually has an understanding of the world around them. Luckily for the smart home market, many of these now include drivers that can directly interface with all of the major control systems that you fit on a daily basis. The challenge is to understand how to harness this technology into its current offering. The security sector has long suffered from competition and decreasing margins so any inroad into alternative markets will be firmly grasped by this industry so let’s make sure we are smarter than they are. Let’s take a look at the two most widely used security products fitted, CCTV and Intercoms. Both are staples of the modern automated

COMMUNICATES

home and both have the ability to turn that connected home into an intelligent one. I know that many of you love to paint mental pictures for your clients to convey the wonders their home will include so let me take you on that same journey.

camera intelligence, widely referred to as analytical intelligence. An intelligent camera has the ability to actually learn its environment, identifying areas of foliage and effectively ignoring external factors such as wildlife and passing traffic. Events created by this intelligent CCTV detection can be sent directly to the home and/or the homeowner to trigger scenes or a security response as required, so again let’s look at a few scenarios.

The homeowner is heading home in one of their multiple cars and as they approach the automatic gates that secure their property, the license plate recognition camera instantly recognises the plate, sending a signal to the intelligent home to open the gates to let them in. At the same time the home knows it is getting dark so why not turn on the driveway and external lighting as well as disarming any external security systems. As I mentioned the homeowner is the proud owner of a number of cars and each one takes pride of place in its own individual garage so again the home takes this information and opens the corresponding garage, again turning on the internal lights and disarming that segment of the security system. While all of this has been taking place, the home has already begun to set the scene for the owners arrival, turning on lights, etc, and any non essential security camera feeds have been electronically disabled to protect their privacy.

The external cameras have been set up with zones of intrusion and electronic tripwires to protect the perimeter of the home and an intruder enters the grounds. The Intelligent home automatically activates the external lighting in that area and if the home is occupied an alert is sent to the homeowner and the images are automatically called up to the clients TV’s, tablets, and phone as well as a nominated security provider as required. If the home is unoccupied the home will automatically begin enacting lighting scenes to mimic people within the property while also triggering the necessary security response for the property. This intelligent video can also be employed when you are home. You may want to be notified if the children are outside playing and a vehicle or person loiters on your perimeter for too long or intelligent tripwires around the pool area will automatically flash the camera image to your TV for ultimate peace of mind.

This is one simple example of how adding intelligence to a single CCTV camera which would have almost certainly been fitted anyway to give a view of the gate has completely transformed the product offering, effectively giving the home eyes. Let’s look at a similar scenario, but this time, forget license plates – let’s use the human face as our trigger. Recent advances in facial recognition technology are set to totally transform the way we interact with our environment. This time the homeowner approaches their facial recognition intercom and the home instantly recognises them and begins to set the house scene to effectively welcome then home. Again, lighting is set, and internal camera feeds are automatically disarmed. If, however, the person approaching the house is a staff member rather than the homeowner, the system will again grant access but this time the home will automatically notify the homeowner of their presence while restricting their use of certain home technology and leaving the surveillance cameras functioning as required. This recognition technology is now also being introduced directly into individual cameras so very soon you will have the ability to set scenes in individual rooms and areas simply by the person walking into the room. External CCTV cameras are a routine part of any connected home and another major technical advance is in the field on board

Intelligent video combined with modern home automation systems are powerful partnership technologies that can truly turn a connected home into an intelligent home, allowing your home to see the world the way you do. I have only scratched the surface of what can be achieved with these latest advances in technology and I am sure manufacturers will only actually be limited by the imaginations of the smart home installer, and if your previous offerings are anything to go by, we are all in for an exciting ride.

The measure of intelligence is the ability to change Albert Einstein

At the recent CEDIA AGM in London, there was a major buzz around technology, training, and technological standards, and all of these seem to be held close to the hearts of the CEDIA family. Security is a marketplace that I and many of my colleagues have worked in for many years and being relatively new to CEDIA, I know all of us have been blown away by your technical ability, thirst for knowledge, and enthusiasm for new technology. I for one hope that security, and all of its opportunities to create vertical markets and recurring revenue streams is something that the industry will grasp so the client can get the technological experience they truly deserve.

www.visualint.net @Visualint_US

COMMUNICATES

WHAT

The smart home industry is changing, and we are seeing more and more women get involved, at all levels – be it sales, marketing, design or as business owners. This has been reflected on the new CEDIA EMEA Board of Directors, which now includes two women.

WOMEN

In an industry that has traditionally been maleorientated, it is encouraging to see women get involved, and make their mark. CEDIA talks to six successful women in the industry to find out their opinions on this change.

WANT Shereen Edward Regional Head of Engineering and Design, Archimedia, Egypt

Karen Chugg Managing Director, Intelligent Abodes

Babs Moore Director, Amina Technologies

Di Stickland Business Development Director, Design Innovation

Melanie Malcolm Director, Bespoke Home Cinemas

Laura Lazzerini Neuwirth Project Manager, Studio Lgl, Italy

Why is it important to have women in the industry? SE As 50% of the population are women, why shouldn’t our industry also represent that! I am always struck by just how male dominated the industry is when I attend shows and events. From a CEDIA perspective, having more women involved will help change these events from feeling a like a boys club. KC Women and men bring a different perspective and when those complementary skills work together, they can enhance any business. We are promoting our services to both men and women, and the lack of women in the industry, has resulted in a large percentage of our consumers disengaging, as they have no one they can relate to. Having more women in the industry should result in a larger market for the smart home industry. BM More women are needed in the industry to reduce the feeling that it is an industry for boys’ toys or gadget men. Our industry provides products and solutions that improve the enjoyment, safety and ease of use of our homes, and both men and women play a role in delivering this. DS I think it’s important for there to be female experts for homeowners to relate to. Often, home technology is sold to a couple rather than an individual, and whilst stereotypically it will be a man who pushes for the technology, the lady of the house often has the last say in how money is prioritised. It’s important for them to feel comfortable with what is going into their home and speaking to another woman can really help with this. There are undoubtedly women that would be a great asset to this industry, but they have never gone into it because it is so male dominated, and therefore we have missed out on some brilliant minds who have taken their talents into other sectors. MM It’s important to have

more women in the industry to enable any organisation to grow. With a balanced representation, women can focus on certain areas that often are not utilised to their full potential. LLN Women and men have a different approach to business and in dealing with clients, based on different skills. I believe that the best results can be achieved with a team that includes both men and women.

What value does a woman’s perspective give to the business? SE The systems that we design are used as much by women as they are by men. Whilst this does not make that much difference to their designs, often women value real world benefits rather than simply focussing on features. KC This relates to the talent of the individual and whether they are used effectively in their workplace. In our business, my expertise is client interface. I have honed my detective skills, acquired sufficient knowledge of the industry and that, together with some patience and a dash of humour, enables me to produce a solution that will meet the client’s needs and budget. BM Women understand that most people want functionality and aren’t so bothered by the finer technical details. In many families, it is still the woman who spends most time at the home, and perhaps has a greater understanding of what functionality they need in their home, so it is important for them to have someone to explain this to them. DS All businesses will benefit from a variety of perspectives. From management skills through to business strategy and on to client liaison and marketing, it is important to consider a variety of opinions. Women often bring an alternative viewpoint to a scenario, as it is well documented that they approach problem solving in a

COMMUNICATES

different way to men, and this can be very beneficial to gain balance within a business. MM At Bespoke, all the initial introductions to the company are by me. I’m the person they connect with and then I introduce design and sales. We find clients, suppliers, architects and interior designers engage more and gain our trust. We often find the female clients prefer to deal with me direct so I do believe that a woman’s perspective is really important to the business. LLN The value is in a deep understanding of client requirements and needs, not only with regards to the purely technical aspects of the project, but also to the aesthetics and the ease of use of the control systems.

How does a woman’s approach to clients differ? SE When dealing with families, the wife is often the decision maker. They will often find it easier and more comfortable to deal with another woman when discussing their new systems. Additionally, interior design is a very female dominated industry and relationships with designers can be easier if the integration company has women on the team. KC With clients, I recognise the pressure of family life and work, so offer greater support to help clients manage the challenges of renovations or new build works. In situations where one party, often the woman, is not engaging with the process, I will modify my approach until they see the benefits for them

and understand what home automation could do for them. BM Women have a great way of listening and understanding what clients want and they focus on selling solutions rather than technology for technology sake. DS The most important thing to realise is that every client needs to be handled differently and having a variety of personalities within a company makes it easier to find the right person to deal with each situation. MM A women’s approach to a client differs as we tend to deliver the message in a less technical approach. Often, our female clients just want to find out simply how everything works to make their life easier and not what goes into making it work. LLN The woman’s approach is more oriented to the use of the soft skills, to psychology and to aesthetics as well. While some years ago, it was still acceptable to have the electronic components visible in a house or a yacht, today aesthetics plays a key role in the success of a project.

Why is this industry male orientated? SE Men do like their toys and gadgets! This has probably led to many men wanting to turn their hobbies into their careers. Generally though, any career which is engineering focussed tends to be male dominated. KC Many of the experts in this industry are from engineering, IT, electrical – all industries that are male dominated. I have learnt that many men like to talk to men, presumably because they can relate better and they assume they will

speak the same language. BM A lot of people in the industry have come from a Hi-Fi, IT or construction background, all of which are male dominated. Also, amongst my own friends, I see a lot more men interested in gadgets and want to understand what is possible and how something works, while my female friends want things that make their lives easier, safer and more enjoyable, without cluttering up their houses. DS I think this goes right back to schooling. Very few women are encouraged into practical jobs, manual jobs or engineering roles, all of which could lead you to this industry. You have to be fairly self-assured to take that route in the first place, knowing full well you will be in a minority. Things are slowly improving and from what I’ve seen, are much better today than they were when I was starting out in engineering. MM The industry is male orientated because it’s driven by male installers, contractors and sales agents. Only a small percentage of women work in these roles and it’s often difficult for women to prove themselves in these types of roles. LLN It arises from science and engineering jobs that have, historically, been a male arena. At Studio LGL, we work on yacht projects across Europe and, when I go on board for the first time for a new project, the people involved often think that I’m the interior designer.

Why would you encourage women to join this industry? SE It’s a fun industry and incredibly diverse. I’m an engineer and this industry has allowed me to be creative whilst applying my engineering skills to very human centred designs. KC It’s an enjoyable industry that is growing so the possibilities are still unfolding. BM I had no idea that such an exciting industry even existed before I joined. The more people that are involved and know about what CEDIA and the industry does, the more the word will spread and with it, the opportunity for growth for all. DS I would encourage anyone with an aptitude in this area to join the industry. The smart home industry is one of the biggest growing industries in the UK and the potential in this market is huge. We should all be grabbing every opportunity we can while the technology rapidly evolves around us. MM There are lots of opportunities and areas to get involved in. I’m passionate about the education of our industry and if we can encourage more girls at high school and college to explore STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) then this could open doors for them in the future. LLN This industry is full of challenges and, if you are curious, you never stop learning something new, both from a technical and a human point of view.

COMMUNICATES

The new Sky STB offers a lot more than just 4K, says Steve May

Sky Q 4K tellybox revealed

Sky has finally taken the wraps off its first 4K Ultra HD set top box - but what’s been revealed is probably not what everyone was expecting. BT has been offering broadband subscribers an IP delivered UHD sports channel and both Netflix and Amazon has 4K content via their OTT streaming services, but it was Sky, as the UK’s leading Pay TV provider, who was largely seen as the broadcast evangelist 4K has been waiting for. It transpires that Sky’s 4K UHD service will be delivered via an entirely new platform, to be called Sky Q. This mixes satellite reception with IP enabled streaming, but is completely incompatible with existing Sky TV installations. This obviously has significant ramifications for existing installations and multi-room dwellings. Sky subscribers who upgrade to Sky Q will need a new LNB, but installers can use existing dish and cable runs. It’s not possible to mix Sky Q and Sky+ HD boxes on the same dish feed. A new wideband LNB delivers the entire satellite signal unfiltered down two coax cables to the Sky Q box where it’s converted.

“What we’ve done with this new technology is literally bring the entire dish signal down to the box,” says Andrew Olson, Sky’s Director of Product Planning and Design. “As a result there will be no more programme clashes or failed recordings for users.” The system is expected to roll out early 2016, with prices and packages yet to be announced. At the heart of it all is the Sky Q Silver, a super slim set top box with 2TB hard drive and 12 tuners, able to record four channels simultaneously. The additional tuners provide live TV and PIP viewing and also support networked client boxes, known as Sky Minis. These Minis can stream live channels and recorded content from the Sky Q Silver box they’re paired to, over a wired connection or Wi-Fi. One Silver STB can only support two client Minis. Larger systems can be deployed as either separate clusters of Silvers and Minis, or daisychained, but that sacrifices some functionality from tethered Silver boxes. It’s too early to tell exactly how this scenario will unfold.

It’s too early to tell exactly how this scenario will unfold

COMMUNICATES

The Silver box is HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2 capable. As yet, Sky hasn’t released specific details about its UHD channel selection and it remains to be seen how practical it is to deliver 4K content via a Mini. These smaller boxes apparently only have HDMI 1.4a ports. Sky is planning sports coverage at 2160/50p. Whether you watch Sky Q via the main setop box, a Mini, or a mobile device running the Q app, the viewing experience is designed to remain the same. A Q Sync feature even allows recordings to be downloaded to a mobile device, to watch away from the home environment. In addition, Sky fibre broadband customers will be offered the Sky Hub, a combination router and powerline device. For the first time, Sky will offer third party content apps for users, including YouTube. The system is Apple AirPlay compliant and can be used with Bluetooth enabled devices for music streaming.

“Over a third of our customers told us that their living room sound system was the best in the house,” explains Olson. “So we thought we’d take this further and did a deal with Apple. AirPlay looks beautiful and sounds fantastic. It’s basically a free Sonos for your home.” It’s clear that SkyQ is a radical departure, one that enables the broadcaster to counter moves by all its increasingly ambitious rivals. And it also opens up some intriguing user possibilities. But it’s equally clear that it may also frustrate the trade. All eyes now will be on Freesat, to see if it offers an alternative UHD proposition that doesn’t rip up the rulebook. @SteveMay_UK

Simon Buddle, Education Director at CEDIA looks at what this new product means for the smart home industry? The SkyQ Hub, the house router, enables the SkyQ system to create its own wireless network in the property to stream video, with each SkyQ box being designated a Wi-Fi hotspot. This approach will provide its own challenges for installers, I’m sure. However, they also have the ability to stream via Powerline AV1.1 and the units themselves will work out the best method to stream over. How this is integrated with other networked wireless devices remains unclear at this point. SkyQ units are also equipped with a 10/100MBp/s Ethernet port but as yet it is not certain if this will be used for streaming between units. The SkyQ hub has two 1Gbp/s ports, two less than current Sky routers. We can safely assume that On Demand will continue to come in through this connector. The remote control is Bluetooth and has a small touchpad. There are also

noises being made about voice control in the future. That begs the question: will we be able to control the units over IP or will manufacturers provide a Bluetooth interface solution? At the time of release, each SkyQ unit includes both HDMI in and out, but using HDMI1.4b standard. UHD will be available as a software update in the future. The new HDMI in enables another device to connect through the SkyQ box but as yet there is no information on whether control will be via the Sky remote. The launch of SkyQ leaves plenty of questions still to be answered for it to be successful from a CI perspective. 1. How does the Sky ‘network’ affect existing networks and network devices? 2. How will streaming video over the Sky Wi-Fi network affect wireless performance for other users? 3. How will Powerline work over 3 phase power or split consumer units? 4. How will the Bluetooth remote control integrate into control systems? 5. How many devices will be supported? 6. Will SkyQ be subscription based? 7. When will the UHD update be available?

COMMUNICATES CASE STUDY

AUTOMATION

INNOVATION CEDIA Communicates catches up with Ollie French and Alun Williams at Trade Supplier Member and manufacturer of moving AV solutions, Future Automation, to find out about the origins of the company and how it’s helping put the ‘custom’ back into custom installation.

Where did the business idea for Future Automation first come from?

How would you describe business in CI at those times?

Alun and Ollie: The company grew out of necessity, really. Back in 1998, we were fitting for Linn Hifi from their concession in Harrods and fitting hi-fi for a number of CEDIA member companies.

Alun and Ollie: It was very much a cottage industry. A number of installers had migrated across to residential custom installation sector from the hi-end car audio business. That’s how we fell into it too, and our connections with the likes of Audiofile, Robert Taussig and Gibson Music led to our first jobs.

One of our early customers, Gibson Music, challenged us to fit one of the first flat screen TVs, then priced at around £15,000, onto a customer’s wall. To look good and support this heavy glass fronted beast, a strong and robust bracket was needed complete with a little, articulated arm. At that time, nothing existed that was capable of doing the job, so we made one. Word soon got around. As flat screens started becoming more popular, so our bracket-making talents became more and more in demand. In a similar way, and around the same time, we also began manufacturing automated TV and Projector Lifts as nothing else on the market in the UK could do it to the standard needed in a custom project.

Quite simply, we wouldn’t be where we are today without CEDIA.

We then began developing a range of products that presented great solutions in custom installation, and offered installers the opportunity to make a good margin. As the flat screen TV sector really took off, it offered great potential for a better TV-watching aesthetic in the home. But nobody had really thought about the practicalities of mounting or revealing the screens. The brackets and lifts that did exist were either expensively over-priced, not very good, or both! We were definitely in the right place at the right time. And, from that point onwards, the business just grew and grew. We soon stopped being installers ourselves and became a fully-fledged manufacturer.

This industry has always been and remains a great community. We were very fortunate to have Mike Beatty, now of Pulse Marketing, acting as our agent in those early days. Mike was a brilliant flag-waver for us – he got the word out there about Future Automation and all that we could do. How important was belonging to CEDIA in your growth? Alun and Ollie: The CEDIA UK Expo gave us a brilliant opportunity to grow. It was a wonderful sales platform for an emerging brand like ours, putting us in front of lots of new installation companies. As a company making and selling a moving product, there really is no substitute for seeing it working and moving in the flesh. From the first CEDIA Expo we attended at the Brighton Centre back in 2003, we doubled our business. The same happened after the Expos in 2005 and 2006. We enjoyed phenomenal early growth in these years and it was these CEDIA events that gave us the platform and really put us and the Future Automation brand on the map. Participating at ISE has helped us expand further and introduce the brand to Europe through a distribution network. And now that we’ve launched in the US, the CEDIA

COMMUNICATES

shows Stateside are also proving incredibly important in growing our business. Quite simply, we wouldn’t be where we are today without CEDIA.

motorised dividing walls. Motorisation can change the dynamics, purpose and emotions of a space in every bit as powerful a way as lighting and music.

What shape is the business in today? Alun and Ollie: We moved into our first dedicated manufacturing unit in Kimpton, Hertfordshire, back in 2001. It’s still the home of our research and design functions and our electronics workshop. But, over the years, we’ve invested heavily in facilities and state of the art machinery to ensure that we can keep improving, innovating and expanding the range. Today, our fabrication capabilities span laser cut sheet metal, electromechanical CNC punch, CNC mills & lathes, CNC press brakes, welding, manual and drill presses and powder coating. Coupled with our dedicated in-house design team, and experienced assembly engineers, we’re a pretty substantial solutions-based engineering business, employing over 65 staff across 7 buildings, including a warehouse in Dover, New Hampshire for our US customers. The latest manufacturing space is in Bedford which we move into in January 2016. This will allow us to double our sheet metalworking and manufacturing capacity. It also includes our own paint line. We’re very proud of our UK manufacturing heritage, and absolutely committed to keep making products here for many years to come. What are your plans for the future? Alun and Ollie: We are always trying to improve the quality of our product and will continue to do so whilst staying focused on the residential CI business. We’re definitely responding to a growing demand from our customers for more non-AV automation. Increasingly, the trend is to provide bespoke motorised solutions for sofas, bookcases, roof hatches, walls and more which bring both functional and aesthetic benefits. For example, we’re seeing more and more projects where rooms can be transformed from open plan family spaces into intimate dining rooms at the press of a button thanks to silent-running

What are the challenges for CI in the years ahead? Alun and Ollie: This industry is part of our DNA. We see what we do and the services that we provide as a key to enabling the long term success and prosperity of our profession. The more that motorisation becomes part of the installer’s tool-kit, and the more embedded it is within projects, then the more valuable CEDIA members will themselves become because they will be the professionals who know how to control and integrate automated technologies into a system. Residential custom installation is certainly changing from what it used to be. It’s no longer just about AV – lighting and IT knowledge are much more important now than they were, so too is automation, and charging properly for service and maintenance. It’s having professionalism in this broad range of skills that will help today’s installation businesses stay relevant for the future. Your HSE90 motorised TV mount seems to be making waves in the industry. Tell us more. Alun and Ollie: It has indeed. We are very proud that our HSE90 motorised TV wall mount has been awarded three awards recently -The CEDIA Best New Product Award, a RAVE Best of CEDIA Award and a CEPro Best Award. It was particularly pleasing to be announced as a winner at the CEDIA Awards in Dallas, as we were selected by a panel of home technology professional judges and recognised for innovation and the value we provide installers and end user. It is great to be recognised in the industry and it highlights that we are developing products that the market is calling out for.

www.futureautomation.co.uk @AutomatedTV

COMMUNICATES

Di Stickland Design Innovation Ltd For 2016, we are expecting to see the rise of KNX in the home technology market. 2015 has shown us a huge increase in demand and specification of KNX within buildings, and as word spreads, the uptake of standardised building controls that do not tie you into a manufacturer is growing immensely. As a system integrator, we look forward to seeing more KNX specifications that we can work with, and more installation professionals joining the KNX community in the UK. In March 2016, we will see the biggest names in KNX manufacturing releasing their newest products and innovations, and we expect to see the very latest in technology demonstrating that a 25 year old protocol can still push the boundaries of development and truly future proof your home technology installation. We wait with interest, but one thing’s for sure, it’s going to be a busy year!

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

he world of technology is constantly changing, making it essential for home technology professionals to keep their fingers on the pulse. As we head into a new year, we ask CEDIA members, what does 2016 hold for us as an industry?

Chris Mieszkian Realtime Europe Limited 2016 will see the release of Sky Q, a new concept of viewing. This will include a whole suite of hardware, which will present new opportunities

and challenges to the industry. Sky has firmly targeted the younger audience with the “fluid viewing” concept of combining traditional viewing and internet content. Sky Q will further test the design, performance, and robustness of the data network that we specify and build. With streaming, routing, Wi-Fi and Power-line capability, the ability to properly integrate this suite of products into an already complex and contended network will be key. If concepts such as managed Wi-Fi and VLAN are not familiar and standard terms, then CEDIA education courses should be a priority in 2016. Phil Cotton Finite Solutions The smart home industry is in for a significant year, where pieces of the puzzle will finally start coming together. Strong new product developments in sensors, together with innovations on smart home ecosystems, will collectively bring brand new opportunities to our homes that are optimised by data. New ways to interact with the smart home system, such as voice, will simplify our lives at home even further. On the HD entertainment front, we are expecting the biggest adoption towards 4K technologies. Hardware manufacturers are releasing new products that support the latest 4K standards, while content producers/

COMMUNICATES

distributors are investigating new ways to deliver the true 4K quality in our living room. This will provide end users endless opportunities to enjoy true 4K content in its full potential. Paweł Dylewski Intelidom Group Sp. z o.o Our forecast for 2016 is very promising. Interest in smart homes is growing, not only thanks to developers, but also because of customer awareness. We are experiencing and forecasting a growing split between projects using professional solutions like KNX, SNG Home, Creston or Lutron versus wireless solutions that use Z-Wave or Bluetooth BLE technology. In premium class development projects, such as N1_Metropolitan Apartments in Poland, smart home systems are a standard and we are seeing more interest in middle class projects. This is largely due to lowering system costs and rising customer awareness and expectations. We are also seeing innovative brands develop new methods of distribution. For instance, the Polish company, Neembe is supplying their technology through bigger brands, insurance firms, telecommunication firms, energy suppliers, as well as developers. Buying tendencies show rising interest in wireless multi-room solutions. This is largely due to lowered system costs and new systems like Sonos or HEOS By Denon. Simon Clarke Clarke Infinity 2016 is going to be all about better audio, better lighting control and simplicity of integration and delivery. An essential bit of kit is going to be the Savant Remote which is due to launch in the summer and will couple a simple universal remote with integrated smart home automation. We are excited about the

advancements in 4K and what this will means for streaming, gaming and movies. Peter Aylett Archimedia 2016 will be a big year for technology that impacts us. REC2020, HDR, HFR, IoT, API and a dozen other TLAs will present opportunities, and deliver change. These are all, however, evolutions rather than revolutions. A technology that will likely appear commercially in 2016 is PoE lighting. Cisco and the other big network switching manufacturers are all over PoE lighting as it will allow them to sell more network ports. For us, it brings the potential of all the lighting in a building being connected by ELV cabling with each luminaire being individually controllable potentially over an RGB colour gamut. Lighting system topology and control will change forever, and we will then easily be able to implement bio-adaptive lighting schemes that align with people’s circadian rhythms. Kevin Browne The Solent Electronic Home Having worked in the sector for 18 months it is extremely challenging, yet rewarding. There are many elements to take into account when positioning your company in this rapidly moving market. So, where does the future lie for the sector and the specialists within it? The clue is, what are the

“big boys” doing in this so-called rapidly developing sector? The simple answer is they are nibbling at standalone elements that require minimal product hardware and a level of clever software – heating (Hive and Nest) and music (Sonos, Panasonic plus others). The likes of Apple and Samsung are entering by developing standalone apps that control elements. The important element for buyers is that it gives remote access and they can use their beloved smartphones. My vision for 2016 - more big boys entering the “standalone” offerings. More products will be developed with low price tickets that can be bought between 15% and 40% discount, thereby enabling more small, one-man-bands to enter this now fragmenting sector. Whole house, centralised system designers and integrators? They will struggle unless they diversify to smaller installs or increase their investment in marketing and promoting their businesses. And of course, inevitably many integrators will be forced to lower costs and prices. Bhavesh Doshi Entelechy Systems The rapidly growing industry of home technology is said to achieve an instrumental growth in the next few years. Whereas many of the systems have their own components, a new breed of technology is focusing on integrating Automation and IT, a

COMMUNICATES

to offer such simplified smart home systems. Iain Shaw Brilliant Lighting Whether 2016 brings this or not remains to be seen, but the development we’re anticipating is the integration of “smart” lighting into one or more ranges of mainstream luminaires. John Cullen Lighting announced a partnership with Gooee at Lux in November 2015 and we may see products shipping in the summer. If one or more of the large architectural light fittings manufacturers follow suit, we might see a significant shake-up of the lighting controls market. Light is a technology that more of us interact with more frequently than most other elements of the “smart home”. It makes sense for it to be in the vanguard of the Internet of Things at a much more fundamental level than the more “fun” products on the market today.

Convergence Device. Multi Protocol Gateway, the all-in-one device will • SOLVE possibly any task, which can be imagined, • EXTEND the systems by adding more I/O Ports, • SPEAK ALL languages such as ModBus, KNX, BacNet, EnOcean, etc, • CLOUD it so all devices can find each other and transparently exchange data, • VISUALISE it on multiple devices like Phones/Tabs/PC, and • SMART GRID connectivity (for Smart Cities). Indeed, in the future, smart homes won’t be a centralized robot-brain, but rather a network of sensitive and gregarious everyday objects, listening, feeling, and seeing what we need at any given moment, then passing that information along. Bartosz Piotrowski FDTech 2016 certainly will be characterised

by greater interest in home automation solutions. Even in the last months of 2015, we saw a greater number of requests for smart home solutions. It demonstrates the growing awareness of people who understand the benefits offered by home automation. In 2016, we will continue to observe the development of the Internet of Things, which is currently the biggest trend in the industry of new technologies. It could be expected that in future, the IoT will be widely used in the smart home functionality. We will also see the growing popularity of smaller home automation solutions, which the customers will be able to install independently in their homes. Many manufacturers have already begun

Rob Sutherland Inspired Dwellings We will see a growth in the device mesh, which consists of devices from mobile phones to household electronic devices, and an increase in our interaction with and between these devices. Further, the Internet of Things is enabling data to be transferable between these devices and will include more contextual information to ensure more relevance to the user. Information and apps will be accessible through all devices in the device mesh, not just via the use of smartphones. We are already beginning to witness this through the future of TV debate – which will inevitably be at the forefront for technological trends in 2016 – especially with SKY Q and the new Apple TV focusing on the importance of streaming and apps respectively. Lastly, the likes of Cortana, Alexa, and Siri are just the beginning. Similar and more advanced versions will develop and begin to surface as a feature in the main user interfaces of technological devices.

For further insight and debate on what the future holds for the industry, keep an eye on the CEDIA Twitter page - @CEDIAEMEA

COMMUNICATES

WHEN LUXURY ISN’T ENOUGH

It feels like everyone has multi-room AV as well as HVAC and lighting control these days. Large screens? Yes. UHD? Easy. Remote access? Straightforward. Fancy touch panel control? Being used every day… So how do you make your client feel special when it seems everyone else has the same technology too? Steve Moore, Chairman of SMC provides some hints and tips… Society has moved on; the way we live our lives has changed. Yes, families still get together, but these days, rather than sit and talk around a dining room table; they surround a flat panel TV, play with their mobile phones, and have headphones in whilst listening to something on an iPad – all at the same time.

townhouse to the country house and then to their boat, the various systems they have should all be set up with the same solution, so that the client can start something in one property, and resume it in the next – without any trouble. In these situations, consistency, as well as simplicity is extremely important.

Gone are the days when you had to go out to Blockbuster to buy or rent a DVD to enjoy a film, you now have thousands of options beamed into your home via the likes of Netflix and Apple TV. You don’t have to purchase CD’s; you have access to downloadable audio files from Spotify and Tidal, and you can listen and watch these via your smartphone.

To make a client feel special, you don’t need to provide an overcomplicated system to make it different from their friends. If you keep it simple, make it special, and ensure it works, you are on to a winner.

It’s the old Martini effect – you can have access to things ‘anytime, anyplace, anywhere’. But what people do like these days is the personal, customised touch. For example, order a coffee in Starbucks and you receive your drink with your name on it. The drink isn’t anything different or new, but because it is personalised to you, it makes you feel special. Another example is John Lobb Bootmaker. They create a wooden foot mould for their customers, so that when you order a shoe, you are guaranteed that it is the right fit for you. This is the same in our industry. Everyone has access to the same choice of technology, and people will generally have the same equipment as their friends, but we need to work out what they want from their systems, to make it functional to them and their life – therefore, making them feel special. As installers, we need to take all the friction away and deliver a seamless solution. However, this is only possible if you have built a rapport with a client and understand what they want as an individual. People are pretty simple. We all have a few layers and we are all connected nowadays, so when relationships get strained, you need to patch things up quickly. It’s no use trying to disguise things – you know that smile won’t last. Client relationships need solid foundations. Today’s customers want a naked business model. You have to get under their skin when they make decisions. Customers think part head, part heart and part gut, so try and recognise the whole customer. Think digital, act analogue. A good installer works like a butler. A butler is there to help their boss sail seamlessly through life, and this is what installers should be able to provide – a system that helps and supports the homeowner. When they travel from their

Lastly, you need to take all the worry and problems away from your client, and this is done with a good aftercare service. Not only does this ensure that you provide your client with a well-rounded service, but it is a profitable differentiator. People pay for a service, and that service needs to deliver. For you to get it right, there are two problems that you need to be able to solve. • The Monday night problem The time of only having three TV channels to choose from is long gone. We now have thousands of films to choose from via Apple, hundreds of channels and plenty more on Netflix, so when a family sits down to watch a film, it could take them 20 minutes to flick through the menu to find something suitable. Having built up a rapport with a client, installers can work out what they like to watch, and build a system that only features relevant shows. Therefore saving the family time and keeping things simple and easy for them. • The Saturday morning problem The client wakes up and something has broken – the lights won’t turn on or the heating remains on maximum temperature. Having a good aftercare service set up, means that the homeowner doesn’t have to spend three hours paging through the Yellow Pages trying to find someone to visit the property to fix the mistake. Instead, they call their smart home installer, who can fix the problem immediately via remote access, or visit the property that morning to solve the error. Solve these two problems by offering the right services, and the client will feel special. Get it right, and your customer will love you forever… and they will probably shout about their positive experience on social media – great publicity for you and your company!

www.smc-uk.com @smc_systems

COMMUNICATES

putting on

A SHOW

DE OPERA DOMOTICA STUNS VISITORS WITH A HIGH-CLASS DEMO HOUSE

EDIA member and home cinema specialist, De Opera Domotica, scooped first place in the CEDIA Awards 2015 for the Best Showroom after wowing judges with its two-storey demonstration home. The Dutch custom installation company, which prides itself as an expert in modern and intelligent living, has created a plush and pristine 600m showroom which was recognised by judges as a great facility with a clever and innovative approach. The aim of the project was to transform a whole building into a demonstration facility, which would provide a complete solution for AV systems, home solutions, and climate control.

De Opera Domotica crafted a two-level showroom on the liberal budget of 200,000 euros. Split into two floors totalling 600m2, De Opera Domoticaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s showroom portrays a melting pot of custom installation, interior design and high-end projects at its finest. As an all-encompassing demonstration facility, clients are able to view mid to high end scenarios of furniture, home automation and audio, accommodating different levels of budgets. The showroom is focussed around a central meeting room which is surrounded by different open areas, including a bar, cinema room, audio rooms, dining area and several different relaxing spaces. The ground floor is dedicated

to mid-level furniture and home integration, with various different room displays, including a kitchen, several living areas and three audio rooms all controlled by Control4. The upper floor focuses on high-end solutions. The entrance is particularly impressive, with a person-following system integrated in the security camera. If the visitor arrives by appointment, this state-of-the-art feature displays an appropriate personalised greeting on the 20â&#x20AC;? Crestron touchscreen. The showroom also holds an impressive screening room, which is home to an Dolby Atmos cinema, fully prepared to fulfil the DTS:X standard at a later stage and is equipped with 4K sources such as Netflix. Other technical features within the home include the RGBW, DALI controlled LED lighting, which changes from soft green to brown in order to emit a relaxing atmosphere. Aesthetically, the team focused on the detail of floors, ceilings, wellness and furniture to make sure the interior complemented the high-class technical aspects of the surrounding rooms. The most eye-catching pieces include a rectangular dining table, which hosts six cream leather seats, an abstract chandelier and a number of beautifully designed vases. A complete working security system, which includes CCTV and face tracking was also established to demonstrate to visitors the high level of security that could be achieved with a smart home installation. Jeffrey Stollwijk, a security advisor from Pinkerton, comments on this security system:

COMMUNICATES

KIT LIST MOREL IN-6H Speakers, LCR4SW LCR-Sub, H17C Hidden in wall Audica floorstanding and subwoofer speakers SONOS Playbar and Sub Fragrance/Scent Machine 4-zones Samsung 55HU7500 and JU7500 Epson EB1985WU Projecta HD Progressive Homescreen De Luxe Future Automation Picture Lift Control 4 HC800, HC250, SR250, 7” touchscreen MOREL SP-3 Wisdom Audio SCS Active Subwoofer Sony FMP-X10 Integra DTR70.6 Epson LS-H10000 Projector DNP Super Nova One 120

“The facility demonstrates the best possible integration of all aspects concerning security and home automation. Our customers want a high class solution presented in a live environment with some privacy to discuss it. With the full integration of the highest grade security system and CCTV system, everything is convenient to handle. This is perfectly demonstrated within De Opera Domotica’s showroom.” Incredibly, the demonstration building also aims to target all five of its visitor’s senses, making their showroom experience unforgettable. One of the standout features is the sophisticated fragrance ventilation system, which pumps out up to four different smells into different rooms. This hopes to attract the attention and create a talking point for demonstration room attendees. This could be the appetising scent of apple pie by the coffee machine, the fresh outdoor smell of lavender or grass, cedar wood in the tranquil

surroundings of the library and café latte or fresh bread in the kitchen area. De Opera Domotica worked closely with local designer, The Concept of Living Designers to ensure that the interior design and technology worked hand in hand. As a standout quality, the facility effortlessly interacts with the mood, feeling and senses of the client, allowing all visitors to connect with the technology on a personal level.

www.deoperadomotica.nl @deoperadomotica

Crestron TPMC-3x, AV2, DGE-2, RGD-LED’s, C2NAMP, CP2, Pyng hub, HB-100, HB-150, TSR-302, TSW-752, TSW-1052, DIN-DALI Ubiquiti Router PRO IP-sec HP Gigabit switch Ubiquiti Unifi AC cloud managed AP Kaleidescape M700 Humax iRHD-5300 Middle Atlantic Rack Lutron Graphic Eye 4-zone Lutron Shades Complete MOREL Dolby Atmos Home Cinema Xgen4 HD-SDI Security Camera – outdoor box version, pinhole version and dome version Tvlogic Hybrid Recorder Axis IP-converter Apple TV

power your passion.