Texting is a family disease

January 26, 2012

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A few months ago our 14 year old son asked for a texting plan on his phone.  I know.  He’s 14!  Some of his friends have been texting since 4th grade or before.  When he asked last year, we said “no, if you want to talk to your friends, pick up the phone and talk.”  We explained the importance of verbal communication and how its very existence is being threatened in this digital age.  There is the very real fear that the obsession with texting will become a life threatening activity when he is in a vehicle.   We further expressed our concern about texting being another distraction from the important commitments in his life like family, school work, piano, sports, hobbies and real life and face to face social interaction.

So a year has passed since the initial denial of texting privileges and I am happy to report that he is a happy, athletic, well read, social, honor roll student.  He earned a basic texting plan and uses it wisely.  We now see the benefit in this quick, easy form of communication-as a supplement to real life communication.

So, at the same time we added a texting plan to our son’s account, we added a plan to mine.  Having exceeded my basic plan by double on the first month, I was immediately upgraded to unlimited!

My name is Leslie and I am a textaholic.

This morning my addiction took me to a new low.  In an effort to communicate privately with my husband, without being overheard or interrupted by a child, I texted him.  He was sitting 6 feet from me. I’m truly not sure if that makes me really clever or really pathetic.

My son and I spent the better part of Friday evening laughing ‘til we cried at ‘auto correct’ texting fails.  If you are looking for a laugh, check  it out! http://damnyouautocorrect.com/ .

All kidding aside, please NEVER text and drive.

http://www.fcc.gov/guides/texting-while-driving

http://rememberalexbrownfoundation.org/

Focus on Music

October 19, 2011

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featured in Coastal Home

We are so pleased that the Fall 2011 issue of Coastal Home Magazine  features the home of one of our favorite clients.  The Archibald’s home reflects their warm, inviting lifestyle in every detail, right down to the Green Monster in the back yard.  We were referred to the couple by the builder, Ron Houghton, and met with them early in the house design process to ensure that the systems they wanted to incorporate could be seamlessly integrated into the infrastructure of the home. During this initial consultation, we learned that music is an important element in their daily life.  We developed and installed (prior to sheet rocking the walls) a structured wiring plan to accommodate not only in-ceiling speakers, but also audio, video and data distribution.  The finished home features a Crestron Adagio system which provides music in the kitchen, dining room, family room, sun room, patio, office and basement recreation room.  In any given space, the user can select from 4 different sources of music including AM/FM, XM, iPod or CD.  The music source selection and volume is controlled in most rooms via a wall mounted key pad.  For convenience and usability, they elected to use a 6 inch touch panel as the main music system interface in the highly trafficked kitchen/dining area.

As mentioned, the structured wiring also supports internet access, a Pakedge wireless network and the video distribution including a 50 inch wall mounted plasma TV.  Since this is in a large, open area, we enhanced the audio quality by adding a Bay Audio speaker bar and compact Integra amplifier. The components;  HD cable, Blu-ray player, cable box and amplifier are all stored out of sight, in custom cabinetry  fabricated by Jamie Gowing.

And finally, since Rainwise and I share the same home town,  I must mention the Rainwise weather system we installed which provides information on wind speed, barometric pressure, wind chill and temperature.  They have provided excellent products over the years!

We thank the Archibald’s for choosing DC Home Systems as their integrator and look forward to providing them with great service for years to come.

The Cobbler Has New Shoes

October 5, 2011

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Audio and Video Home Controls

Ever since the start of my career in consumer electronics and every time I meet a new person who learns of my career I get the dreaded question:” You must have a great system at your house?”
The answer was always been the same; A nervous laugh followed by the comment that the “cobbler never has any shoes”.
Yes, it is true. For the last 20 years I have walked around barefoot in my electronic home. All of my “stuff” has been a mishmash of older components strung together with left over patch cables and power strips. Quite a sight to behold for the home of an electronics “professional”. (“Honestly” Leslie interjects, “We’ve had some cool technologies over the years…”
Why you ask? Money, time and priorities. Plus, when you are around the stuff all day, it seems crazy to have it at night too. At least so I thought.
Everything changed last month.
I took some bucks I had saved in the kitty and bought, installed and programmed (myself) an integrated system for entertainment, lighting and HVAC control. My house now has an in-wall touch panel, keypads, smart switches, communicating thermostats, iPad and iPhone control, streaming radio, XM, etc., etc., etc.
We didn’t just get new shoes, we got Nike high-tops with brightly colored laces and pump up soles.
While I was carefully removing each new Crestron Prodigy device from its den of cardboard, styrofoam and plastic, I wondered if it would make a difference in our home. Of course our teenage sons would think it was “sick” and all, but how would it be for Leslie and me? Maybe the Wal-Mart “Air-tops” would have been sufficient?
I can honestly say it is great fun. I am now experiencing what I have been telling my clients all along. Sentences like: “You will discover your music again” and “If it is simple to use, you’ll use it” and “You’ll find it so convenient” are all true. In fact, we have been really enjoying our new system so much that I keep obsessing about how I can add to it. So, now I look forward to meeting someone new with the hope that they will ask the question. Heck, I might even try to bring it up because it’s really cool to have new shoes and it feels great to be a proud cobbler.

A New Hampshire Home

September 8, 2011

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It can be difficult to communicate the scope of the work that we do, but this article tells a big part of the story.  There were a number of exceptional houses featured in the current issue of New Hampshire Home Magazine.  We are thrilled that this particular home was included.  We loved being part of such an innovative design and construction project. Portsmouth, New Hampshire Installation It is always a pleasure working with the brilliant architect, Lisa DeStefano and kitchen designer, Scott Purswell of Dovetailed Kitchens and of course the very gracious and creative homeowner.  Congratulations to everyone who was part of this tremendous collaboration. Also, a big Thank You to MaryJo Drewn and the staff at New Hampshire Home Magazine for the generous mention of DC Home Systems in this article.

3D for your home theater

July 21, 2011

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Yesterday we had the opportunity to visit Tahiti, thanks to Peter Lazarus, our manufacturer’s rep for Sim2 projectors.  We enjoyed watching Ultimate Wave Tahiti as Peter demonstrated the latest Sim2 innovation, the LUMIS 3D-SOLO projector.  The experience was superior to any 3D I have watched in commercial theaters.  Peter says, “Anyone who is luke warm on 3D, has not experienced this 3D.”  We all concur.  Sim2’s achievement of a number of engineering goals has resulted in a truly immersive viewing experience.    The real beauty lies in the production of a constant, life like depth of field versus the occasional “pop out” effects. 

This projector, designed for home use in theaters, game rooms and media rooms, features three user modes: 

1. PureMovie. This mode uses DynamicBlack technology to deliver images with the highest contrast ratio and deepest black level. Recommended for movie watching in 2D.

2. PureMotion: Fast-action sports viewing benefits from smooth motion, free from the ‘smear’ and ‘judder’ that can affect image quality.

3. PureMotion 3D: The demands of 3D are such that careful processing must be carried out to ensure artifact-free images are created on-screen. This mode is used when the LUMIS 3D SOLO is being used to view 3D material.

So this is not only the best 3D projector available, it is simply the best projector for all media viewing. 
Download this PDF for more product specifications and… enjoy this (2D) trailer for The Ultimate Wave Tahiti!

More on Energy Management

July 11, 2011

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One of our readers, Derek from Software Advice, sent me this link to an article regarding the benefits of energy management systems for apartment dwellers.  I am providing the link as a follow up to an article I posted a while back regarding Google PowerMeter.  I think the article is informative and emphasizes the point that the real savings of money and energy consumption with these devices comes from the user having access to actionable data.  The device and tracking system arms the consumer with information which hopefully motivates the consumer to make changes and reap the rewards.  I think it is a concept which appeals not only the thrifty,or the eco-aware individuals,  but also to the competitive, goal oriented personalities.  It is worth looking into.

MiniBar

July 8, 2011

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LCR (left, center, right) bars for flat panel TV’s have gained wide popularity in recent years. The LCR bar mounts directly to the top, bottom or sides of a flat panel TV offering high quality, multi-channel audio via a slim unobtrusive unit. This innovation eliminates the need for multiple in-wall or stand-alone speakers.  The best units offer flexible configuration and independent function so the speaker can be used as a center channel, a left/right speaker or as a complete 3 channel system.Audio Enhancement for TV  Our supplier, Bay Audio, provides customized LCR bars which feature cabinetry to match the size and finish of your flat panel TV.  Their product is available in 3 performance levels, but all are excellent in terms of providing crisp dialog and vocal integrity.

Bay Audio has recently taken their pursuit of perfection one step further and has released the MiniBar.  (download product PDF) At an amazing 1.5” deep (including grille!), this high performance, multichannel LCR bar fits the thinnest flat panels.  And best of all, these sound bars feature the same volume, clarity and integrity as their original customized LCR bars.  Visit their website and talk to us about incorporating these slim line speakers into your home audio/video systems.

 

 

Links to Acadia

July 5, 2011

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DC Home Systems Home Electronics

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend.  We enjoyed a quick, but fun filled journey to Bar Harbor to visit with family. It was the maiden voyage of the Ram with her colorful new graphics! We left York a bit later than we had hoped, but arrived in time to enjoy a tour of my parent’s beautiful, bountiful gardens and enjoy watching the colorful wild birds feasting on their evening meal. The next morning we enjoyed a  vigorous bike ride from Town Hill, through Pretty Marsh and past Long Pond where I discovered my tire was rapidly deflating!  No worries, my parents came to the rescue while we waited patiently in Somesville, possibly the most charming village on the planet. The fine guys of Bar Harbor Bicycle shop (who sold me my first bike) fixed it right away, in the middle of their very busy rental day.  We packed up the kids, the dog, lunch and my parents for a little boating, but the wind was a bit much for our small boats.  Still, we enjoyed the amazing views of the rugged, craggy coastline of Trenton, Lamoine, Salisbury Cove and Hulls Cove and into Frenchman’s Bay. Occassionally we could spot a home built on or near the stone foundation remains of one of the historic mansions destroyed in the fire of 1947.  My father, a lobsterman of 45 years or so, treated us to all the lobster we could eat.  The soft shells and sweet meat make lobster an especially delighful (though very messy) experience at this time of year.   Before packing up the next morning we squeezed in a  beautiful hike around Jordan Pond, up to Bubble Rock and down the steep South Bubble trail.  From the top we enjoyed views of Jordan Pond, Eagle Lake, Pemetic Mountain, Sargent Mountain and Cadillac Mountain.  Fortunately the ride home was easy with minimal traffic.

Please check out these links to get a feel for all of the amazing sights and activities of one of America’s  most amazing National Parks and visit the Island soon!

R2 Control

July 1, 2011

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A brilliant collaboration between Slingbox® inventor, Blake Krikorian and Crestron reveals the release of the R2™ Control™ for Crestron systems.  This app runs on Android™, smartphones or tablets enabling worldwide touch screen control of a customer’s Audio and Video, lighting, thermostats, security and surveillance systems.

Krikorian says, “I desired a software platform that allowed me to further optimize the home control experience for general purpose smartphones and tablets, beyond the industry’s current state of the art. R2 and Android provides the flexibility to do just that.”

Read more from the press release regarding the features and compatabilitiy on Crestron’s web site.

Focal Point

March 7, 2011

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Mounting a flat panel display above your fireplace can be a convenient location, but who wants the TV to be a focal point?  Now, when you aren’t watching TV, your display is concealed by the beautiful art work you really want to be the focal point.

We recently installed this ‘moving art’ for a wonderful client.  Typically, mounting a flat panel over the mantle is not ideal from the standpoint of comfortable viewing.  But this mantle is a bit lower for optimized viewing.  The client selected a sony Bravia LCD HDTV.  Although this is a lovely TV, she certainly did not want it to be the focal point of her beautiful condo.  We worked with Media Decor to provide the perfect solution for her elegant decor.  There are many options available from this clever supplier of moving art.  You can provide your own digital art, select from thier extensive library or submit original art on a canvas painted in accordance with their specifications.  Frames are available in a wide array of styles, colors and widths.  The system can be mounted flush to the wall or recessed into the wall.   Media Decor utilizes the  highly reliable and quiet lift system manufactured by Lutron and used in their motorized shades.  Because the lift mechanism comes from Lutron, a leader in light and shade control, the moving art can be integrated with the lighting and shade control program.  This particular client has an extensive home automation and control system.  As part of the control system, we have programmed a macro or ‘scene’ which simultaneously lifts the art, turns on the desired video source, adjusts the volume, lowers the shades and dims the room lighting, all with the touch of one button!  All of these features can be further adjusted from the same control panel.  Click ‘play’ to watch how it works and visit the website for Media Decor to learn about more options including Media Mirrors. 

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