ISSUE FOCUS: THE VOICE-FIRST REVOLUTION | CEDIA KEYNOTE LUKE WILLIAMS
MARK CUBAN Sets His
Sights on the Smart HomE PLUS:
Sept/Oct 2019
Innovator Spotlight: DSI Luxury Technology’s Eric Thies CEDIA Talks You Don’t Want to Miss How Long Does Technology Really Last? The Worst Ideas by Tech Companies
CEDIA EXPO Elegant movie server Skips commercials Records streaming Plays DVD and Blu-ray discs Digital music stereo system Replaces your cable box Up to 20TB internal storage Remote with voice control Stores family photos + videos All your media on one screen So many features, you’ve got to see it to appreciate it. So come by! Booth 3534
SHOWSTOPPER
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From the Editor In August, I flew to Southern California for visits to prominent audio products manufacturers Sonance, in San Clemente, and Harman International, in Northridge (see my story about JBL on p. 16). Traffic challenges on the 405 freeway make getting anywhere in L.A. less than efficient, and my drive from the LAX airport to San Clemente, at rush hour, was a perfect storm. As I sat in crawling 405 traffic, with 30 minutes left to my destination, Sonance’s director of residential channel marketing Mike Cleary popped up on my caller ID, phoning in to check on my status. “We’ll have a cold beer waiting for you when you get here,” he said before we hung up.
Executive Editor Jeremy Glowacki
“ They had done just what they expect their customers to do: ‘Entertain the best that they can.’”
Such a simple phrase, but it was just what I needed to hear as I sat, bumper-to-bumper, stressing about making it to our meeting before his office closed for the day. When I finally arrived at Sonance’s impressive new headquarters facility, Mike introduced me to several smiling members of the team, and then it was off to the high-ceilinged “social area” of the building, where cool music floated through the cavernous, softly lit room, with a wrap-around second-story, and a large garage door to the outside. At the beer taps, I sampled a local brew and was offered a snack from one of six different drawers full of them (“unhealthy stuff in the top drawers, healthy stuff at the bottom,” I was told). The 405 was already the farthest thing from my mind. After chatting with Mike, CEO Ari Supran, chief sales officer Jason Sloan, and fellow visitor (and friend) Ted Green, Ari told me about Sonance’s philosophy of in-ceiling speaker placement and the challenge of training dealers how to help their clients provide a music system that is perfectly balanced and comfortable to the ear. He compared Sonance’s approach to the proper design of in-ceiling lighting – using multiple smaller speakers, rather than two large ones that target only narrow areas. “We’re hoping to change our dealers’ whole way of thinking with clients,” Ari said. “It’s not about ‘How important is music to you? Are you an audiophile? How often are you going to listen to music?’ Instead, it’s, ‘Don’t you want to entertain the best that you can?’” When Sonance has consumers visit, before they turn on any music in their demo rooms, they explain that they should not buy a whole-home music system “to listen to music.” Listening to music, Ari says to them, is more suited to a two-channel system in a dedicated room, where nobody talks and everybody just listens to the details in the music. Instead, he tells consumers, “You’re putting in a whole-home music system to make you, your family, and your guests feel better while you’re doing something else, which, hopefully, is interacting with each other.” I realized as he said those words that the Sonance team had subtly created that exact experience for me as a guest in their “home.” They had done just what they expect their customers to do: “Entertain the best that they can.”
2
Residential Tech Today | Sept/Oct 2019
Automated. Educated. Integrated. Looking for high-quality, in-depth coverage of emerging trends in home automation? With inspiring innovator profiles, exclusive interviews, new product spotlights, and expert career and educational training, Residential Tech Today is your essential resource for smart home integration. Subscribe now for exclusive insights into this rapidly growing field with
PUBLISHER/ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Charles Warner cwarner@goipw.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Shane Brisson shane@goipw.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR Jeremy Glowacki jglowacki@goipw.com
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ASSOCIATE EDITORS
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4
Residential Tech Today | Sept/Oct 2019
It takes a Viking to...
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SEPT/OCT 2019
contents
48 Mark Cuban’s Hunt for the Next Big Thing Cover Photo: ABC/Bob D'Amico
Departments 10 By the Numbers 12 Quick Bits 14 Connected Home 16 Audio 18 CEDIA Says 20 Inside Installation 22 New Tech – Catering to Custom
24 New Tech – Embedding Intelligence 64 Product Revolution 68 Tech Tools 70 Events 71 Coming Up 72 The Lighter Side
26 Innovator Spotlight Eric Thies, DSI Luxury Technology
28 The Design Side Getting the Most Out of a Home Lighting System
32 The Latest Mini Streaming Dongle Where Does the New AirTV Streamer Fit In
34 Smart Home Luke Williams Keeps the Spirit of Innovation
36 Industry Relations Honing Your Craft by Saying ‘No’
40 Issue Focus: Voice-First Revolution Available Voice Control Platforms Continue Evolution Toward Inevitable Ubiquity
46 Tech Advisor Orienting Sales and Service Around the Bathtub Curve
54 Installation What a Professional Technologist Installs in Her Own Home
60 Innovative Tech Fighting Sun Glare with New Motorized Window Treatments
6
Residential Tech Today | Sept/Oct 2019
Shown: Custom Profile Series speakers | Install by Premier Group, Carmel, IN
SOUND + STYLE FOR ANY TV
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Contributors Lisa Montgomery is a home-tech journalist whose work has been published in a variety of magazines and websites. She makes it her mission to provide thoughtful insights on how to integrate technology into a home without compromising its aesthetics. In this issue, she writes about the challenges of selling lighting fixtures as part of smart home integration.
Jordan Wills is the marketing director for Cloud9 Smart, a New York City-based systems integration company that handles all things technology for homes and offices. This month, Wills tackles the everchanging voice control category, focusing on the latest features from the top four platforms.
Heather Sidorowicz is a freelance writer, CEDIA volunteer, and president/owner at Southtown Audio Video in Hamburg, NY. In this issue, Sidorowicz documents the smart-home renovation of her own residence.
Dennis Burger is a native Alabamian whose passion for AV and home automation technology is matched only by his fascination with the weather and his love of Star Wars. His credits include writing for and/or editing publications ranging from Robb Report Home Entertainment and Digital TV & Sound to Wirecutter and currently Home Theater Review. In this issue, Burger reviews the Spears & Munsil UHD HDR Benchmark Disc.
Darryl Wilkinson is a veteran freelance writer in the consumer electronics industry, which includes work as editor-at-large for Sound & Vision. He’s written for Audio, Home Theater, Wirecutter, Home Theater Review, and others. He’s currently working on designing the perfect automated smart chicken coop.
At St. Louis-based Integration Controls, Jamie Briesemeister leads sales and marketing and is actively involved in business development, including industry outreach and education. She speaks nationally about the smart, connected home at several national events. This month, Briesemeister writes that saying “no” to the wrong projects and “yes” to the right ones often results in more satisfied clients.
Henry Clifford founded Livewire in 2001 to meet the growing demand for technologically integrated homes and businesses. In January 2018, he co-founded Parasol, a remote service support company. In this issue, Clifford explains how to orient sales and service around the so-called “bathtub curve.”
Rebecca Day has covered the consumer technology market for more than 25 years as a reviewer and reporter for consumer and trade publications. She likes when products work as they’re supposed to and calls them out when they don’t. Her articles have appeared in numerous outlets, including CE Pro, Electronic House, Sound & Vision, and Consumer Electronics Daily. This month, she documents her fight against sun glare with new motorized window treatments.
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Residential Tech Today | Sept/Oct 2019
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©2019 Sony Electronics Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. All other trademarks are trademarks of their respective owners. Screen images simulated.
e NUMB RS
by the
A look at the metrics shaping the technology market — and our lives
To say that much of our daily lives revolve around smartphones is somewhat of an understatement. Taking the train, walking around the city, or even sitting down for a meal, you will most likely witness people checking their smartphones on a nearly compulsive level. Seeing eyes consistently glued to smart devices can definitely make one ponder about the stats behind our favorite addictive tech, be it the time spent surfing the web or the companies that make everything from the iPhone to the Galaxy. Whether you’re reading this on paper or, funnily enough, on a smartphone, here are the numbers behind our favorite pocket-sized supercomputers.
Worldwide Daily Time Spent on the Internet
109
100 50 0
122
132
143
155
94
81 63 32
36
2011
2012
45 Source statista.com
(In minutes)
(Mobile Devices) 150
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
Mobile Data Traffic Globally (Measured by Exabytes per month)
Fastest Average Mobile Internet Speeds by Country
2017 2018 2019
(Measured by Mbps)
11.51 19.01 28.56
2020
Norway – 65.41
2021
40.77
56.8
2022
Canada – 64.42
77.49
South Korea – 63.81 Netherlands – 61.75 Qatar – 59.9 Australia – 58.87 UAE – 56.33 Switzerland – 53.63 Singapore – 53.12 Malta – 51.62 Source statista.com
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Residential Tech Today | Sept/Oct 2019
Global Mobile Market Share
Date Q1 2016 Q2 2016 Q3 2016 Q4 2016 Q1 2017 Q2 2017 Q3 2017 Q4 2017 Q1 2018 Q2 2018 Q3 2018 Q4 2018 Q1 2019
Samsung 23.8% 22.7% 20.9% 18% 23.3% 22.9% 22.1% 18.9% 23.5% 20.9% 20.3 % 18.7% 23.1%
Apple 15.4% 11.7% 12.5% 18.2% 14.7% 11.8% 12.4% 19.6% 15.7% 12.1% 13.2% 18.2% 11.7%
Source statista.com
Huawei 8.4% 9.3% 9.3% 10.5% 10% 11% 10.4% 10.7% 11.8% 15.8% 14.6% 16.1% 19%
Other 52.4% 52.4% 53.6% 50% 47.7% 54.3% 55.2% 50.8% 49% 51.1% 51.9% 46.9% 46.2% Source statista.com
QUICK BITS WE ASK INDUSTRY INSIDERS ONE QUESTION
What performance features in your installs tend to dazzle your clients the most?
I think the feature that dazzles our customers the most are the oneapp solutions from our integrated control systems. The specific feature that our clients appreciate is off-site remote control of their house environmental systems, including monitoring of security systems, cameras, lights, and temperatures.. – Barry Reiner, InnerSpace Electronics, Mount Kisco, NY
Nothing seems to bring a smile to clients’ faces like a properly designed and installed audio system. At times it feels like a low bar: a proper music source, a good amplifier, and decent speakers (and subwoofers) that all consider the room. We always hear initial feedback of, “I’m not an audiophile,” but no one ever regrets having great sound in their favorite room. – Bryan Mills, Mills Technologies, Skokie, IL
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Residential Tech Today | Sept/Oct 2019
The ability for the client to interact with their lighting through the Savant Pro app and see a virtual representation of their room with Savant’s Trueimage always makes their jaws just drop. The first question we always get is if there is a camera in the room–they simply can’t believe a system can virtualize their environment is such a life-like manner. Combined with tunable or DMX lighting, it’s a truly one-of-a-kind experience. –Eli Weinkle, NXT AV, Los Angeles, CA What customers love and what I love to give them in their homes are features such as smart lighting, where one button can turn off the whole house or the kids’ rooms from the kitchen. Also, they love “events” happening in an automated way, such as window shades dropping as the sun sets to keep the sun out of their eyes. –Todd Anthony Puma, The Source Home Theater, Old Bridge, NJ There are two features that clients really appreciate in our installs. The main would be the single interface for anything related to technology in their home. The other would be stable, consistent, Wi-Fi. They are so used to Wi-Fi being unstable that when we put in Ruckus they are blown away that it just works every day. –Eric Crawford, The Loop, Boise, ID We are finding that our clients are loving the way that video displays can be hidden when not in use. From TV lifts in cabinets, art lifts like Media Decor, panel back rise systems, and The Frame and Seura mirror displays are all in high demand. We had a client who saw these products in action, and they ended up with three lifts, two display mirrors, and one hidden door mount system. I believe that once a client sees these technologies in action that they want them in their homes. – Ken Irvine, Premier Luxury Electronic Lifestyles, Carmel, IN As of late, we have found that voice control, motorization, and big beautiful displays have been big in the dazzling department. Amazing blended and hidden outdoor technology has also been a big wow factor this past year as well. Being able to totally hide and disguise amazing sounding audio paired with the ability to hide a big display in the ground with motorization has been jaw dropping for our clients. – Joe Whitaker, The Thoughtful Home, St. Louis, MO and Dallas, TX Most clients are still blown away by the simple fact of an RF or IR repeating system controlling their gear in another room or behind closed cabinetry. When you hand them the smart remote and they can press a single button that fires up the entire system–removing all complexity–they are always impressed by that. –John Sciacca, Custom Theater and Audio, Myrtle Beach, SC
We love to experience the first time a client hears a well-designed landscape/ pool audio system, complete with buried subwoofer, in their new outdoor entertainment space. Their excitement is quite fulfilling to our entire team! –JW Anderson, The Integrated Home, Charlotte, NC
DEPARTMENTS
Connected Home
A Room Just for Me How IntelliThings is Offering Whole-Home Personalization Without the Click of a Button By Patricia Miller
The goal of the RoomMe sensor is to disappear into the surroundings and seamlessly integrate with all of your smart devices.
Imagine you walk into a room and every device instantly adjusts to your preferences. You didn’t touch anything, you didn’t ask your voice assistant to trigger a routine, and you didn’t have your face scanned by a panel on the wall. You simply enter the room and watch it come to life, perfectly personalized for your preferences. The dream is now a reality, thanks to an ingenious and deceptively simple device created by CEO Oren Kotlicki and his team at IntelliThings. It’s called the RoomMe and it looks like a smoke detector. It’s slim, beige, and sort of… unimpressive in appearance. But, that’s how it was designed. Aesthetics The goal of the RoomMe sensor is to disappear into the surroundings and seamlessly integrate with all of your smart devices. It detects the Bluetooth signal from one’s smartphone and creates a personalized user profile. Whenever you enter a room with the RoomMe sensor enabled, it will detect your smartphone and set the room to your liking, triggering the lights to dim, the temperature to increase, or your favorite playlist to play. Personalization Kotlicki shared his vision when he created the RoomMe, “I’ve been working in the smart home market for a long time, and being there, I realized you buy this smart stuff but then you’re often unable to personalize it… to do that, the key is to be able to understand and identify who
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Residential Tech Today | Sept/Oct 2019
is actually in the room. When you know who is in the room, you can personalize pretty much everything.” Installation Kotlicki explained, “We were looking for a simple, do-it-yourself kind of solution that would enable people to get information about who is in the room. So that was really the challenge, to do something simple that everyone can easily install in minutes.” The RoomMe simply sticks to the ceiling, or any out-of-theway location. Prioritization That sounds great if you live alone. But how does the sensor prioritize users in a multi-person home? Each person in the home is assigned a status, either master user or standard user. Master users are given top priority with settings, and when two standard users are in the same room, the RoomMe will use the personal settings of whomever was in the room first. One can also set “room masters,” where a specific person has top priority in a specific room. This can be a helpful setting for children’s rooms. Security This seems like a lot of personal information for a sensor to be able to access. How is the data protected? Kotlicki explained, “We identify smartphones, so you are a number to us - you have an identifier, but we really don’t know who you are.
Further, RoomMe is a local solution; we don’t have a cloud. The data is sent between the sensor and the mobile application. That way it always works and it doesn’t rely on internet connectivity, so there really isn’t a privacy concern.” Compatibility RoomMe is currently compatible with Ecobee 3 and 4 thermostats and the following Philips Hue lights: Color Gen 1, Color Gen 2, White and Color Ambiance, Indoor Light Strip, Outdoor Light Strip, Iris, Bloom, Phoenix, and Hue White Bulb. It’s also compatible with the LIFX Original and Mini, Sonos PLAY:1, and Bose SoundTouch10. Looking Ahead The long-term vision for this technology is absolute personalization. That’s what the smart home was always meant to be, a personalized space with built-in conveniences that save time and facilitate comfort. And for Kotlicki, that’s what the RoomMe will create. He notes: “Our vision and the reason we created our technology is that we think that every service and product you have at home has some level of personalization it can offer you. But, at the same time, we are doing it without violating the privacy of our customers, which is a huge issue today with voice assistants constantly recording us and sending our information to the cloud. We try to do it differently.” x
ASK FOR
Google and Google Home are trademarks of Google LLC.
DEPARTMENTS
Audio
Going ‘Round’ with JBL Synthesis
Harman Expands Premium Theater Loudspeaker Line with Round In-Ceiling SCL-5 By Jeremy Glowacki
For the SCL-5, Harman took the same compression driver technology used in previous SCL models and squeezed it into a round footprint alongside a 6.5-inch woofer for use as overhead height channels.
Harman knows that no other audio company can match its D2 compression driver and HighDefinition Imaging (HDI) waveguide technologies and components. So, the company is leaning into its proprietary and patented ultraperformance tech by integrating it into just about every loudspeaker in its premium JBL Synthesis home theater line – even if it seems impossible to do. For the SCL-5, Harman took the same compression driver technology used in previous SCL models and squeezed it into a round footprint, alongside a 6.5-inch woofer for use as overhead height channels in immersive audio (Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Auro-3D) room designs, or as an overhead LCR (left-center-right) surround (if the design requires all speakers to go in the ceiling). “From a performance standpoint, there’s no inceiling speaker that can do what this can do,” said Jim Garrett, Harman’s senior director, product strategy & planning, luxury audio. “The LF (lowfrequency) extension capability is mighty impressive for an in-ceiling speaker, coupled with
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Residential Tech Today | Sept/Oct 2019
low-distortion, dynamic mids and highs, thanks to our use of a legit compression driver.” Whereas previous SCL in-wall and in-ceiling designs required a somewhat bulky 16-inch square grille on the outside, the SCL-5 is selfcontained enough to use a magnetically attached, zero-bezel 12.5-inch round grille. Additionally, JBL added a plenum-rated metal back box onto the speaker to keep it isolated from adjacent rooms and to improve performance. “We have SCL-2, 3, and 4 now, but one of the comments we got back on is this range is that the 16-inch-square footprint – from a ceiling standpoint – is too large,” Garrett said. “And, people just want to come into the room and not see the equipment. They want to have it, hear it, and enjoy it, but they don’t want to see this gear. The smaller 12.5-inch diameter reduces the visual footprint considerably.” Pricing is set for $2,500 each, instead of $3,000 each for the other models in the line. Whereas most companies use “doglegs” to mount their in-ceiling speakers, Harman calls its mounting mechanism “cat claws,” for the way the
mechanism springs out when inserted into the ceiling to support the heavy speaker before screwing it into the drywall. Chris Hagen, principle engineer for JBL, faced several design challenges when fitting the same large compression driver as prior models in a smaller speaker design. “There’s a performance reason for angling the woofer, but it’s mostly about trying to get everything to fit,” Hagen said. And, where the waveguide overlaps the woofer, Hagen perforated it so that the woofer can effectively “see” through it. “It was fascinating to watch our team figure out how to make this design work,” Garrett said. “It was a big challenge to get this much horsepower into a footprint this small. You’re dealing with the depth of a wave guide and compression driver hanging off the back. They spent a whole lot of time trying to figure out this part of it.” The result, Garrett said, is an in-ceiling speaker that can achieve higher SPLs, while audiophile in character. “It can play dynamically loud without losing any of the details.” x
Shown is the Maxwell M-8650-W 3-way in-wall loudspeaker
Maxwell M-8602-C Concentric Driver In-ceiling
Maxwell M-8600-W 2-way In-wall
Maxwell M-8650-W 3-way In-wall
VX-1 Voice Enabled Amplified Keypad
In the room, in the wall or in the ceiling, same great sound. KLH’s in-ceiling and in-wall speakers are custom designed for a dual purpose. Our premium in-ceiling and in-wall speakers will compliment your home. . .your oasis from the world. . .and they are engineered for powerful, high-performance music or home theater entertainment to put you front row, center at your favorite concert or recreate a truly cinematic experience. They’ve been developed using the same award-winning technology as our other loudspeaker products to deliver dazzling sound while keeping the design elements of your home sacred.
Visit us at klhaudio.com
DEPARTMENTS
CEDIA Says
CEDIA Talks at Expo 2019 Addressing Critical Topics Affecting the Home Tech Industry Today and Tomorrow
Join CEDIA at Expo 2019 (Denver, September 10-14) for CEDIA Talks in booth 1301 to hear from top industry minds on critical topics affecting the home tech industry today and what to expect tomorrow. Only 20 minutes long, these free CEDIA Talks will offer crucial insights on emerging trends, new technologies, and strengthening business practices. Thursday, September 12 10:00-10:20 a.m. From Fire to Photons Maurice Karagiorgos, Sales Manager and System Sales Engineer, Lutron Exploring the exciting evolution of lighting, from filament lamps to LEDs, and the protocols that are propelling it. Learn the acronyms and the buzzwords that are illuminating our world and providing business opportunities for integrators. 11:00-11:20 a.m. Will Direct LED Replace Two-piece Projection? Michael Heiss, Principal Consultant, M Heiss Consulting Some pundits are saying that the size and quality of emerging direct-view LED displays may mean the “end of projection.” Perhaps, perhaps not, as both technologies will likely remain viable into the future. Which is best in a given application? 2:00-2:20 p.m. Mass Sensorization Christiaan Beukes, Owner, Artcoustic SA/Sphere Custom Design This is a short, sharp, but human, perspective on daily interactions with “harmless” technology, the constant grapple for subconscious control of our information, our wallets, our lives, and the subtle, “smart” subversion of our perceptions. Friday, September 13 11:00-11:20 a.m. DC Microgrids and Power Quality in the Home Ken Erdmann, Owner, The Erdmann Group LED lighting, USB power, and POE are just a few culprits creating problems for power systems in the home. Non-linear loads are creating terrible harmonics that affect power quality and efficiency. What is going on in the world to help solve these problems? We’ll talk all of this and new, emerging battery technologies.
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Residential Tech Today | Sept/Oct 2019
1:00-1:20 p.m. Go Hyperlocal: Own the Neighborhood, Own the Town (Save on Truck Rolls) Julie Jacobson, CE Pro & Bigger Things, Emerald Expositions Neighborhood networks are the new word-ofmouth. Hyperlocal social platforms like Nextdoor (and soon Google and Facebook) allow neighbors to engage, recommend, and spread the word to adjacent communities. Let’s discuss how custom integrators can win the neighborhood. 1:30-1:50 p.m. WiFi 6 Nathan Holmes, Technical Trainer, Access Networks With Wi-Fi now an expected utility in all buildings and 5G threatening to change the landscape of mobile data, enter “Wi-Fi 6,” the next big thing in wireless LAN! The introduction of Wi-Fi 6 will bring not only speed and capacity benefits, but a complete renaming of the Wi-Fi standards we know and love. Saturday, September 14 10:00-10:20 a.m. What Does AI Actually Mean? Rich Green, Owner, Rich Green, Ink Peter Aylett, President and CTO, Archimedia As social and consumer trends mature, so does the ever-shifting aspirational definition of AI (Artificial Intelligence). This session will define the important terms and explores how the next decade will see a gradual shift toward the previously sci-fi reality of Broad General AI, and how this will affect the experiences and solutions that we’ll be delivering to our customers in the future. 11:00-11:20 a.m. To Infinity & Beyond: The Scope Creep of Our Business Christiaan Beukes, Owner, Artcoustic SA/Sphere Custom Design Yesterday, we were wiring for RF technologies and the coming of HD. Today, we’re figuring out multiple streaming technologies over three different existing infrastructures in a home.
Tomorrow? Taking a glimpse at what is to come can give us a solid foundation for how we could adapt our individual businesses to better cater to the client of tomorrow. 1:00-1:20 p.m. Augmented Reality and Spatial Computing Rich Green, Owner, Rich Green, Ink In a few short years, every aspect of our daily lives will be transformed by the Spatial Web. Objects, rooms, buildings and vehicles will have spatial URLs allowing us to interact with layer upon layer of dynamic data made decentralized and secure with open operating systems authenticated by our personal, rule-based blockchain systems. This short talk will tease you with the Spatial Web, aka Web 3.0, and how it will change everything. 2:00-2:20 p.m. Where is the Video Train Headed? Michael Heiss, Principal Consultant, M.Heiss Consulting Video displays have gone from CRT to plasma and then to LCD, QLED and OLED, and now DirectLED and microLED. Projection systems have gone from bulky three-tube CRT systems to laser-illuminated systems, and now to laser-direct as well. This talk will briefly review the current state of video displays and where it is going in the future. 4:00-4:20 p.m. Cinema Grades, CEB22, CEB23, and Designer Facts Peter Aylett, President and CTO, Archimedia CEDIA already has a range of recommended practices and other resources that define best practice. 2019 will see all of these updated, and three new exciting ones added to make up the complete picture to define performance grades, define engineering specifications for products, define design best practices, and bring all these together with comprehensive guidance notes. x
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DEPARTMENTS
Inside Installation
Tracking Inventory
Denver Custom Integrators Streamline Warehouse Operations with New Tracknicity App By Walter Joseph
Tracknicity is an iOS app for both field workers and installation technicians who handle parts and inventory for customers. It seamlessly integrates with QuickBooks, both desktop and online, with just one click.
A year ago, Residential Systems Inc., a 30-person custom integration firm in Denver, was struggling to find a better way to manage the flow of products in and out of their warehouse. About that time, Residential Systems staff member Jim Ford stepped up and shared his idea with company co-founder Travis Leo for creating an iOS app to streamline the process. The resulting Tracknicity app initially was developed just for internal use, but after Leo shared it with his peers in the Azione Unlimited buying group last fall, he felt that it could benefit other companies in the industry, as well. “Tracknicity was born out of frustration from the lack of a truly integrated inventory solution in Quickbooks and D-Tools,” Leo said. “We designed Tracknicity to solve a problem that faces tens of thousands of small businesses across the globe. Tracknicity is a thin and simple web-based application that leverages the tools you already use today. It’s inexpensive, easy to deploy, and can revolutionize your warehouse operations.” The iOS app is designed to be used by both field workers and installation technicians who handle parts and inventory for customers. It
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seamlessly integrates with QuickBooks, both desktop and online, with just one click. “We set out to create something that could support multiple locations–multiple warehouses, multiple vans, and multiple staging areas, through native barcode scanning,” Leo said. “All other pre-existing solutions involved proprietary technology and thousands of dollars in RFID and bar code scanners, and that just didn’t make sense for a small company like us. Tracknicity turns the camera feature of an iOS device into a bar code scanner that easily allows technicians to check parts in and out and even make custom requests for parts delivery and user-configured notifications. Leo offered a use case: “Technicians, for instance, might need to know when a 65-inch TV for the Smith Family job arrives. Invariably, our purchasing person would forget that they needed to remind them when that came in, and it would be sitting in the warehouse,” he said. “They would ask, ‘Did that TV come in?’ and the response would be, ‘It’s been there for a week.’ We set up notifications, so you can receive a ping when that ordered item is in.”
Pricing, Leo said, is affordable enough for small businesses, ranging from $100/month to $200/month (depending on how many mobile users are in the company). This provides a company with full functionality, unlimited inventory items, the mobile app, push notifications, cloud storage, and support. Tracknicity also has announced a partnership with D-Tools, which combines inventory management with D-Tools SI project estimation, system design, and project management software. The combined offering also transfers appropriate product and labor information to QuickBooks for financial accounting. According to D-Tools CEO Randy Stearns, his company had been hesitant to add inventory management to its platforms because it infringes upon financial accounting, which is a line that the company deliberately chooses not to cross. He was swayed, however, by Tracknicity’s ability to successfully bridge the inventory management gap between D-Tools and QuickBooks and further solve many day-today challenges associated with running a systems integration business. x
DEPARTMENTS
New Tech
Catering to Custom Lenbrook’s New NAD and PSB Models Add Integration-Friendly Features By Walter Joseph When it comes to PSB loudspeakers and NAD electronics, audio performance, dependability, and price point has never been an issue. But, according to parent company Lenbrook International’s Custom Installation Product Manager Joe de Jesus, the past 18 months has been about making these greatsounding brands more appealing to the custom integration channel while avoiding the “SKU bloat” that can come from adding too many new models to a line up. For de Jesus, who has a custom installation background, it’s all about creating great-sound speakers and exceptional amplifiers that can be installed easily and have the necessary aesthetics to make it in the CI world. “We started with a basic plan, which built on what we already had–some really good architectural product,” de Jesus said. “Then we widened the SKU base a little bit further and made sure it was complementary to what was already built. We already had architectural in-ceiling and in-wall speakers, so we looked at what needed to be added to grow that division a little bit more. On the PSB side, architectural subwoofers were one area of need. Rather than just coming up with one solution, however, Lenbrook wanted to address situations that designers and installers have to contend with in homes. That led to two PSB in-wall subwoofers (the $899 CS IW Sub 28 and $1,099 CS IW Sub 10), as well as a PSB in-room passive subwoofer (the $1,199 CS IR Sub) that’s designed to be more aesthetically pleasing with a smaller footprint. With those three subwoofers, NAD is also offering a new rackmounted amplifier ($1,099 CS 500 W) that can be used on any of them. “With four SKUs, we figured that we can cover the architectural subwoofer category, supplementing the other products that we have, whether that be in-ceiling or in-wall or even a
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Lenbrook is adding PSB in-wall subwoofers (the $899 CS IW Sub 28 and $1,099 CS IW Sub 10), as well as a PSB in-room passive subwoofer (the $1,199 CS IR Sub) to its line. The company is also supplementing its amplifier assortment with the CI 8-120 DSP distribution amplifier.
blend with more conventional products,” de Jesus said.
PWM2, which matches up to 65- and 70-inch TVs.
PSB is also adding a new angled in-ceiling speaker ($599 CS AIC 860) to its core of three 6.5-inch and three 8-inch in-ceiling speakers. It’s not the first angled in-ceiling speaker in the PSB lineup, but this new model fits in a roundformat frame, using the same pre-construction bracket and back box as the rest of the line. Although it requires an 8-inch round frame, the speaker is only 6.5-inches, reducing the amount of room required in the ceiling (only 5.34 quarter inches deep.)
On the NAD side, Lenbrook is supplementing its amplifier assortment with two new DSP distribution amplifiers (the $2,999 CI 8-120 and $3,999 CI 8-150) that can be calibrated via IP control, at 120 and 150 watts, respectively.
PSB’s new Performance Wall Mount on-wall “soundbars” will consist of three models to match the most common TV sizes, while providing the big, open, spacious, neutral, and musical sound that the brand considers its hallmark. The first of these to market will be the
“Now, if there are any problems, you’d be able to mitigate them without rolling a truck–power cycle the amp, do a factory reset, install the calibration. They can even do a remote update if they want to,” de Jesus said. “Even the layout of the back of the unit is much more how an installer dresses an amplifier on a rack.” All in all, de Jesus said, it’s about “building on what PSB and NAD do best but making sure we had the CI features to make it relevant in the CI world.” x
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DEPARTMENTS
New Tech
Embedding Intelligence Technology Enhancements Refine Savant’s Audio Product Capabilities By Anthony Leo
The idea of embedding more technology in core devices has been a trend for a while now at Savant.
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Savant didn’t start out as an audio company. When it was founded in 2005, the Massachusetts-based company was known more for its home automation and device control acumen, only more recently broadening into such areas as solar power management and audio and video distribution.
Tim Locascio. “It provides great audio quality, point-to-point, for surrounds, and is made exactly for this application. We spent a good year testing WiSA and they recently fixed issues we were running into. The technology has solidified in the use case we’re using it for.” We’re planning on shipping in Q4.
Savant’s acquisition in 2017 of respected loudspeaker manufacturer, Artison, and partnerships with established technology platforms such as AVB and WiSA are further solidifying the company’s audio technology position, leading to its latest new product launch, a three-channel “surround soundbar” that will decode Dolby and DTS (via Toslink cable) and connect a subwoofer and rearsurround speakers using the WiSa wireless audio protocol (although the sub can be wired up as an alternate option).
The idea of embedding more technology in core devices has been a trend for a while now at Savant. Around this time last year, the company announced embedded control and host processing technology into core devices, making system design and installation easier than ever before as well as allowing integrators to add the foundation for whole-home control into a wide variety of new project types. The first was the result of the Savant Host Inside initiative with the Savant IP Audio Soundbar and Savant Multistat thermostat.
“We chose WiSA because it’s high-bandwidth, point to point, high bit rate, so you can run it at 96K/24-bit,” said Savant’s VP of Engineering,
The Savant IP Soundbar is an AVB networked device fully compatible with Savant IP Audio, delivering access to all popular streaming
Residential Tech Today | Sept/Oct 2019
services and requiring no outboard rackmountable hardware for audio distribution. It features built-in control ports as well as all of the smart capabilities of Savant’s S2 Host, including a single stream of Savant Music. The all-in-one solution for audio and control is included, making it perfect for single-room solutions or for systems with up to six zones of audio and control. With this new smart soundbar, dealers no longer have to wire and locate a separate host and controller to provide the user experience and voice control capabilities consumers can receive from the Savant Pro Remote. Savant also has embedded their control and automation platform inside the Multistat, a touchscreen multipurpose thermostat that is part of the Savant Climate family. It enables control and automation functionality to be placed discretely alongside climate settings and is available as an option with the Savant Host Inside. The Multistat allows for up to six rooms of audio distribution, automation, and control running off a single Multistat. x
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innovator spotlight
Making Lives Better DSI Luxury Technology’s Eric Thies Offers a More Human-Centric Approach to Home Integration By Jeremy Glowacki
DSI Luxury Technology, in Lake Balboa, CA, is one the most often-awarded home technology integration firms in North America. Founded in 1994 by Eric Thies, the 26-person DSI team has a reputation for turning away more projects than they accept. Thies says that he intentionally limits the number of projects his company accepts every year so that they can give their clients all of the attention that they need. DSI has been known to have an approach that is human-centric not tech-centric because their clients want the benefits of technology but often don’t care much about the actual tech.
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For more than 20 years, Thies and his DSI team have specialized in providing top Hollywood professionals on the Bel Air Circuit with exceptional private home theater systems. This highly specialized field requires a delicate balance of commercial AV skills with residential AV skills. When deploying professional cinema equipment in a home, careful engineering, planning, and design is required to make the room a success and easy to use. DSI specializes in the artful integration of equipment, the blending of consumer video sources (broadcast TV, gaming, streaming video services), and the simplification of operation for the homeowner.
Here’s what else we learned from our conversation with Thies. Residential Tech Today: What part of this business makes you happiest? It’s always fun meeting clients and solving puzzles for them. I am fortunate to be in Los Angeles with access to some of the most successful people on Earth. So, being in the orbit of superhumans is never dull. Outside of that, I get to be a part of some of the most amazing builds that are happening in the world. Working with world-class interior designers and architects on stellar projects makes me
Eric Thies, owner of DSI Luxury Technology in Lake Balboa, CA recently installed a Barco Balder projector in his own home. He’s also a fan of Kaleidescape media servers, Sonance Luxeport iPad mounts, and Access Networks Wi-Fi technology. DSI offers its discerning Los Angeles client base great home theaters created by world-class design teams.
incredibly happy since I am an architecture/ design/real estate nerd (two of our projects were on the cover of Architectural Digest this year). Technology on its own doesn’t necessarily make me happy, but how technology can make my clients’ lives better makes me happy. RT Today: What do you find most frustrating? My industry is full of frustration. One of the biggies is tech that doesn’t perform as advertised or has been pushed out to the public before it is ready for prime-time. My clients rely on me to protect them from bad tech, and when manufacturers don’t deliver on their promises, I am on the front line taking the heat. The other frustration is that clients tend to make bad decisions when hiring an integrator. They do little to no research on a firm and routinely hire someone who is underqualified or has a bad reputation. Since there is such a low barrier of entry to our industry, most of the companies out there are underqualified, so it can be difficult to figure out who is good. Bad installations sour clients to technology, and it is causing end users to install less tech in their new home after a bad experience in their old one. I am excited that the Home Technology Association is gaining steam to solve this problem with dealer certification, but this is an epidemic in our industry that is going to take some time to solve.
RT Today: When you’re deciding whether to start offering a new product or technology in your projects, what are some of the most important criteria you consider? Performance is the number-one criteria. Is it excellent? Is it reliable? Does it solve a problem? I am less concerned about price point. My clients appreciate a good value, but they crave quality. If the price point is a little high but the product delivers, my clients will typically be okay with that. The other factor is how well a manufacturer supports their product. No tech is perfect, but there is perfect customer service. If something goes south, I want to deal with a company that understands how much pressure I am under to resolve a tech issue quickly. I am not interested in specs and bells and whistles for the sake of marveling over the tech. The product has to have benefits that translate to a better user experience. RT Today: Currently, what are your favorite products/technologies? Some of my current favorite tech are Barco projectors. I just installed a Barco Balder projector in my personal theater. Love the fact that the laser image stays consistent–unlike a lamp-based projector–and just also love the film-like image. It’s really impressive. I also love Kaleidescape Movie Players (the last great video
source that still has the best user interface). Most people do not understand how much information is lost when streaming a movie. The performance difference of a video stream from Netflix or Amazon Prime versus a Kaleidescape is astonishing. I also love, love, love their movie store–lots of great 4K HDR content with perfect video and sound. I am also really crazy about the Luxeport from Sonance. I think it is a really great piece of industrial design. I am also a freak when it comes to internet speed and performance, so I am a die-hard fan of Access Networks Wi-Fi products; they’re worth every penny. RT Today: Looking ahead, what technology trend do you expect to have the most influence on the work that you do? Since we do a lot of theaters and media rooms, I am closely following videowall technology. I think we are in the very early adopter stage of the life cycle, but it will be really interesting to see how fast the technology progresses and how affordable it becomes. I think, overall, that consumers are moving toward larger and larger screens in typically bright rooms, so I think this technology will be become pretty ubiquitous. It will not be uncommon for an entire wall of a home to be a video screen. One minute it displays art, the next a movie or the homes security cameras. I am excited for this to progress. x Sept/Oct 2019 | Residential Tech Today
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DESIGN SIDE
It All Boils Down to the Fixtures Getting the Most Out of a Home Lighting System By Lisa Montgomery Lighting control systems are a part of every home systems integrator’s product portfolio, and a growing number of homeowners are putting it on their home improvement wish lists. Right there with audio, video, and security, systems that control a home’s light fixtures based on certain scripted parameters have become increasingly popular elements of a smart home. But are you maximizing all that this type of lighting has to offer? Just because a light fixture is smart doesn’t mean that it’s doing its job completely. And no matter how much intelligence is built into a lighting control system, it takes the right type of fixture, the right positioning of those fixtures, and the right design to maximize the full benefits of smart home lighting. For this reason, AV professionals who also design and sell lighting fixtures–in addition to lighting control systems–stand to boost revenues and differentiate themselves from their competition. For homeowners, buying both the control system and the fixtures from one source – as well as AV systems and other smart home solutions – can save a lot of home construction headaches. Rolling light fixture supply and installation into an AV professional’s scope of work may seem like a really good idea in theory, but the lighting business can be tricky. Lighting touches every aspect of a home building project: the electrical and low-voltage wiring, the architecture, and interior and furnishings can all have an impact on a lighting design, so the more you know about these areas of expertise, the better you’ll be at selecting the appropriate fixtures, positioning them for the desired effect, and developing good working relationships with everyone on the jobsite. Depending on who brings an AV specialist
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Photo: iStockphoto.com/sergeyryzhov
onto the project–the architect, interior designer, or builder–you’ll want to align the lighting design with their individual expectations. For example, if it’s the architect, pay close attention to the structural details of the home when specifying and installing the fixtures. Interior designer? Know what colors, furnishings, and other décor are planned for the space.
for everyone involved.” Here are some of his tips to ensure profitability for installers and satisfaction for their clients.
What’s the Trick? In his presentation at the CEDIA Leadership Conference, held in Chicago recently, professional lighting designer Peter Romaniello of Conceptual Lighting, LLC, South Windsor, Conn., offered advice on how to create and implement a lighting plan that enhances every aspect of a home–its design, functionality, and the lifestyle of the people who live there.
Consequently, anyone who sells and installs lighting should not just know about the fixtures’ capabilities, but also how to best integrate them into the design of a home. By the same token, you can have a great lighting design, but if you put in cheap fixtures, you are also missing the boat. Fixture selection and lighting design must go hand-in-hand to enable elegant, useful, and easily controllable illumination.
“It’s an interesting time in the lighting market,” he remarked. “There is a great opportunity for AV professionals to get into the business of designing and supplying lighting, but if they approach it in the wrong way, it can turn out to be a real mess
Know Who’s in Charge Lighting supply and design can fall into the lap of a variety of different contractors, each of whom approaches the project with different objectives in mind. Generally speaking, if an
Know Your Fixtures “You can have the greatest, most expensive light fixture in the world, but if it’s placed in the wrong spot, it offers no benefit,” Romaniello said.
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DESIGN SIDE
It All Boils Down to the Fixtures
Photo: iStockphoto.com/Robert Ingelhart
architect is in charge, his main goal is to ensure that the fixtures line up with moldings, doorways, and other structural elements. The interior designer, meanwhile, might focus on finding fixtures that are as small as possible to pose less visual conflict with the furnishings, artwork, and other decorative features. An electrical contractor looks at cost, a lighting showroom consultant weighs his/her choice of fixture on what’s in stock, and a professional lighting designer selects fixtures based on what will get the job done right regardless of cost. AV professionals getting into the business of lighting supply and installation often come at it from an angle of “which fixtures are compatible with my chosen smart dimming system?” There’s nothing wrong with this manner of thinking. After all, it’s important that fixtures can be easily dimmed to the appropriate levels to achieve the right effect. But, an AV professional can bring so much more to the table by mastering the selection and design of those lights. Can the “Can” Reference Architectural blueprints pinpoint the locations of all the recessed light fixtures planned for a home. It is a necessary part of the home design and construction process but can backfire if the exact types of fixtures for each location aren’t clearly specified.
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“Saying just ‘recessed light’ leaves too much to interpretation,” Romaniello explained. “It’s like saying we need a subwoofer, without specifying the exact make and model.” You might end up with a cheap $50 fixture when you really need a $150 unit to get the job done right. Or you might get a recessed downlight when you need a recessed wall washer. Another tip from Romaniello: Stop calling recessed lights “cans.” It demeans the capabilities and sophistication of today’s top light fixtures.” The Waiting Game Don’t expect recessed light to wind up on your doorstep the day after you order them. They take a long time to get from point A to point B– as long as four weeks after the lighting distributor orders them, according to Romaniello. “Light fixtures aren’t just sitting on a shelf; they go through many channels to get to the jobsite. Homeowners might expect to wait several weeks for custom cabinetry; it’s the same for quality light fixtures.” Talk Percentage Not Price Sticker shock happens during the construction of a home. For many people, $3,000 for light fixtures might be a tough pill to swallow, but when it’s stated as one percent of the overall cost of a home, it goes down a lot easier. “Always talk in percentages,” Romaniello
advised. “It gives homeowners a good idea of where lighting sits in comparison to other amenities, like AV equipment.” Another way to soften the blow, he suggested, is to make lighting a part of the FF&E (furniture, fixtures, and equipment) budget rather than the construction budget. “Items included in the construction budget are often perceived as commodities–something to try to save money on.” When lighting is part of the FF&E budget, along with things like AV, it’s seen more as a luxury item, something that’s supposed to be expensive. “AV can often be 10 percent of an FF&E,” Romaniello said. Why not include something as important as light fixtures? Play Up the Importance of Lighting Everyone knows their home needs lighting. What homeowners and even home building professionals may not realize is that all fixtures are not created equal. The range of capabilities, styles, and prices run the gamut, and proper design of those fixtures–even the very best ones on the market–can be the difference between mediocre and magnificent home illumination. By understanding the tricks of the lighting selection and installation trade, both AV integrators and homeowners stand to reap the benefits of home lighting that’s functional, elegant, and easy to operate. x
NETWORKED HOME
The Latest Mini Streaming Dongle AirTV Mini is a Petite Device that is Bulked Up with Features By Michael Heiss
The new AirTV Mini pushes the benchmark a bit higher and debuts a new form factor.
The folks at AirTV beat both the heat and the inventible wave of new streaming device products expected to be unveiled in late summer/early fall from the likes of Roku and Amazon’s Fire TV line, with their new AirTV Mini. It pushes the benchmark a bit higher and debuts a new form factor. While the current AirTV Player and AirTV, both of which remain available, have a more conventional “set-top” size configuration, the new AirTV Mini is their first foray into the “plug into an HDMI jack dongle” device design popularized by Roku, Chromecast, and Fire TV. It has a bit boxier size and aesthetic than the long, thin look of its competitors, but is still small and lightweight enough to easily plug in and hang behind the TV. As such, unlike the AirTV Player, it is Wi-Fi only but ups the ante with dual-band 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) capability. There is also Bluetooth integration for use with headphones and game controllers. The remote is similar to the competition. It is black, rather than the blue and white theme of the AirTV Player with direct access buttons for Netflix, Google Assistant using the built-in mic, and, of course, Sling for AirTV’s corporate parent. Thanks to CEC, there is control for TV or audio system on/off and volume along with the requisite navigation buttons. Put it in your hand, and you’ll be instantly familiar with the operation, as it resembles others in the field.
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The new AirTV Mini stands out from the crowd in the system design and interface. AirTV Mini is the first stand-alone streaming product with Android TV 9.0. Even the NVidia Shield, often regarded as the best Android TV streamer and the most frequently upgraded, does not yet feature the 9.0 version. These days, HDR 10 is more or less standard for streaming devices, but, according to AirTV, the Mini also joins the ranks of products that pass-through Dolby Vision. Chromecast is onboard, as is 4K capability for compatible source material. The Mini also claims a faster processor and more memory than some of the competition. With cord cutters as an obvious target for this type of product, some DVR capability is essential. Unlike the AirTV Player and NVidia Shield, which can be connected to an optional ATSC tuner and USB storage, the Mini uses the dual-tuner AirTV box for reception and storage output, which, in turn, plays the live or recorded content back though the Mini via the Sling app. Of course, as with any of the streaming dongles, one can also use third-party devices such as a Tablo for off-air viewing and DVR. The new AirTV Mini is an interesting addition to the streaming dongle device market. It certainly has the right features and capabilities, and at an MSRP of $79 it is more expensive than some of the Roku, Chromecast and Fire TV models, but it is certainly lower priced than
Apple TV 4K or Nvidia Shield. While a Sling subscription is not required, the interface is certainly Sling-centric just as the Fire TV products are Amazon-centric. The selection of apps is broad, but in that respect, it does not have the incredible range of apps that one gets from Roku. Without ties to any specific service provider, Roku is still the “Swiss Army Knife of streaming devices.” Indeed, to mollify the cost and Sling orientation, the Mini debuts with a limited-time offer of a free AirTV and indoor OTA antenna with the prepayment of the first three months of a subscription to Sling. With that, the new AirTV Mini is an interesting addition to the market. It is worth looking at as an Android TVbased 4K/HDR streaming dongle, where even though it is priced the same as the AirTV Player, many may find the dongle form factor and less visible blank remote and device more attractive. Even as more "smart TVs" offer streaming built-in, set-top boxes and dongles continue to present very attractive streaming alternatives.. This is not only for use with older TVs and video projectors, both of which lack streaming capability, but also for their more frequent system and app updates than built-in Smart TV services. As we move into fall, it will be very interesting to see how this new streaming dongle stacks up against the expected new models from Roku, Google, and Fire TV. x
SMART HOME
Master of Ceremonies CEDIA Keynote Speaker Luke Williams Keeps the Spirit of Innovation By Anthony Elio Luke Williams is a busy man. Even a quick summary of his work and accomplishments seems like an everyday person’s lifetime resume. Williams is currently a Fellow at the global design firm Frog Design Inc., the professor of marketing at the NYU School of Business, the executive director and founder of W.R. Berkeley Labs, an international bestselling author with his book Disrupt: Think the Unthinkable to Spark Transformation in Your Business, and an experienced speaker across 21 different countries. Oh, and he has also invented over 30 patents in the U.S. With this impressive track record, it’s no wonder that Williams was chosen as the keynote speaker for this year’s CEDIA Expo smart home technology showcase in Denver. Williams previews his speech, as well as his thoughts on the evolution of home tech, in this exclusive interview. Residential Tech Today: What can we look forward to for your CEDIA keynote? Luke Williams: Obviously, CEDIA is a technology conference… it’s all about smart homes and future home technology. What I’ve said to the organizer of the conference is I would like to not mention technology at all, because I think there’s a little bit too much obsession at the moment in terms of thinking that technology is the answer to all our problems. I often have a laugh to myself that whenever we think about innovation and the future, we need to put tech on the end of it. I think the word “tech” makes things sound more sexy, but there’s a danger in that. There’s a danger in believing that we don’t need any new ideas, that we’re just using the latest technology available to incrementally improve the ideas that we’ve already got. So the question at the CEDIA conference is going to be, “Are you using all the technology that’s available today to challenge the entire concept of what we call a home, challenge the current way we think about our living spaces, and the way that we create our communities? Or are you using all the amazing technology that’s
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available today just to incrementally improve the current ideas that we have around how to create a home, how to have better relationships within the home, how to build a community, etc.?” I think the real key is coming up with better ideas, not just using technology to improve the ideas that we currently have. RT Today: How would you describe the significance of the CEDIA event to a newcomer? LW: This is my first time at CEDIA. But like all events, the value of a live event is that it takes you away from the hustle and bustle of your dayto-day little cocoon experience. It takes you out
of that very short-term environment where there’s a lot of pressures of just delivering today, getting done what you have to get done today. It takes you out of that environment and allows you to sit back and reflect on bigger ideas and bigger issues and, dare I say it, consider the future of the industry and what you’re doing from a much more abstract perspective. RT Today: What’s your opinion on the growing world of the smart home and the Internet of Things? LW: Mark Weiser wrote an incredibly influential article called, “The Computer for the 21st Century.” He used the term “calm
SMART HOME
technology.” I think it was the early 90s. People at this time were freaking out about information anxiety, thinking, “How on Earth are we going to keep up with this constant bombardment of information?” The amount of information isn’t going to decrease. It’s going to keep increasing. But, this technology is going to help us keep in the flow of this information without having us feel overwhelmed. And, the way that they were promising this is that our technologies are demanding our conscious attention. So, the phone rings, I look at it, I pick it up. Or I get a text message, and I hear the text notification, I look at my phone. So, it demands my conscious attention. And now this is the era of the Internet of Things where everything, basically, is an interface object with a sensor. The promise of that era is that we can stay in the flow of information not through our conscious attention, but through our peripheral attention–our peripheral sense. So, the
same way that I’m taking a nice relaxing walk in the park outside and I can see the gentle swing of the trees, letting me know approximately how windy it is, and it’s obviously not rainy because I’m not getting wet… I can see the sun out… I’m taking all that information in, but I’m still able to, for example, concentrate on the conversation I’m having with my friend who is walking with me. So that is the promise of really calm technology, ubiquitous computing, and now the Internet of Things. We’re trying to make technology disappear but have a much more natural relationship with the information in our lives, just the same way that we currently navigate the world around us without these high-tech devices. RT Today Today: You’re the inventor of more than 30 different U.S. patents. How does that inspiration come to you when you’re in the inventing mode? LW: Well, when you’re working at a design and innovation company like Frog, that is just the nature of your work. You’re constantly
thinking about new approaches, new ways of seizing opportunities, etc. So, the patents are really just an outcome of that process. I think I’ve probably held over or been listed as an inventor in more than 100 patents. I normally say ’30-plus’ just because the status of the patents is constantly changing, and I don’t bother to keep up with it. But, you’re constantly signing this stuff when it comes across your desk at a company like that. So, it’s really just part of the day-to-day job. I don’t think there’s any specific sort of technique for thinking about a patent. I think, at the end of the day, I use a recipe metaphor for innovation because I think it’s a powerful one. Really, if you think about ideas as recipes, growth occurs whenever people take ingredients, meaning the resources that are available at the time, and rearrange them into recipes. And it’s these recipes that make the resources more valuable. x
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INDUSTRY RELATIONS
Honing Your Craft by Saying ‘No’
Turning Down the Wrong Products, Projects, and Clients Can Help You Focus on Better Opportunities By Jamie Briesemeister I am an inherent fixer, creative problemsolver, and endlessly curious like a four-year-old child. When confronted with a problem that I know I can solve or positively influence, I’ll become impassioned quickly, want to fix the world, and, before I know it, I can overcommit myself, my resources, and my time. Age and experience have shown me, however, the value of recognizing this passionate pitfall and making decisions that require the word “no,” even when I want to scream “yes!” One such defining moment, for me, was for a project that started out looking great on paper. It was budgeted for six-figures (a good get for the Midwest), with a client who “knew people” and had a long list of potential referrals lined up waiting for us. Yet, in the sales process he identified how he really didn’t care about quality – price mattered, and that was all. After our client asked me to take a “haircut” on the project, I let him know that I like my hair long and that we should not do business together; it didn’t seem to be a good match. Walking away from this project took guts, and I needed the support of my team as I turned down such a big opportunity (it was 2010, and the market wasn’t great). Yet, saying “no” to this client meant that we could say “yes” to the next few opportunities that came our way– ones that were perfect (and profitable) for us. I kept my hair long and we had better clients as a result. When I heard that our competitors were still working in the house of the client we had turned away, nearly two years later, I breathed a sigh of relief knowing that saying “no” had saved our soul.
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Saying “no” has opened the right doors to say “yes” to opportunities such as these: working with a new interior designer on a loft project, re-envisioning a client's home (again), and collaborating with an AV company to provide the control and integration on a project out of town.
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INDUSTRY RELATIONS
Honing Your Craft by Saying ‘No’
Despite many audio/visual integrators working both sides of the commercial and residential spectrum, we have opted to focus solely on residential business since January of this year. We are saying “no” to commercial audio/visual work, so our design and technical teams can focus on the residential work at hand. A skilled workforce is developing in our industry, but it is not easy to find great people, and I want the people we have on board to succeed more than I want to sell a big commercial project. Our product lines and training program are now more focused, as is our sales and design process. This official move hasn’t been easy because I know we could do the work that comes our way. But, it’s better for our business to connect these leads with those that do commercial work all of the time, so we can focus on honing our residential skillset to be the best in our area. Being in technology provides opportunities to fall in love with, buy, and implement new products and solutions all of the time. Yet, we have realized the importance of saying “no” (or at least “not yet”) to brand-new technologies as a go-to solution, until they have been properly vetted. The market, manufacturers, and reps consistently encourage the sale of a new shiny penny, stating it’s the next best thing. But is it? Our clients hire us for reliably built electronic environments that simplify their lives. If the new shiny penny does not provide this experience consistently, then our reputation and relationships with our clients suffer. Our clients want leading edge, not bleeding edge. We alpha test at home, beta test in our office, and then implement in clients’ homes if the product passes the test. Even though we still want to say “yes,” saying “no” has helped our business, by focusing our attention on the right opportunities–not all opportunities. We are building a better business because of it. Can you look at your business with a fresh set of eyes and see where you should be saying “no”? x
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Our clients hire us for reliably built electronic environments that simplify their lives.
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ISSUE FOCUS
The Voice-First Revolution
Voicing Thoughts
Available Voice Control Platforms Continue Evolution Toward Inevitable Ubiquity By Jordan Wills
Photo: iStockphoto.com/Petmal
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ISSUE FOCUS
O
One day, we will live in the golden age of voice control – our eyes and thumbs freed from the screen as we converse intuitively with the technology around us. Today is not that day. That being said, voice control has improved substantially, even in the last six months. Advancements in the smartphone ecosystem have made voice a better interface for a lot of everyday tasks. The same can be said for voice control at home. For the most up-to-date features of currently available voice ecosystems, here is our 2019 comparison guide from the four leading platforms:
Alexa Benefits: Controls more third-party devices than any other platform and integrates cleanly with Amazon shopping. It also recognizes different voices and adjusts to the behavior of each user. As of 2019, it has significantly improved its recognition of synonyms of words. Alexa can also (finally) execute multiple commands without requiring the “Alexa” wake word before each one. Challenges: Still prone to mistakes and is barely available on your smartphone. Conclusion: While Amazon’s platform is the most broadly compatible, the control it provides is relatively shallow. Combined with weak speech recognition, Alexa tends to disappoint beyond basic needs.
Google Assistant Benefits: Recognizes natural language better than any other and handles multiple command strings impressively. Like Alexa, it recognizes multiple voice profiles. Google has also eliminated the wake word for simple commands like turning off an alarm. Challenges: Integrates with fewer devices than Alexa, though that gap continues to close. It also requires a slightly more cumbersome wake word (“OK Google…”) Conclusion: While behind Alexa in its breadth of compatibility, Google Assistant still integrates
Sept/Oct 2019 | Residential Tech Today
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ISSUE FOCUS
The Voice-First Revolution | Voicing Thoughts
Photo: iStockphoto.com/Marc Bruxelle
with the most sought-after products (Nest, Hue, Sonos), and controls them more intuitively than any other platform thanks to its natural speech recognition. Also, you can change the voice to be John Legend, if that’s what you’re into.
Siri Benefits: Thoughtfully integrates with Apple products (the Apple TV remote as well as AirPods), as well as the limited number of HomeKit-compatible devices. Challenges: Integrates poorly outside of the Apple ecosystem, limits users to a single voice profile, and still struggles to execute multiple command strings. Conclusion: The obvious choice for the Apple loyalist, Siri’s mediocre performance becomes almost unusable when trying to integrate products outside of Apple. However, integration with non-Apple music services and Google Maps are promised with iOS 13.
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Bixby Benefits: Recognizes natural language second only to Google and handles multiple command strings beautifully. Challenges: Integrates with far fewer devices than Alexa, and comes built into far fewer products than Alexa or Google Assistant. Tries to keep you in the Samsung ecosystem. Conclusion: A surprisingly capable platform despite being the least known of the group, Bixby becomes a sensible option for owners of newer Samsung appliances and/or TVs, with which it integrates smoothly.
Typical Use Cases Music Google Assistant, Siri, and Bixby are all available in their own powerful speaker (Home Max, HomePod, and Galaxy Home, respectively), while Alexa comes in a variety of
weaker-performing speakers. Alexa, however, is built directly into Sonos, one of the leaders in wireless audio (Google Assistant has accomplished the same partnership as of 2019.) Bixby has a long-term partnership with Spotify that promises deeper integration than the competition, while the rest favor their own music streaming services (Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Google Play Music.) Apple is the only platform that really tries to lock you into its music service, though they are finally integrating with third party streaming services with iOS 13.
Video Alexa and Google Assistant integrate with their own streaming dongles (Fire TV and Chromecast), and as of July 2019 they have finally integrated each other’s rival streaming services (YouTube and Amazon Prime) Otherwise, they offer the same Apps (Netflix,
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ISSUE FOCUS
The Voice-First Revolution | Voicing Thoughts
HBO GO, etc) making them even in the streaming world. Siri wins by integrating with Apple TV, which is the superior streaming device thanks to its smooth control and intuitive cross-app search. Bixby is a built-in feature in Samsung Smart TVs, eliminating the need for a separate device altogether. It also overlays search results (TV shows, Spotify, weather) without obstructing what you’re currently watching.
Lights, etc. While Alexa integrates with the most thirdparty brands, all four platforms integrate with DIY leaders Philips Hue and Lutron Caseta. More advanced systems for lighting, shading, and the rest of the home should be controlled by a smart home platform. All leading smart
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home platforms can now trigger scenes and make adjustments using Alexa and Google Assistant.
Just for the Home Josh.ai While the platforms discussed above try to tackle voice for every application, Josh.ai’s singular goal is to master home control. This comes with a few advantages: Natural language recognition – Since other platforms are listening for every command possible, they require very specific phrasing to categorize and identify your request, rejecting minor variations. Josh only cares about your home, allowing more leniency in how you phrase things (“Turn the lights up” = “Make it brighter” = “Lights brighter.”)
Context awareness – Saying “turn the lights on” in the bedroom shouldn’t turn on the whole home. Asking for The Beatles should assume you’re asking for music. Playing “Mad Men” should assume you’d like to resume where you left off last time. Josh’s limited focus allows them to accomplish this contextual awareness more elegantly than other platforms. Privacy flexibility – Josh can be switched into conversation mode where it listens to everything you say, allowing you to think out loud as you control your home without constantly using the wake word. Conversely, your privacy can be tightened up with a mode that listens after the wake word but saves nothing to its servers. x Thanks to Alex Capecelatro (CEO of Josh AI) for sitting down with us.
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TECH ADVISOR
Electronics Expiration Dates
Orienting Sales and Service Around the Bathtub Curve
By Henry Clifford
By placing the elephant in the room front and center, we’ve been able to re-orient our sales and service touchpoints around the inevitable need to upgrade systems every three to five years. If clients ever complain or sound surprised, we’re able to reference countless examples of technology not behaving properly, prompting groans and knowing nods from them. As Ice T said, “Don’t hate the player, hate the game.”
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Decreasing Failure Rate
FAILURE RATE
I’ve always enjoyed the simplicity of the Bathtub Curve when it comes to observing the technology lifecycle. The electronics that we sell generally go through three distinct stages: Early Failure (Infant Mortality), Useful Life (Constant Random Failure), and End Of Life (Wear-out Failure). Until recently, we’ve shied away–out of fear–from proactively addressing this lifecycle head-on with our clients. That all changed last year when we decided to openly talk about the expiration date of electronics the same way we might look at the expiration date on a gallon of milk.
Constant Failure Rate
Increasing Failure Rate
Observed Failure Rate Early “Infant Mortality” Failures
Wear Out Failures Constant (Random) Failures
TIME
Photo: iStockphoto.com/gilaxia
0-90 Days: Infant Mortality Our company’s standard warranty period is 90 days with an optional two-year extended warranty should customers express an interest. I love the 90-day warranty because it tends to address the “infant mortality” issues without setting us up for an extended period of nonbillable work. Clients who feel passionately about peace of mind opt for the two-year plan, further monetizing service work for us. There’s nothing we can do about infant mortality product failures in our business, and responding quickly to these issues minimizes client frustrations. To that end, our manufacturer relationships are predicated on a mutual obsession with delivering customer happiness. 90-1,000 Days: Constant Random Failures No matter what, some portion of our customers are always going to experience issues with “ghosts in the machine.” It’s a part of life that we all can relate to, but I find our industry is hesitant to address these issues proactively. In my home technology integration company, we conquer this by leading clients through a visualization exercise during our initial meetings where we talk about life in 12 months, after the system has been installed and working well for a long time. We then describe a scene where it’s 9 p.m. on a Sunday evening, and they’re settling down to watch their favorite show. They pick up the remote and… nothing works. We pause and let that sink in, creating an uncomfortable silence for effect. We then ask them what they envision at that point. How do they feel in the
moment? Over time, we’ve experienced a consistent answer from most of these conversations: “Frustrated!” We continue with the exercise, describing how we used to be a company where if you wanted us on a Sunday evening at 9 p.m., we weren’t around. The best you could get was our answering service or maybe voicemail. The most irritated customers might text the owner or their sales rep. None of these options produced great results. Our mission during the exercise is to manufacture crisis and create feelings of discomfort. In other words, expose a pain point and jab it a bit. We try not to overdo it. Once we’ve done our jobs and there’s a good bit of virtual pain created, we swoop in with the medication. We move from contrasting the old way of doing things to today’s world where 24/7 remote support and proactive monitoring are becoming the “new normal.” We describe how we could’ve avoided the 9 p.m. panic by proactively diagnosing the small issue a few weeks prior and fixing it remotely. We show them a self-service app where they can reboot their systems or call, text, email or chat with us 24/7/365. I’m a co-founder of Parasol, but there are many ways to deliver this kind of support to customers, including companies like OneVision, Axius, or trying to deliver it in-house. I feel like it’s not a question of whether 24/7 remote support should be part of an integrator’s product offering, but which method works best for their customers.
In the middle of the bathtub curve, catering to customer pain by delivering reliable service has stood us in good stead and kept a relationship going during a period which can typically be a dry spell for integrators, where the client relationship can be vulnerable to poaching by competitors should they feel neglected. 1,000 – 1,800 Days: Wear-Out Failures This stage is our biggest area of opportunity. Having been in business for 17 years, that’s easily three to four cycles of product wear-out failures. For the most part, those upgrades have come through passively where the client calls in for help. We’re now counting down the days to expiration and using that slow-burning fuse to drive email campaigns tailored to the product or service they purchased. Because nobody likes pain, presenting the idea of proactively upgrading something before it fails resonates well with our customer base. The main challenge, ironically, has been getting our company software platform to properly measure the cradle-to-grave lifecycle with the type of granularity needed to drive marketing campaigns. By orienting our sales-and-service efforts around the bathtub curve, we’re seeing new business come along in a more predictable stream. Rather than sitting back and waiting for it, we’re going out and jabbing the pain point, followed quickly by medication. If we continue to follow this method, going out and getting new customers could become significantly less important down the road, as we build our selfsustaining ecosystem. x
Sept/Oct 2019 | Residential Tech Today
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FEATURED
Cover Story
Mark Cuban’s
Hunt for the Next Big Thing Entrepreneur and Shark Tank Star Mark Cuban Won’t Stop Searching for the Next Big Innovation By Anthony Elio
Courtesy American Broadcasting Companies, Inc./Eric McCandless
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FEATURED
Mark Cuban is just one of Shark Tank’s regular judges along with (from right to left) Barbara Corcoran, Kevin O’Leary, Lori Greiner, and Robert Herjavec. Courtesy American Broadcasting Companies, Inc./Eric McCandless
“ The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” Entrepreneur Mark Cuban has no shortage of memorable quotes, but this one in particular stands out. Not only does it reflect his personal style, it speaks to anyone in the business landscape. The investment world is so focused on waiting for the “next big thing,” there’s no push for them to innovate themselves. Cuban has invested in an insanely diverse array of companies throughout his career. Here is a short sampling of some of his deals: a professional basketball team, a cross-promotion website, an eSports betting service, a craft distillery, a healthy cookie company, a glucose measuring technology, an education validation service, and a live event-focused television network. The list could continue, but it would overtake the entire article. Throughout the years, the investor has become a household name with his presence on
the extremely popular ABC program Shark Tank, where his business-savvy tactics and dynamic personality are fully on display. He has made some very interesting deals throughout his tenure on the show, such as his $2 million investment in the Halloween-focused entertainment company Ten Thirty One Productions – at the time the biggest deal in the show’s history. Cuban is also easily one of the most recognizable owners in the NBA. His passion for the Dallas Mavericks, as caught on video celebrating with the team’s stars after their Finals win, has paid off over the years, culminating with Cuban and his team hoisting the Championship trophy in 2011. Having owned the team since 2000, he has definitely seen some major trends change up the game, especially when it comes to technology. The biggest tech trend shaking up professional basketball? “AI," Cuban says. "It changes everything on the basketball analytics side and on the marketing side of the business. Cuban’s opinions on technology were something we covered in our
exclusive conversation, as well as advice for custom installation companies and the major significance of tech events. Tech Fit for a Shark One major takeaway from our interview with Cuban was his deep interest in voice technology. And it’s easy to see why, as throughout Cuban’s professional career he has seen the technology go from science fiction to an everyday software. According to Cuban, “The ambient ability to just speak and get results is changing technology in every way.” With the entrepreneur’s heavy focus on innovation, his personal favorite voice assistant came as no surprise. “My favorite is Alexa. We have devices in almost every room. “It makes the simple things easy [and] works as an intercom system. It’s really become a daily use item.” The longtime Shark is definitely not alone in this. At the beginning of 2019, The Verge reported that Amazon has now sold more than 100 million Alexa devices. But what about Alexa’s competition? Is there an AI voice system that could take over for the name synonymous Sept/Oct 2019 | Residential Tech Today
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FEATURED
Cover Story // Mark Cuban’s Hunt for the Next Big Thing
Courtesy American Broadcasting Companies, Inc./Mitch Haaseth
with voice assistants? According to Cuban, “It’s still the first inning of the preseason. A lot will change and there will be plenty of opportunity.” While it’s easy to take such incredible technology for granted, the multibillionaire really appreciates the useful nature of voice assistants. “I don’t have to pick up a remote, a phone, or anything. I can get out of the shower and ask Alexa what the weather is and know what to wear. Or I can ask about a city I’m traveling to and know what to pack.” Despite his enthusiasm regarding the world of voice assistants, Cuban admits that there are inherent security issues involved with the space. In an unsurprisingly blunt take, Cuban revealed that, while there may be issues with security when it comes to voicecontrolled AI tech, it’s something we’re going to have to live with. “There is always a tradeoff between security and simplification. I happen to be one of those boring people that doesn’t care what it captures because I know it’s not much and it’s not retained.”
Cuban flashes his signature smile on the set of Shark Tank next to co-star Daymond John (bottom right).
In fact, Cuban doesn’t see himself ever straying from the path of using voice tech, even with the possible security Courtesy American Broadcasting Companies, Inc./Eric McCandless risks. “If someone is overly concerned, they can avoid the tech,” he said. “I with ideas similar to today’s Spotify and Apple personally won’t stop. I don’t care if someone Music platforms. samples audio to evaluate and improve the In addition to how streaming video has shaken Neuro-Linguistic Programming.” Cuban is most up the entertainment industry, Cuban is likely not alone in this attitude, considering the fascinated by how the world of streaming has massive amount of people who utilize voice even changed the modern smart home itself: technology from tech giants like Amazon and “It’s pushed people to be much more aware of Google with disregard for the risks involved. how Wi-Fi is configured in their homes and how One topic we were particularly interested in bandwidth is shared into a home. Integrators throughout our discussion with Cuban was his have had to get much smarter about all elements take on streaming technology. It’s a topic Cuban of networking in order to make streaming a is intimately familiar with, as he became a great in-home experience.” billionaire when he sold Broadcast.com, his Video streaming is also a focus of Cuban’s, as audio streaming company, to Yahoo for $5.7 Reuters reported in 2014 that he was purchasing billion in 1999. According to Cuban, “Any place, shares in Netflix. By November, when Disney any room, any time. Getting video how and plans on rolling out its official Disney+ video where you want it is exactly what we hoped for streaming service, the growing stable of streaming 25 years ago when we started Broadcast.com.” services will continue to balloon. One has to wonder if, in the early days of Disney’s service will join the competition with Broadcast.com, Cuban’s mind was swimming
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Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, HBO Now, CBS All Access, and, of course, YouTube. However, he doesn’t seem to believe that all of these services, and their diverse array of exclusive content, will provide a viable threat to some of the major established services. “I don’t think more services like Disney will hurt Netflix or Hulu. I think it will benefit all of them as more people cut the cord and choose multiple streaming services as an alternative.” While this streaming competition will be undoubtedly interesting to watch, it also puts the consumer in an interesting position. Do they subscribe to one single service? Do they look for bundles offered by parent companies? Cuban believes he sees what the future of streaming will look like. “I happen to think that people will spend 40 dollars or more per household per month and jump between services to get the content they want.’’ Seeing the consumer gain more and more control as technology becomes more intuitive appears to be the path going forward.
Crucial Advice for Custom Integrators Cuban’s interest in technology is definitely not limited to streaming and voice assistants, however. Residential technology has also been on the entrepreneur’s mind, especially considering his work with custom integrators. “We work with Prashant Mody at Modia. They have always been responsive and innovative. [Those are] great qualities for any integrator.” It’s no wonder that an innovative company such as Modia would catch Cuban’s eye, considering the company’s extensive list of brand partners, such as LG, Epson, and Samsung. The Mavericks owner appears to have learned a lot from companies such as Modia, as evidenced by his advice for custom integration businesses: “Understand your customer. The media integration business is so competitive, there is a tendency to try to install the most complicated solution. Most people are afraid of the bells and whistles they don’t understand until you can show them it will make their lives easier.”
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FEATURED
Cover Story // Mark Cuban’s Hunt for the Next Big Thing
Courtesy American Broadcasting Companies, Inc./Mitch Haaseth
Mark Cuban presented the CEDIA Expo keynote in 2003. Here he is pictured with Bill Skaer, a CEDIA fellow and CEDIA Lifetime Achievement Award winner.
Cuban has made some of the largest deals in Shark Tank history, including a $2 million investment in the Halloween-focused entertainment company Ten Thirty One Productions.
Despite the massive growth in home technology, as well as his own knowledge of custom integration, Cuban admits that there hasn’t been one home tech-related company that has caught his eye thus far. But why is that? According to Cuban, “There would have to be unique, defensible intellectual property that really is impactful. Effectively, I look for companies that make me think, ‘Why didn’t I think of that?’” However, this tactic has led to one major missed opportunity, as Cuban and his fellow Sharks overlooked Jamie Siminoff and his startup Doorbot, a smart doorbell company that, after renaming itself to Ring, was purchased by Amazon for $1 billion. It seems that all has been forgiven, though, as Siminoff was invited to appear as a Shark himself during the 2018 season of the show. CEDIA and Beyond Events are also an important part of Cuban’s career as an entrepreneur. This is shown by his
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Courtesy American Broadcasting Companies, Inc./Eric McCandless
previous speaking engagements at the Arizona Tech Innovation Summit, Dallas Startup Week, and Judson University’s World Leaders Forum, just to name a few. However, it’s CEDIA, the very event that Cuban spoke at in 2003, that we especially wanted to hear his perspective on. Discussing the tech-forward expo, Cuban revealed that “I have always enjoyed CEDIA because I could keep up with state-of-the-art media and also see how integrators are pushing the envelope.” Cuban even added a humorous note to his take on the event, telling our team that, “Geeking out with my fellow geeks is always fun!” In fact, looking back at Cuban’s 2003 keynote speech, you can see just how innovative some of his projects, such as HDNet (now rebranded as AXS TV), were in the grand scheme of things. The project, an early platform for highdefinition content, came at a time when such a quality of content was not nearly as prevalent as today. Sixteen years later, with CEDIA 2019 about to open its doors in Denver, we were
curious about other forward-thinking brands the investor has his eyes on. “What is really exciting is one of my companies, Synthesia,” he said. “It’s a deep fake video company that can use AI to replace dubbing in video. So, rather than the off-kilter dubbing of foreign languages that we are used to, we will see the actors in a film naturally speak any language and look like a native speaker.” Considering deep fakes are still seen as somewhat of a novelty, Cuban’s interest in a company such as Synthesia should definitely raise some eyebrows. Throughout his many years in the business world, Mark Cuban has seen companies grow, technology morph, and trends come and go. Analyzing his perspectives on everything from voice assistants and video streaming to residential technology, you get the feeling that he has put considerable thought into where the different types of tech are going and how he plans to approach them in the future. And what should we expect from Cuban in the future? To keep inventing it, of course. ❖
HOME CINEMA LIKE NEVER BEFORE
Kaleidescape provides handcrafted movie content and beautifully designed movie players to power the finest luxury home theaters in the world. We start with a movie’s authoritative reference file, known as a mezzanine file, which comes directly from the studio. Then we apply our proprietary processing to produce a Kaleidescape source file of the highest fidelity available. The result of this process is a downloadable file that enables a Kaleidescape player to present the movie “the way the director intended.”
INSTALLATION
Making a House a Home What a Professional Technologist Installs in Her Own Home By Heather L. Sidorowicz
What makes a house a home?
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A home is a representation – a reflection – of who you are and of who your family is. It is a place where you should feel free to be yourself; somewhere you feel comfortable and safe. It is your hive, your intimate space.
the house needed a bit more love, so in April of this year we began a remodel of almost our entire first floor. The renovation would include our entryway, kitchen, a new window in our dining room, a façade upgrade of our front patio, and turning a three-season room into another room of our home.
Over the past 19 years, my family has lived in three homes – the current one being a short sale from the bank that we then remodeled ourselves. Nine years, two kids, and a dog later,
Although building and remodeling are about product and structure, it should also be about your quality of life. From the style you choose to the paint colors and furniture that you pick,
Residential Tech Today | Sept/Oct 2019
your finished product should make you feel the way you want to feel at home. The technology in the home should add that last layer of comfort but is often forgotten about or becomes an afterthought. Today there is more evidence than ever before on how lighting and music can change your mood, even lower your blood pressure and calm the kids. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, “Americans, on average, spend approximately 90 percent of their time
INSTALLATION
The renovation included turning a three-season room into another room of the home
indoors.” And this messes with our circadian rhythm, a 24-hour internal clock that controls sleep-wake cycles as well as metabolism, cognition, and more. How could we use technology in my own home for more than entertainment…to improve the family’s wellbeing? For the first time, I was forced to look at adding technology from the user’s perspective and not from a sales perspective, as the owner of a technology integration firm. I have always believed that I have done an excellent job at putting myself in my customer’s shoes, but until you are forced to make these decisions for your lifestyle, you do not have a real appreciation of what it is like to live with these experiences. Music A few years ago, Sonos surveyed 30,000 people across the world and also went into 30 homes in eight different countries to see, hear, and track what happens when people don’t listen to music, and also what changes when they do. What they found was, music doesn’t just help households; it transforms them. “The songs, playlists, and albums become a connector
– a magnet pulling you back to the good life. You’re together more. You’re happy more. You love (and make love) more.” Music was a must in our home. We understand not just the need for music, but for the need for good-quality sound and the importance of individual volume control of separate rooms. For this reason, we installed four Paradigm Elite speakers in the kitchen and two in the dining room. The new sun room proved more challenging for speaker placement, as the room is composed of four large windows and a fourpanel sliding glass door. Adding speakers to the ceiling would not be an option because it was not being refinished. When it is your own house, perhaps you’re willing to be more unconventional. I retrieved my Sonos beam, which I usually kept in my bedroom, and slid it under the couch, then used Sonos Trueplay Tuning. It should be muffled (being under a sofa), but, instead, it sounded impressive for background music. The best part is, you can’t see a speaker anywhere in the room. We often recommend Paradigm CI Home Series speakers to our clients and CI Pro when
they request a step up, and they sound great. My clients have always been thrilled. However, since I do this for a living, treating myself to the Elites and matching them with Sonos’ new higherpowered amplifiers was stunning. They rock! Not only does the audio sound great when blasting your favorite song, but the detail at every volume is delicious. Of course, we can control the audio via the Sonos app, but also by requesting Alexa, we can play the music in the room of our choosing. We also have programmed a central keypad to control volume up and down. Lighting Lighting is perhaps the most overlooked “quality of life” technology portion of the home. We all know in some fundamental way that light affects our mood. This is why we find beauty in a sunset, why we sleep better in the full darkness, and why we are happier on sunny days over dreary ones. And yet, when it comes to lighting out homes, we often buy the most economical fixture or bulb. We turn on harsh lights when we first awaken and wonder why we are cranky. We flip multiple switches trying to Sept/Oct 2019 | Residential Tech Today
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INSTALLATION
Making a House a Home
Kitchen before renovations.
find the right light, and we clutter our walls with controls. Our house is run by Crestron Pyng – a user-friendly control system from the most established automation company in the business. This system allows for control of audio, lighting, shades, thermostats, door locks, and security systems. Each room in our home has only one control point (a push-button keypad) to turn lights on and off. The top button in each area turns on lights in that space to a predetermined setting and then by pressing and holding that button, the room will turn up or down. The goal was for even fewer “button pushes,” so in our home the kitchen turns on at dawn to only 25 percent. This allows enough light to get to my coffee percolator to begin my morning brew. If I need more light, then pressing the button will bring the light up to a brighter setting to start my day. Voice commands add another layer of control and simplicity to our home. If I’m working in the kitchen, I can ask Alexa to turn on/off the pantry light or to turn the kitchen lights to 90 percent, if I’m in the middle of preparing dinner. Our front porch lights turn on at dusk and off at dawn. We also have a path in the house that turns on at
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dusk, so we never walk into a dark home. This project forced me to understand color temperature and how today’s LEDs work. I had never been a fan of LED due to the cool blue light that they tend to emit, not understanding that “color temperature” is a purchasing choice. After a bit of research, however, we discovered high CRI (color rendering index) LEDs that fit into our desired lifestyle. Leading hectic lifestyles, we wanted our home to be an escape, so warm color rendering (above 90) was critical. Our fixtures also had to be able to dim as well; you will rarely find a light at 100 percent in this household. Security We enter the house using a numeric code, instead of a traditional key, via our Yale keypad lockset. A command locking the deadbolt will trigger at midnight if the door is not already locked. The app on our phones will also allow us to lock and unlock the door. We live in a smaller suburb, so no video doorbell was warranted. If desired, we could also set up alert notifications to tell us when someone has entered the house – like the kids returning home from school. Shades One of our splurges was the dining room
The house is run by Crestron Pyng that allows for control of audio, lighting, shades, thermostats, door locks, and security systems.
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INSTALLATION
Making a House a Home
window. While beautiful, it has always been like a TV screen for all the neighbors to view our life after dark. Finding a drape that would not take away from the top window mullions but provide some much-needed acoustic absorption proved difficult. The final product, yet to be installed, will provide privacy when needed and become part of the home system – opening at 7:30 am during the week and at 10 a.m. on the weekends and closing at dark. Control As mentioned, Crestron Pyng is the hub of the home (with a Crestron Home interface update coming soon). Why a single operating system instead of separate apps? We desired seamless integration allowing for scenes, not just control of a light or fixtures. Having multiple apps on a smartphone is no different than numerous remotes sitting on the coffee table, and no one understanding how to work the system. On one keypad we can have a lighting scene and music controls. Via voice control, we can ask Alexa to set the temperature of the home to that of our choosing. Other technology tidbits in the home include a charging drawer in the kitchen that
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allows us to keep the technology clutter hidden. A Smart Art Frame by Meural hangs in the dining room, teaching the family about art while providing beauty to the room. Art changes every few minutes. Finally, a system is only as good as the network, so make sure your Wi-Fi throughout the home is solid. Our system is by Ubiquiti. We can keep growing our system as our lifestyles change. We can add more lighting control by just changing out a dimmer or switch. We can add media control should we decide to put a TV in the sunroom. It’s one system to coordinate all of our experiences today, tomorrow, and beyond. So, back to the original question: When does a house become a home? Well, my kitchen is big enough to dance in, my music keeps me sane, my lights calm me and keep the house secure, our shades will cocoon us during our sleepy hours, and our door will keep itself locked. Yes, our house is our home thanks to some fantastic contractors, creative design, and a layer of technology that improves our quality of life – our wellbeing. x
The renovation also included the home’s entryway, kitchen, a new window in the dining room, and a façade upgrade of the front patio. Other technology tidbits in the home include a charging drawer in the kitchen that allows us to keep the technology clutter hidden.
36 YEARS AFTER WE PIONEERED THE ARCHITECTURAL AUDIO CATEGORY, WE’VE COME TO REALIZE THAT OUR LONG-STANDING FOCUS ON DESIGNING PRODUCTS TO DISAPPEAR, OUR COMMITMENT TO AUTHENTIC PARTNERSHIP, AND OUR HERITAGE OF INNOVATION ARE THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES THAT DEFINE EVERYTHING WE DO AND MAKE. WHICH IS SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST SPEAKERS.
sonance.com
INNOVATIVE TECH
A Shady Situation New York City Apartment Dweller Fights Sun Glare with New Motorized Window Treatments By Rebecca Day
New windows in the New York City co-op apartment didn’t match existing window treatments, and late-day sun is blinding and privacy important at night.
It was a co-op apartment upgrade that sounded great on paper. Our 58-year-old building in New York City was finally getting a window overhaul: full-pane windows to replace legacy double-hung units that sometimes wouldn’t open and other times wouldn’t close. But as the installation date approached, we were so focused on the upheaval of the window frame removal that we didn’t anticipate the shade situation. As neighbors started to report their experiences, it quickly became apparent that the existing 19-year-old living room window treatments – three separate ones to cover two
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standard windows and a wide, south-facing picture window – wouldn’t fit the dimensions of the new windows. That meant the adjacent west window would have to get a new shade, too, to match the others. The last time I bought shades, two decades ago, the store saleswoman advised three separate manual window coverings, each with its own pull, for the 100-inch wide southfacing view, because, she said, a single dowel wouldn’t likely support the weight of an 8-foot wide window covering. Having to lower three shades every night was tedious, and we rarely did it. So, it was a priority that we have convenient control with the new
shades so we would actually use them. The lateday sun is blinding and privacy is important at night. I’d written about motorized window treatments enough to know how cool they are. My research began about the same time that Screen Innovations, a projection screen TV maker, was talking up its new window treatment business. I was a perfect opportunity, I thought: a company that makes 145-inch-wide projection screens making a shade that supports a 102-inch wide window shade. That led me to Screen Innovations dealer Barry Reiner, owner of InnerSpace Electronics
INNOVATIVE TECH
InnerSpace Electronics installer Peter Weis took measurements to determine whether the shades should be mounted inside the casing or outside – and whether the owner wanted the minimalist look of the Screen Innovations Nano Roll or the Nano Box “cassette” to cover the roller.
in Mt. Kisco, NY. I knew I wanted motorized shades but wasn’t sure of the criteria that go into picking the right set. Reiner led me through the process, starting with fabric selection. He sent installer Peter Weis to take measurements and to determine whether the shades should be mounted inside the casing or outside -- and whether we wanted the minimalist look of the Nano Roll or the Nano Box “cassette” to cover the roller. It also had to mount far enough out that it would clear the window screens. We chose the Nano Roll, subtly framed by 2.5-inch-tall end caps, for its “urban look.” For fabric selection, InnerSpace showed us Screen Innovations’ Nano dealer kit, which comes with swatches from fabric experts Phifer and Mermet. Picking a fabric seemed overwhelming at first when we eyed the box of 80-something samples, flipping through shades of taupe, charcoal, white, beige and more. First, we had to choose the openness factor of the fabric weave to match what we were trying to accomplish. Openness is represented as a percentage from 0 to 10 percent based on tightness of the weave. Reiner advised us that 10 percent would allow us to see detail such as branches from the terraces across the street but not provide a lot of privacy; 1 percent would give lots of privacy but minimal transparency. We weighed glare vs. view and chose 3 percent
openness, understanding we wouldn’t block out all light and could still get outlines of the skyline. Next, we chose color, having 18 options to choose from. Light colors, Reiner said, help reduce overall heat gain, which can help lower energy costs, but lighter colors’ high reflectivity can limit outward views. The latter was a dealbreaker since AC seasons in New York are generally June through September, while views are year-round. The darker the color, the more solar heat is absorbed – and the better for glare reduction – so we leaned darker, choosing a charcoal/apricot color with 3 percent openness that worked well with the yellow walls and wood/leather tones in the room. Reiner told us something else we didn’t know about fabrics. Some may have to be stitched together to meet a weight requirement for the roller tube. Heavier ones have to be stitched together, which can be done creatively in a way that doesn’t draw eyes to the seam, he said. Thankfully, ours were relatively standard length and came in under weight. Width, one of our main concerns, is very important in motorized shades, Reiner told us, because the wider the tubes, the more they can flex from the weight of the shade. Flex manifests as an inflection in the fabric, he said. “A very wide shade and heavy material can cause a minor bow in the tube, which could show up as
a ‘V’ or wrinkle because the shade is flexing from the center,” he said. Screen Innovations has a software tool that warns integrators, based on shade size and fabric type, if there’s a chance of inflection: our fabric made the cut. On installation day, installers Mike DeSalvo and B.J. Wood mounted, installed, and programmed the shades in well under two hours. To be able to control the shades via app, DeSalvo needed to connect it to the Wi-Fi router, located in another room, for set up. That required a hub from Somfy, the name of the company that supplies the shades’ motor. Somfy wasn’t a new name to me: The company has supplied millions of motors over the past 40 years for well-known brands’ blinds, drapes, awnings, solar screens, and more. We wanted all of the control options: smartphone app, Alexa and the Somfy-branded RF remote control that comes with Screen Innovations shades. The hub was required both for the Somfy MyLink app we use to control the shades via iPhone and for Alexa control. It lives in the entertainment unit about 15 feet from the shades. DeSalvo set up both MyLink and Alexa control and set up app instructions via the MyLink app that required a four-digit PIN. I’m not sure we’d ever need to do so, but DeSalvo told us we’d be able to control the Wi-FiSept/Oct 2019 | Residential Tech Today
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INNOVATIVE TECH
On installation day, InnerSpace installers Mike DeSalvo and B.J. Wood mounted, installed, and programmed the shades in well under two hours.
controlled shades “anytime, anywhere.” That could be handy for people wanting to control sunlight at a vacation home; in our case, it might just turn out to be an opportunity for a fun April Fool’s gag. I knew we were in good hands with a Somfy motor but didn’t expect to have to use its myLink app as an intermediary. That creates an extra step when we use Alexa to control the shades: “Alexa, tell MyLink to raise the west shade.” It would be more natural to ask Alexa directly to raise a shade. It’s not a big deal, but our syntax has to be precise. We can ask for all shades to be raised or lowered or individual ones. One day out of the blue, Alexa decided she didn’t like that syntax anymore and started asking if we wanted to “move everything up.” Two days later, she was ok with “raise” again. Then there are the sporadic Alexa issues we’ve encountered for years: when she asks us
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something even though we haven’t said her name, for instance. Alexa crossed a line the time she said, “Ok,” after the raise shade command, and then asked us if we wanted to rate the MyLink app. It was like an unwelcome robocall – no market research when we’re sitting down to dinner, please. The shades typically start raising or lowering after we issue a command but before Alexa confirms it. So, there’s no reason for her to say, “Ok,” if the shades are already in motion. We can create our own commands, and we will. Somfy says to keep it short and sweet: “For best results, keep connected product names to two to four American English words.” The Somfy myLink app on our smartphone came in handy when we wanted to change how far the shade came down. Because we never used our old shades, it didn’t occur to us during measuring that we didn’t want the shades to
come down all the way to the window sill across across the center part of the south window opening. There’s a slight overhang with the radiator cover, and the first time it lowered all the way, we had to direct the shade behind the cover so it wouldn’t bunch up. It was easy to fix with the Somfy app; we created a stop point about two inches higher than the sill. We imagine we’ll use that app to create a number of customized settings as we experiment with the benefits of controllable shades. We can use the myLink app to control the shades, but that’s a couple more motions than we’d bother with to raise a shade – having to pick up the phone, unlock Face ID, go to the Somfy app, and find the right button. But the app was useful for creating a timed event. The blinding sun begins at about 4:30 p.m. in summer, so we programmed the west shade to
INNOVATIVE TECH
The owners chose the Screen Innovations Nano Roll, subtly framed by 2.5-inch-tall end caps, for its “urban look.”
It was a priority to have convenient control with the new window treatments so the owners would actually use them.
drop every day at that time. We’ll have to change the time every so often as the sun angle changes, but it’s nice to have it automatically drop every day for now. If we had a control system, InnerSpace would have created an automated scene based on the sun’s position. It took a little getting used to at first when the west shade dropped on its own, like magic, because the shades are amazingly silent. We only know they’re coming down every day at 4:30 because the light changes. The shades arrived pre-charged so we don’t know yet how many operations we’ll get from a full charge or how long it will take to charge from empty to a full tank. The official line for battery life is 500 cycles per charge on the SI website. We watched DeSalvo and Wood “top
off ” the motors’ batteries by way of low-voltage magnetic induction charging, using the supplied cord that attaches at one end to the motor’s magnetic connector at the top of the shade and into an AC outlet on the other. That’s something we could do overnight when the time comes. The word from SI is that the battery only needs to be recharged, never replaced. After several weeks of testing we were very pleased with the update to our natural light control situation. Controlling by the Somfy RF remotes – one for each window opening – is easiest of the control options because it brings instant gratification. But we don’t always have a remote, or the right one, at the tips of our fingers. The smartphone app is good for creating and making changes to scenes. Alexa is
the control means we use most often because it’s hands-free, and we control the shades every day now, something we hadn’t been doing for years because of our own laziness. The verdict after nearly a month of motorized shade control is a big thumbs up. Most things we would want to change can easily be done by app. We did find that at a certain sun position, and not every day, a splinter of glare finds its way through our 3 percent openness shades. But it’s short-lived and we would choose that minor tradeoff if we did it over again to have a sense of the skyline. We’ll explore more control options with the app and Alexa as we go along. It’s just the beginning of what we expect to be a long and happy relationship. x Sept/Oct 2019 | Residential Tech Today
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PRODUCT REVOLUTION
The KLH Ultimate One classic open-air, over-ear headphones boast real ebony wood earcups for eye-catching beauty and acoustical integrity. The headphones are complemented by hand-stitched headbands and ear pads made of premium-grade leather and supported by dual-layer memory foam. Inside are 50 mm (2-inch) pure beryllium drivers that deliver frequency responses of 18Hz -22KHz (+/- 3 dB) with a sensitivity rating of 97 dB. The new Accell ProUltra Supreme High-Speed HDMI 8K Cable was designed to support connections delivering 48Gbps bandwidth and faster refresh rates. With an MSRP starting at $19.99, the ProUltra Supreme cable is available now in two lengths: 6.6 ft./2m (P/N: B232C006B023) and 9.8 ft./3m (P/N: B232C-009B-23). The cable’s outer diameter is 0.3 in./7mm and features gold-plated connectors for corrosion resistant connection.
The Atlona Opus family of HDMI-toHDBaseT matrix switchers and one receiver are built for high-performance 4K/HDR and Dolby Vision signal distribution and extension in residential AV environments. The line includes the ATOPUS-46M (4x6); AT-OPUS-68M (6x8); and AT-OPUS-810M (8x10) matrix switchers, all of which feature HDBaseT outputs for transmission of HDMI, Ethernet pass-through for data network and IP control, bidirectional IR, and RS232 control signals up to 330 feet (100 meters). Each Opus model enables routing to HDBaseT outputs plus two additional HDMI outputs to support surround sound decoding.
Blackwire Designs, a distributor in the custom installation market, is now offering ProDataKey’s (PDK) pdk.io, a cloud-based wireless access control system. The plug-and-play solution is designed to be easy for dealers to install, highly scalable, and simple for end users to manage. The platform provides full mobile management from any internet-connected device, real-time monitoring and customizable alerts, automated updates, and six months of cloud backups. Each PDK system is built around a CloudNode or rack-mount CloudNode SE gateway, which connects to the door hardware and network.
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PRODUCT REVOLUTION DIY smart home security products brand abode systems has released an updated Google Assistant integration feature providing full support for the voice assistant when used with abode’s robust smart home security systems. All abode customers have the ability to fully control their abode alarm through Google Assistant-enabled devices. Previously, abode’s Google Assistant integration was limited to controlling lighting, switches, and plugs. With this updated integration, abode controls lighting, locks, streaming cameras, door and window sensors, garage door openers, as well as arming and disarming the system.
Bobwire Audio has introduced its first product, the DAT1 Digital Audio Trigger, which adds an industry-standard 12-volt DC trigger output to any audio component with a digital audio optical (SPDIF) output. This allows devices like the Sonos Connect, Amazon Echo Link, and many others that lack 12-volt triggers, to turn on and off connected power amplifiers and other equipment. While some audio amplifiers have analog audio detection circuits, these are not always reliable, especially at lower listening levels. Because the DAT1 is monitoring the digital signal, the 12-volt trigger is activated immediately, as soon as the music starts and at any volume level.
The SoundTube Entertainment IPD-Hub2 brings IPbased, PoE technology to the commercial and residential markets offering a unique alternative to traditional audio distribution systems. The IPD-Hub 2 utilizes Dante infrastructure and Attero Tech unIFY software to provide performance monitoring and EQ/DSP control to individual speakers in the system from any computer with a network connection. By partnering with Attero Tech, SoundTube Entertainment’s IPD-Hub2 and Remote Volume Control Plate create a highly integrated package solution. Paired with SoundTube Entertainment’s passive ceiling speakers, integrators can design cost-effective single- and multi-zone audio experiences.
Suitable for a wide range of applications, including in-wall and in-ceiling installations, Meridian Audio’s new Architectural range of loudspeakers is powered by Meridian’s exclusive “CLASS-M” DSP engine and integrated with “DYNAMIC” Hi-Res amplifiers. The range includes the DSP520.2 and DSP640.2 In-Wall Loudspeakers, and the DSP320.2 In-Ceiling/In-Wall Loudspeaker. What makes these loudspeakers unique, according to the company, is their ability to use two-channel, multichannel, or single-speaker systems, while consistently performing at a level of quality that far exceeds those usually associated with architectural speakers. Sept/Oct 2019 | Residential Tech Today
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PRODUCT REVOLUTION Legrand has introduced a new family of Nuvo 8-inch in-ceiling and in-wall passive subwoofers and matching digital amplifiers. The three compact single and dual subwoofers are designed to deliver a powerful, low-frequency impact, while the walland rack-mount amplifiers are packed with convenience features for maximum versatility. The NV-SUBIW8 and NV-SUBIWDUAL8 in-wall single and dual subwoofers are designed for medium and large projects, respectively. Both units feature a sealed cabinet constructed of durable MDF for a distortion-free, superior bass experience.
The flagship RTI T4x handheld remote control is now shipping. The controller’s design offers improved ergonomics, a high-resolution 4-inch capacitive touchscreen, and fully programmable soft-touch buttons. Advanced features include grip sensors, Wi-Fi, and dual RF. The second generation of RTI’s T4 remote control platform, the T4x features a smaller form factor than its predecessor. Completely customizable, the device’s touchscreen provides convenient swiping through pages and lists, while its 20 fully programmable soft-touch buttons deliver quick access to commonly used functions.
Two new Panamax Vertex vertical power distribution units – the VT-EXT12 and VT-EXT16 – add flexible protected power to the system rack. The 12- and 16-outlet configurations mount vertically at the back of the rack, placing power where it’s needed and reducing cable lengths. The slim design of each unit allows for easy work-flow, while clip mounts make for a quick installation, and spacing allows for large transformers. When plugged into Panamax and Furman power conditioners, the models share all of the AC line protection and AC line filtering from the power conditioner to distribute protection and performance to extra outlets in the rack. Two new series of loudspeakers from Pro Audio Technology consist of three new models – S-12sm, SR-12ai, and SR-212ai – for residential theater, commercial studio, and sound reinforcement applications. The loudspeakers were designed to reproduce the unrestricted dynamics and power of the commercial cinema experience but in a more compact form factor ideal for home theater environments. They employ a new 1.7-inch Ultra-Purity, high-frequency compression driver mounted on an elliptical wide coverage horn, providing improved dispersion of high- frequency energy and true-to-life dynamic range.
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PRODUCT REVOLUTION
Two new lines of Ultra High Speed HDMI Cables with Ethernet from Vanco provide uncompressed feature support for the HDMI 2.1 specification. The cables are backwards compatible and address the needs of today’s 8K installations and beyond. Both series offer an uncompressed bandwidth of 48 Gbps and support resolutions up to 10K, plus 8K@60Hz, 4:4:4 Chroma, and 4K@120Hz. Transmission of High Dynamic Range (HDR) video is also possible with the new cables, as is support for the wide angle theatrical 21:9 video aspect ratio. From an audio perspective, the new cables feature enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC) for simplified connectivity.
Seymour-Screen Excellence’s Adjustable Ratio Theater (ART) is a luxury reference-grade acoustically transparent motorized masking system that at its largest inclusive of masking spans an astounding 20-feet tall and 30-feet wide with 350-inches of viewable image width and 120-inches of masking when closed down to 4:3. Available with either two- or four-way masking, the system is built on the wall, rather than the traditional method of assembling, lifting, and hanging, making for such vast sizes and easier installation.
To provide end-to-end, human-centric lighting (HCL) systems, Vantage Controls is collaborating with innovative LED luminaire and technology manufacturer WAC Lighting. Focused on luxury residential environments, the companies’ collaborative solutions combine advanced lighting control capabilities from Vantage with the Lumenetix araya light engine built into WAC’s tunable, low-voltage LED lighting fixtures. The Vantage controller is programmed to match the sunrise/sunset schedule shift throughout the year that best supports people’s natural circadian rhythm, based on the location of each installation. Scenic presets can override programming at any time through a simple button press to match users’ daily tasks.
The EPV Screens PolarMax Aerie Tension Series is a retractable In-Ceiling projection screen that features the PolarStar ambient light rejecting material which is durable enough for heavy use without degrading. PolarStar is an award winning, ISF-Certified ambient light rejecting material that has earned the designation of CLR for its ability to reject excessively high amounts of ceiling light as well. The Polar Max includes a tab-tensioning system that provides a flat, taut surface. A full IR and RF remote control kit is included along with a wireless 12-volt projector trigger.
Sept/Oct 2019 | Residential Tech Today
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TECH TOOLS
Finding a TV’s Breaking Points The Spears & Munsil UHD HDR Benchmark Disc Fills a Void in the Video Calibration Space By Dennis Burger
Video calibration discs were so prevalent in the DVD and Blu-ray era that any self-respecting videophile probably had at least three in his or her disc collection. For a minor investment, you could dial in your display’s brightness, contrast, color, tint, and sharpness settings to a respectable degree without having to drop $500 on a professional calibration. In the UHD era, though? To call such discs a rarity would be an understatement. Samsung released an HDR10 Reference disc back in 2016, but it would only play in the company’s own UBD-K8500 UHD Blu-ray player and didn’t support Dolby Vision, which of course limited its usefulness as time went on. Diversified Video Solutions also offers a couple of discs in addition to its various digital file packages, but a disc with both HDR10 and Dolby Vision patterns is pricey enough to keep
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it out of the hands of all but the most dedicated video enthusiasts.
or more, where even the best of OLEDs struggle to deliver more than 500 nits peak brightness.
In addition to filling a void in the marketplace by providing an affordable video reference and calibration disc that works for every different incarnation of HDR, and on practically any UHD Blu-ray disc player, the new Spears & Munsil UHD HDR Benchmark also shines a light on why creating such a product was so difficult in this new era of home video.
You’re also given a choice between Dolby and DTS audio codecs, but that choice only affects one of the disc’s numerous tests: AV Sync. Also known as lip sync, this portion of the disc allows you to dial in the delay of your audio, assuming that you’re using an AV preamp or receiver, to ensure that picture and sound are as perfectly synchronized as possible. I’ve run through numerous such tests on innumerable discs, and Spears & Munsil’s is still the best and least ambiguous.
The first thing you’re met with when you fire up the disc is a configuration screen that allows you to select the luminance of the test patterns that follow. That’s important because different displays – and indeed different display technologies – aren’t consistent these days in their luminance capabilities. A newer LCD display may be capable of cranking out 2,000 nits
Frankly, though, the rest of the disc is nowhere near as intuitive. If you want a firm understanding of what each test pattern does and how to use it, you won’t find any assistance on the disc itself, nor in the one-sheet reference
TECH TOOLS
Perhaps no section of the Spears & Munsil UHD HDR Benchmark Disc is more confounding – or more useful – than the Color Space Evaluation. If you want a firm understanding of what each test pattern does (gray scale, for instance) and how to use it, you’ll have to go to the company’s website.
insert included with the disc. You’ll have to turn instead to the numerous articles published on the spearsandmunsil.com website, which do a thorough job of breaking down each pattern, and not merely telling you what you should or shouldn’t see, but instead detailing a number of variations you might observe onscreen, and what each observation means. Perhaps no section of the disc is more confounding – or more useful – than the Color Space Evaluation, which allows you to assess your display’s chroma upsampling and chroma alignment, as well as the output capabilities of your player and/or video processor. It was via this test – along with all of the suggested fixes recommended by Spears & Munsil – that I discovered my TV has some issues related to color space conversion, which results in some minor banding that I have, in my ignorance, blamed on Netflix in the past. For someone who reviews both hardware and software, that kind of knowledge is indispensable, and it’s the sort of thing I simply couldn’t evaluate before without relying on thousands of dollars’ worth of test equipment.
Mind you, it’s not a severe enough issue to cause me to ditch my current display for an upgraded model, because another thing you come out of the Spears & Munsil UHD HDR Benchmark disc with is an understanding that HDR-capable consumer displays are all – in some way, shape, or form – compromised at the moment, and none of them really lives up to the capabilities of video formats like Dolby Vision. One other thing worth mentioning is that the Spears & Munsil UHD HDR Benchmark may simply not be necessary for most home entertainment enthusiasts, for a couple of reasons. Firstly, as the articles on the company’s website point out, you really shouldn’t be adjusting settings like brightness, contrast, color, tint, etc., with your TV in HDR mode, since it affects your display’s ability to tonemap incoming video signals. Secondly, most decent HDR-capable TVs come out of the box pretty close to calibrated in at least one of their numerous picture modes. Still, it’s an undeniably valuable resource if you want to find and understand your display’s breaking points, and it’s doubly valuable for
installers who want to better understand the capabilities of the TVs that they sell, and which ones may work better for different applications. The disc also includes test patterns in standard dynamic range, as well as a wealth of incredible demo videos in your choice of Dolby Vision (both FEL and MEL versions), HDR10+ (assuming your display and player support it), standard HDR10 (with several different options for peak brightness and color space), Hybrid Log Gamma, and even SDR. The best of the bunch, though, is a split screen that shows HDR10 on the left and SDR on the right, as it’s the most effective demonstration of the benefits of HDR that I’ve seen to date. In the end, the Spears & Munsil UHD HDR Benchmark disc is both an infinitely more complicated tool than its predecessors, as well as arguably a less necessary one for the average home video enthusiast. And after I had run through all of its various tests and tools, I didn’t make a single change to my TV’s settings. But, I understand my TV now in a way that I didn’t before, and for me that understanding is absolutely invaluable. x Sept/Oct 2019 | Residential Tech Today
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Residential Tech Today
COMING ISSUES November/December
Clean Living and the Healthy Home. The smart home is great and the intelligent home is even better, but what about the healthy home? New technologies and better science are finding ways to help homeowners from all economic strata live in environments with cleaner air and water, as well as more natural lighting. Find out what opportunities exist for single-family and multi-family homes, and how technology integrators and forward-looking architects are leading the way.
January/February
Privacy and Security Matters. There are more internet-connected devices in the home than ever before, which adds remote control conveniences and efficiencies, but also real privacy mistakes and security breaches involving IoT devices and private information. Find out how home networks can be protected and what lessons can be learned from prior security breaches.
March/April
Becoming a Cinema Sommelier. The high-end private cinema industry finds itself in a unique position as the multi-purpose entertainment room remains a more preferred option for homeowners. What opportunities are still available for skilled home cinema designers and integrators as they work with clients to raise the bar on these projects?
Photo: iStockphoto.com/Doucefleur
Sept/Oct 2019 | Residential Tech Today
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RELAX
The Lighter Side
Tech Companies’ Worst Inventions By Anthony Elio We live in a world of incredible technological innovations, with inventive ideas turning into amazing devices that casual consumers would much rather pay for than health insurance. This tech has put many major companies on the map for their history of creativity. However, as my parents constantly remind me, you can’t be proud of everything you create. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some regrettable releases from our favorite tech companies.
Now Playing
Whoomp! (There It Is) Tag Team
Apple’s Prototype iPod – With the creation of the iPod, Apple cemented their place in history, allowing the casual user to take their entire media collection on the go. However, even the most dedicated Apple fan might not know that in the prototype phase, the iPod was entirely different. The original device was actually five times larger, much heavier, and could only play Tag Team’s 1993 hit “Whoomp! (There It Is).” This was a decision from the top as, according to a member of the original development team, “Steve Jobs insisted on playing that song 24/7 at Apple. He made us memorize every single lyric. If it wasn’t playing when he entered a room, someone would get fired.” After numerous threats from shareholders, Jobs reluctantly allowed more songs to be placed on the iPod.
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Oculus VR King of Queens Simulator – Oculus has given us no shortage of incredible virtual reality experiences, from Skyrim VR and Wilson’s Heart to Dirt Rally and Lucky’s Tale. However, one of the company’s early missteps was King of Queens Simulator, an adaptation of the Kevin James CBS sitcom in which you step into the role of Doug Heffernan as he completes his delivery route and engages in oftencomedic domestic disagreements with his wife and stepfather. However, as the technology is not quite advanced enough to keep up with the crisp comic timing of such a show, the experience was shelved.
Residential Tech Today | Sept/Oct 2019
Nintendo Bag of Spider Eggs – Riding high from the success of the Wii, Nintendo was looking for their next big hit. However, that next must-have item wouldn’t arrive until the Nintendo Switch, with numerous speedbumps in between. One of these speedbumps was the Nintendo Bag of Spider Eggs which, as you may be able to deduce from the name, was a small burlap sack containing hundreds of Chilean redback spider eggs. Despite the hype, the product failed to live up to the success of the Nintendo Wii, with many experts blaming the lack of any gaming qualities and numerous fatal spider bites.
IBM TextBot – IBM has made quite a name in the artificial intelligence world with its Watson supercomputer technology. However, the casual consumer may not know that another AI computer the company developed was TextBot, an algorithmbased system meant to create highly detailed scholarly articles. However, upon seeing that the AI only wrote articles such as “How Weezer and Late-Stage Capitalism Ruined Rock Music” and “Why Didn’t the Care Bears Care About Toxic Masculinity?” the team realized they had only programmed TextBot to create poorly researched articles with clickbait titles and decided to cut ties with the project. According to a number of sources, TextBot currently writes for Vice.
Graphics via vecteezy.com
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