Saturday, December 22, 2012

Custom Audio Video and Home Automation Services for Construction and Design Professionals

Are you looking for a way to differentiate your construction or design business from all the others in your field? Consider partnering with a company that offers custom audio video and home automation services to increase the high-end options you can offer to your clients. Here are just a few of the ways that a custom audio video and home automation company can add value to your current client services.
Lighting and Audio/Video for Interior Designers
Interior design professionals must find a way to tie home theater and audio systems into a home’s interior design scheme. High-end electronic systems can greatly enhance all living spaces, from home theater rooms to kitchens. When you work with a company that truly understands the possibilities in lighting and audio/video automation, the sky’s the limit. A good custom home automation firm will work with you or directly with your clients to integrate lighting, sound and entertainment capabilities into your interior design scheme.
Custom Audio/Video and Home Automation for Architects
Today’s high-end home buyer is looking for all the amenities that home automation can provide – but that requires proper space planning, lighting and acoustic  design. When you work directly with a company that specializes in home automation and audio/video theater rooms, you can build in the needed tolerances and meet all the requirements for a truly outstanding smart home for your most discerning clients.
Integrate Home Automation from the Start for Home Builders
Are you a home construction company looking to distinguish yourself in a high-end market? Partnering with a custom audio video and home systems company can give you the edge you need to attract clients who want the very best. When you involve a custom home automation company from the start, you can build in a variety of home entertainment, theater, security and appliance options to your clients. The key is bringing in designer of custom audio video and home electronics systems early in the process and getting the wiring/pre-wire work done while the walls are still open. At that point, your clients can work through you or directly with the electronics systems specialist to design their ideal system.
No matter what stage of the home construction and design industry your firm works in, there are advantages to partnering with a custom audio video and home electronics design firm. Consider which services your clients most want, and then call a custom home wiring and automation specialist to discuss how you can partner with them.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Benefits of Custom Audio Video and Home Environment Automation

Are you ready to enjoy the benefits of custom audio video and home environment automation? There’s a good chance you’re already enjoying some of those benefits.
The automated home is not a thing of the far future. In fact, most of us live with some elements of home automation already. It’s a rare home that doesn’t have an automatic thermostat that automatically kicks up the heat when the temperature dips below a certain level and turns it off when it gets warm. Likewise, if your lighting system uses motion sensors to turn on hallway and entry lights and your sprinklers are on a timer, you’re already enjoying some of the benefits that come with home automation. But those simple examples are just the smallest examples of the convenience and energy savings you can enjoy when you work with an expert on integrated home systems and home automation. The benefits you’ll enjoy include increased comfort and security, improved accessibility for your entertainment and information needs and energy savings that will make the whole package even more a pleasure.
Security Features
Integrated home security networking provides safety and peace of mind, as well as giving you many convenient options for managing access to your home. Today’s home security systems include features like individual key codes for all family members and automatic notifications sent to your smartphone whenever an access code is used. You can give a temporary access code to a neighbor to check on your pets, or have your house notify you when your sixth-grader gets home from school.
Lighting
Lighting automation has gone far beyond turning on your lights when the clock strikes six. Your home’s lighting system can use a combination of timing, lighting and motion sensors to turn lights on and off based on light level, room entry or time of day. With integrated systems, you can turn on the lights in any room in your home – or outdoors – with a remote control, and programmable light settings allow you to create illumination schemes for mood lighting or for security purposes.
Audio/Video
Custom audio video and home entertainment systems are the current glamor children of home automation. With home networking – wireless and wired – you can access your cable programming, music library or video library from any screen in the house, pause your movie on the living room television and pick it up where you left off viewing when you get settled into bed. You can create multiple playlists and program them to play wherever you want.
Custom audio video and home automation systems are still in their infancy, but the possibilities are staggering. Whether you’re building a new home or planning upgrades to your existing property, bring in an expert on integrated home systems to help plan out the wiring/pre-wire accommodations that will allow your home to grow into new capabilities as they become available.

Friday, November 16, 2012

Six Neat Things Your House Can Do with Custom Audio Video and Home Automation

So you’ve been hearing about custom audio, video and home automation programs and protocols. They throw around words like “total integration” and “building or environment automation” or “environmental control.” In fact, “home automation” has been used to include so many different elements that it’s hard to know exactly what someone means when they talk about automated homes. If you’re confused by – and a little bit in awe of – the whole concept of custom audio/video and home automation, here’s something that will comfort you a little bit: chances are that your home already includes some aspects of home automation. For instance, does your home have:
-          A programmable thermostat?
-          Lights that operate on motion sensors?
-          Sprinklers that operate on a timer?
-          A programmable coffee maker?
-          A remote garage door opener?
Any or all of those things can be part of a home automation system – but there can also be far more to custom audio/video and home integration than just those things. Check out these six neat things you can do with a custom home automation and audio/video system.
-          Ready to watch a movie? Hit one button on your remote control to reset your video screen to the best aspect ratio, start the movie and dim the lights.
-          Want the house warm when you wake up in the morning? Program your thermostat to turn up the heat half an hour before your alarm clock goes off. While you’re at it, you can also set up appliances to respond to a central system – turn on towel warmers, start the coffee maker and turn on the hallway lights to light your way to the bathroom.
-          A custom audio/video system can allow you to create customized playlists from a central music server and pipe them into any or all rooms in your house. Got a party going on? You can play dance music in the game room and an easy listening playlist in the living room where people are chatting – all from the same system.
-          Integrate systems so your house automatically turns on the garage light and opens the garage door, unlocks the door from the garage to your house and turns on your kitchen light – all before you turn into the driveway.
-          Use your iPad, iPhone or other smartphone to control your home appliances from a distance. Turn on the oven to pre-heat it so you can pop dinner into the oven as soon as you get home, or turn on the air conditioner before you leave work so the house will be cool and comfortable when you arrive.
-          Control all the televisions and screen in the house from one central location – without separate cable boxes or satellite boxes for each screen.
That’s just a small sampling of the things you can do with the help of a custom audio/video and home automation specialist. In addition to those things, you can control the lighting, home networking, security system, shades, blinds and windows and just about anything else that can be controlled electronically. For more information about home automation, contact a wiring/pre-wire specialist in home automation and custom audio/video wiring.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

The Future Is Now with Custom Audio/Video and Home Automation

The smart home is no longer a matter of imagination and future technology. With the latest custom audio/video and home automation technology, the future is now. Whether you’re building new or retrofitting an older home with the latest technology, you’ll find custom audio/video and home automation products and networks that can turn your house into a smart, tech-capable home. Here’s just a quick overview of some of the possibilities with the custom audio/video and home automation tech of today.
Bring Your Favorite Movies to Any Room in Your House
With home networking and audio/video integration, you can watch what you want in any room in yoru home, as long as you have a screen. You no longer need to provide a cable box or satellite controller for every single screen – you can control everything from one central location or remote control. Want to watch the rest of your movie in bed? Not a problem. Turn it off in the living room and on when you’re comfortable in bed – all without missing a second of the action.
Custom Audio Integration Plays Music When and Where You Want It
Access your favorite audio playlists from any room in the house – with the touch of a button or a single voice command. You can store all of your music on a central server and access it from any audio-enabled room – and you don’t have to listen to the same music throughout the house. Every room can play its own playlist or selections. You can even set up zones and schemes for entertaining, with background music playing in the living room and dance music on the patio. Ideal for commercial establishments, this kind of custom audio/video and home integration also makes your home more fun.
Networking and Security
Forget struggling with cables and trying to get all of your various devices to play nice with the network. Today’s custom audio/video and home automation networks do it all for you automatically. Many of the newest audio/video devices and home appliances are plug-and-play ready to settle right in and start providing you music, fresh coffee, movies and more at the touch of a button or a voice command.
Your custom audio/video and home automation scheme can also include lighting schemes, temperature settings and home security automation. If you’re ready to see what the future looks like, contact a specialist in custom audio/video and home automation and ask for a consultation. The future has never looked more integrated.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Specifications for Custom Audio Video and Home Automation

The latest and greatest technologies can work together to turn your home into a wonderfully automated smart home that plays the music you love, allows you to control all of your entertainment sources from one interface, automatically adjusts the temperature and adjusts the environment for your comfort. Custom audio, video and home environment integration now only allows you to control everything from one central location, it can automate many of the tasks that are part of your daily routine. From adjusting the lighting and mood music to turning on the sprinklers at the right time, custom audio video and home automation is the wave of the future. These high-tech innovations do require an infrastructure, though. Here’s a quick look at the basics you need to know about setting up an integrated custom audio video and home system.
Installation for Automated Systems
It’s easiest to create a scheme for integration in the planning stages of a new home construction. In most cases, new home owners will work with an architect who specializes in universal design to create wiring diagrams and integrate the entire system into the home from the very start. In many cases, contractors will lay the wiring for future systems so that it’s available when homeowners are ready to upgrade and add new automated systems to their custom audio/video and home integration.
There are, however, a number of companies that specialize in retrofitting older homes. It’s more difficult, but by working closely with an installer, even older homes can provide an integrated automation experience.
Requirements for Home Automation                                                                                                    
A home automation system will require a dedicated networking scheme that allows all of the automated systems to interact with each other and operate from a single integrated remote or automatic control. In most cases, that will mean two automation systems: a WiFi network for integration of audio, video and communication devices, such as intercom and telephones, and a wired network for other applications, such as turning appliances, thermostats, sprinklers and lighting on and off.
In many cases, a writing/pre-wire company can use a home’s existing power and telephone lines as a foundation for the new integrated automation systems. In other cases, especially in older homes that require major retrofitting, creating a new wiring infrastructure may not be the best choice. A wiring and home automation company will recommend the best ways to create the automated home scheme you want.
Creating an Interface
In addition, an integrated custom audio/video and home automation system requires one or more interfaces that allow the homeowner to access the devices and settings involved in the integration. Some possibilities include personal computers, smartphone apps and keypads or remotes that can be used at various locations inside and outside the home.
Possibilities
Custom audio/video and home integration opens up a world of possibilities for the modern homeowner. In addition to providing music and entertainment options to any screen or audio system in the home, you can set up automated programs to allow and disallow access to specific programs from specific rooms, turn on holiday lighting at pre-set times during the day and adjust the lighting according to time of day or according to specific moods. While the most common interfaces are touch screens and keyboards, you can even set up a home integration system that responds to voice commands.
Custom audio, video and home automation can save you money, decrease your energy usage and increase the pleasure you take in your home. Whether you’re building a new home or looking to retrofit an older home, a company that specializes in home automation can show you the possibilities to enhance your life with integrated home automation.

Monday, September 3, 2012

Creating a Custom Audio/Video and Home Automation Environment

The 21st century is here, and your home should reflect it. With the right accessories and networking, you can live in the home of the future today. Creating a custom audio video and home automation plan will lay the groundwork for a home that adjusts and adapts to your needs and your comfort with minimal input from you. Here are five steps to help you figure out how to automate your home to best take advantage of today’s – and tomorrow’s – technology.
Research the Possibilities
It’s impossible to plan without knowing what’s actually possible with home automation. Before you start imagining the specifics of your custom audio, video and home automation plan, do some research to learn about the newest technologies and cutting edge advances in the fields of security, entertainment technology and environmental control. Keep your eyes peeled for “we’re almost there” announcements of new advances and products, and look for companies that are on the forefront of integrating new tech into their existing services.
Learn the Vernacular
Every industry has its own lingo, and the custom audio/video and home automation field is no different. Experts have short-hand way of referring to things that can totally confuse laymen. Understanding the lingo can help you understand the services and products offered. For example, “event triggered automation” simply means a program that turns something on or off or adjusts it based on something else happening in the environment. Do you want the kitchen lights to turn on when you drive your car into the garage? That’s event-triggered automation – your home automation system makes something happen when something else happens. Understanding those terms will be valuable when you’re talking about your dream system with a vendor of custom audio video and home automation systems.
Think Integration
You can integrate nearly anything that’s electronically controlled into a home automation system, so consider your needs when making your plans. Think about the various electronics elements in your home – thermostats that need setting, lighting levels that can be controlled from a central panel, your home security system and even your music and entertainment choices can all be controlled via electronics and scheduling. Consider all of the systems and items in your home that can be controlled remotely or programmed – the list is practically endless: movies and television programs, DVR settings, your sprinkler system, your home lighting system, your thermostat and environmental control, your favorite music. All of these things can be integrated into a central control panel that runs on a schedule and can be changed with a voice command or a touch on a touch screen.
Finally, contact an expert in custom audio/video and home automation integration to discuss your plans and price out your choices. You may be amazed at what’s possible with 21st century technology.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Custom Audio and Video Home Entertainment Options

There’s a lot of discussion in the entertainment industry about the customization of the media. Technology has made it possible for nearly everyone to completely customize the way they consume media – choose which programs to watch, what time to watch them, create their own music playlists and even decide which news they read and hear. While many people customize their interaction with media on their devices, it’s not as common for people to take full advantage of the custom audio and video home entertainment options that are available to them. If you’re still turning on a device to listen to your favorite music or dealing with separate DVRs and DVDs, it may be time to take a look at the various ways to create a custom audio and video home.
Audio/Video
The latest technology in home listening is distributed audio. Distributed audio systems allow you to pull together all of your various music and broadcast sources and play them through one system – exactly the way you want to. With a distributed audio system, you can call up your favorite driving beats to energize your workout in your home gym while your roommate dials up his favorite Internet radio station in the living room and your son runs his heavy metal playlist in his bedroom. It’s all available through a home automation system that lets you play your music in one zone or many zones at once, set up different audio/video feeds to different zones and enjoy your entertainment where you want it, when you want it.
Distributed video also offers you a huge range of options and advantages. A distributed audio/video system allows you and your family to watch video from any connected device to any connected device. You no longer have to move the DVD player from the living room to the bedroom if you want to watch that movie from the comfort of your bed – it’s all connected. Home automation with distributed audio/video can save you money on your cable or satellite bill by sharing the media from any connected box to all of the screens in the house.
Pulling It All Together
One of the best ways to upgrade your home audio/video experience is to bring in professionals to create a complete custom audio and video home automation and integration system for your home. From wiring/pre-wire considerations to setting up networking, the pros can get your home set up with a complete audio/video automation system that includes lighting, security and your choices of video screens and audio/video devices. Liberate your entertainment from your iPod and let it fill up your home so you can enjoy it fully.