One of my favorite jobs with DC Home Systems is working in the fabrication area. We have a large area in our warehouse where we build and test systems. This typically means unboxing all the equipment for a job and assembling it into a working system that represents the final install. This often requires fabrication such as cutting a TV mount to fit the TV correctly, or assembling some scrap iron into a bracket to hold a speaker.
(AJ was unavailable for the photo shoot...)
This can also mean fabricating our work area. Today, project engineer Glen was mounting a TV to the wall for testing. The bummer was the fact that we had a counter in the way that always made it tough to temporarilly hang TV’s. We’ve talked before about cutting out the chunk that is in the way, but today I looked over at A.J., our new installer, and gave him the nod.
For the next 20 minutes sawzalls roared and screwguns whined. We ended up with a 6′ chunk of counter to find a home for and easy access to the mounting point. In our daily worklife we often “deal” with annoyances and minor roadblocks that we have learned to work around. It’s like a scratch on the roof of your mouth you can’t stop messing with. Finally tackling an irritation gives great relief. It doesn’t change the world, but often comes with the fun of working with power tools.
On any given Sunday there will be a flyer showing the latest sale prices on a TV. This past weekend I saw a 42” plasma on sale from Best Circuit for $475. Wow. Just five years ago a 42” plasma was nearly $5,000!
Now it would seem that the installation shouldn’t be much more right? I mean after all, it’s just a TV.
No, not really. Even a “simple” installation requires thought, planning and good supporting products.
Let’s start with the TV. The one on sale is probably not all that great. It is there to catch your attention from a price perspective. Even if you don’t hire a professional for installation, get the better TV. It will be worth it.
Next there are the cables, mounts and surge protectors. Get good ones. It makes no sense to have a cheap mount that won’t secure the TV or cheap cables that can’t carry the HDMI signal properly. And surge protection, you bet. One nearby lightning strike can destroy your investment.
Then there other important items like having a small cavity behind the TV to store wiring, a great remote control to simplify your system, a conduit for future wire runs, and connectivity for Ethernet.
The advances in technology provide us with an incredible viewing experience, but the days of opening a box, placing the set on a coffee table and adjusting the bunny ears are long gone.
Safe At Home
I am excited to report that today I have seen an application of our home automation technology being put to use in caring for our elderly. I have have been noodling the concept for a few years and was pleased to find a company that has developed an engineered and scalable solution.
The core concept is to install sensors that can monitor the key activities of a loved one like: movement in the home, opening and closing of doors and medicine cabinets, flushing of toilets, use of a vehicle, etc.. These sensors are tied to a processor that will present real time information via the web, email or smart phone. Triggers can be set up so that certain events, or lack of events, can send an emergency email or phone call.
Another option with these systems is to add a video camera for remote monitoring and a “message” board that would permit you to type or even draw messages to a screen. You can even post photo’s, videos or music for them as well.
Finally, lights and heat control can be automated with occupancy sensors so that the person does not need to fumble in the dark or try and read a thermostat with small print.
I am particulalry excited about this application of technology as it takes the core elements of systems that we have installing for years and makes them available in a focussed way for our elderly and those in need.
The capabilities of audio and video source gear have exploded in just the past year. Someone with a sweet home A/V system used to have a VCR, DVD player, cable or satellite receiver (or both), Tivo, reel-to-reel, CD changer, cassette player, and phonograph. This took up a lot of space, had a mess of wires, and required extreme dexterity to operate all the remotes, or one really well programmed universal remote.
Today, the consumer can get a Blu-Ray player with Netflix, VUDU, YouTube, Pandora, weather information, and access to local computer files. TV’s are available with similar capabilities. The ability to stream music and movies over the web is making source gear less necessary.
However, video quality is still a bit of an issue. Services that stream video in real time typically can’t give you the high quality picture of cable or Satellite. Services such as Amazon.com and VUDU allow you to download movies for purchase or rental in higher resolutions.
It won’t be long before you will be able to satisfy all of your audio and video desires by simply purchasing a TV, connecting it to the internet, and using the TV remote to watch TV, download and stream movies, and listen to music.
This likelihood leaves me wondering how this will affect the movie and music industry, video gaming capabilities, power consumption (no more cable and satellite boxes hogging power when you aren’t using them).
How do you think the landscape will change? What issues might this cause or solve? Let us know!
I wrote this article for a magazine last summer. Based on the feedback I received, readers found this article helpful in visualizing how the latest technology can be seamlessly and invisibly integrated into the most classic home decor.
I’m usually the partner that is in the office, creating a website, calling on architects or trying to unravel the mystery of social media in an effort to spread awareness of our ever expanding technological offerings. Sadly, I don’t often see the end result of the hours of design, engineering, programming and installation performed by our talented crew. So, on a recent (and rare) sunny day I took the opportunity to visit a residential lake side project that we are bringing to completion. And despite the fact that I now have lake envy, I am thrilled on many levels that I took the time to see this marvelous home and the brilliant work of our team.
Imagine 15,000 square feet of lake side living, unobtrusively nestled in the moss and ferns and barely noticeable to the passing kayak. Despite the size, the home is nostalgic and inviting, like a child hood summer camp, complete with a soaring stone fireplace, 10 foot dining hall table, even boys and girls bunk ‘houses’. And, proudly, our team played a significant role creating this feeling of comfort while preserving the wistful charm.
These gracious clients invested many dollars in the technology of comfort, convenience, functionality and entertainment and entrusted us to keep it all out of site. Every bedroom has a flat panel TV hidden behind the doors of a cabinet designed to support and hide all of the wiring and peripheral components. Every room offers multiple sources of music and volume control easily accessed from a low profile touch panel control, not a wire in sight. The reclaimed chestnut rafters, soft wool upholstery and well loved board games are unaware of the 60” plasma TV, only visible when it rises on a motorized lift from the custom cabinet where it hides. No guest will ever fumble for a light switch as each room has labeled lighting control key pads which are programmed with preset lighting scenes specific to the space. And though this is a lake side retreat, the homeowners are afforded all of the conveniences of wired and wireless internet, cell phone coverage, iPod docking and video gaming.
We installed 3 1/2 miles of structured cable, hooked up hundreds of electronic components and spent countless hours programming to the client’s specific needs. But apart from enjoying all the fun and convenience you would hardly know we were ever there. Thank you, job well done!
