Thanks in part to technology called near field communication (NFC), the smartphone is now on steroids, with the potential to open a homeowner’s door, load a CD into the whole house audio/video system, or even “talk” with a NFC-enabled light bulb.
I was watching this video, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd96Jc1UWjA, on a "big box store,"a.k.a. Best Buy's Geek Squad, approach to home automation. It brought a few wiry smiles to my face.
Following a spate of well-documented forays into the home automation market by several renowned service providers, open source technology from software as a service (SaaS) partners is expected to be present in the vast majority of systems this year. In fact, of the 1.8 million home automation systems shipped during the year, approximately 1.3 million will use this technology.
Rockleigh, N.J.-based Crestron now has a Mobile Pro Control App for Android, which turns those devices into fully functional Crestron touchscreens, allowing homeowners to control lighting, thermostats, entertainment, security systems and other connected systems from anywhere, anytime.
The Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA) Technology Council, headquartered in Indianapolis, has its second video in an ongoing series on emerging trends. The video series aims to help CEDIA members and members of the electronic systems industry stay informed of opportunities and threats.
For home security firms and electronic system contractors looking for a holiday sales boost this year, there is troubling news. A national survey conducted for SteelHouse by Synovate eNation shows that 82 percent of shoppers, including families, women and high income earners, expect to change their buying behavior because of the economy. Home security dealers using coupons, marketing via the Web, and making deals may find more business, however.
In conjunction with AV Week, October 16-22, Crestron of Rockleigh, N.J., hosted daily tours of its state-of-the-art Experience Center. Emphasis was on educating local high school and college students about the AV industry and career opportunities in the field.
Amid a climate of economic uncertainty, Americans now place a higher value on their own financial stability over environmental responsibility. However, they are still looking to make sensible environmental choices, according to the 2011 Green Gauge U.S. Report from GfK Roper Consulting, a division of GfK Custom Research North America.
As SDM’s Doug O’Gorden and Laura Stepanek toured the show floor of CEDIA Expo in Indianapolis earlier this month, they collected information from exhibitors about new products they thought would be especially appealing to security professionals. The trends: The degree of interoperability with security controls is ramping up, providing greater control over lighting, thermostats, locks, and more. Video analytics are now converging with home control. The first residential locks that can be operated by a mobile phone have been introduced. There’s a significant focus on easier installation and programming for technicians. And, the apps for mobile control continue to roll out.
Hear the roar in Indianapolis? It’s not the Indy 500. It’s CEDIA EXPO, the tradeshow for the residential electronic systems industry. The event was last in Indianapolis, the headquarters’ home of the Custom Electronics Design & Installation Association, six years ago in 2005 and this year it is back at the Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis, starting September 7 with the tradeshow first opening on September 8 and continuing through September 10.