V I S U A L A U D I O
HOW HAS HOME TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION CHANGED IN RECENT YEARS?
The focus on providing services in residential construction has been increasing for many years. Central heating, once considered a luxury, is now a standard feature in almost all new homes, explains CEDIA member, Jools Browning from BrownHen Solutions.
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he increasing reliance on a good connection to the internet (e.g. for streaming music, watching on-demand TV or working from home) and the increasing numbers of ‘smart’ gadgets that are catching the eye of homeowners means that integrating some level of home technology is increasingly considered for new builds and renovations. Ideally, the infrastructure that supports home technology integration should be included in the same way
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that other services, such as electrics and plumbing are. A combination of more financially accessible solutions and an increase in awareness is helping to change the perception that it is only for the rich and famous. One example is in the area of intelligent lighting where ‘smart’ bulbs available from Amazon has brought awareness, and industry leaders such as Lutron have introduced an affordable professional solution with their RA2 Select product. 2 4
What are the most popular client requests, and how has this changed?
One of the most noticeable trends is the increasing take-up of intelligent shading, e.g. roller blinds, roman blinds, curtains, etc. Every homeowner needs some sort of shading for their windows/doors. The benefits are numerous, such as saving energy by keeping rooms cool in the summer and warm in the winter, improving security by simulating occupancy, and helping safety by not needing window blind cords (which can be a strangle risk to babies and small children). These benefits, along with the wide selection of options available and competitive price points, make a compelling case for many people.
