CEDIA Communicates - EMEA Quarter 3

QUARTEr 3 2018

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ContENTS

8 16 18 28 44 52 56 58

I AM CEDIA Meet NEEO, which puts experience ahead of tech

CHALLENGE & SOLUTION Programming complex automation solutions — with minimum hassle

A HOME FIT FOR 007 Two-time CEDIA Award Winner delivers a project fit for a superspy

CEDIA AWARDS We unveil who’s made the shortlist and how to buy tickets

INDUSTRY-RELATED PROS We ask these members to explain the services they provide

EXPO KEYNOTE John Penney (20th Century Fox) on the junction of tech and content

ARCHITECTURAL CINEMAS What if we rated home cinemas like fine wine?

HR101 Courtney Berg discusses you how to hire (and when to fire)

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It'S SHOWTIME This issue of Communicates is full of great info about this year’s CEDIA Expo in San Diego, and plenty of great content for those of you that can’t make it.

This issue provides a rundown of what new features to expect at this year’s CEDIA Expo.

John Penney, an exec at 20th Century Fox, will be presenting this year’s keynote, and we’ve got a preview in the pages that follow.

He speaks about the place where tech and content meet, and how the two inform one another.

There’s more than just Expo chatter within, of course: We spend time with the company, NEEO in our continuing series of “I AM CEDIA” profiles; we look at a whole-home integration project that would impress James Bond himself; and we have tips on how to create that sometimes elusive, intuitive, and easy-to-use control system that every client begs for.

Thanks for picking up this issue of CEDIA Communicates.

We hope to see you in San Diego.

All the best,

Tabatha O’Connor CEDIA Global President and CEO

Contact

7150 Winton Drive, Suite 300 Indianapolis, Indiana 46268 USA Email: info@cedia.org Telephone: +1 800.669.5329

Front cover image: Clearly Automated, The Windmill.

CEDIA Awards 2017, Best Integrated Home Level III, Winner, EMEA.

www.cedia.net

Follow us on:

Unit 2, Phoenix Park, St Neots Cambridgeshire, PE19 8EP, UK Email: info@cedia.co.uk Telephone: +44 (0)1480 213744 www.cedia.co.uk

All material in Communicates is the copyright of CEDIA and any reproduction of said material would require written permission from the publisher. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of content published, CEDIA cannot accept responsibility for any factual errors that may occur. CEDIA cannot accept responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributors.

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NEWS IN BRIEF

CEDIA members can now connect to the popular CEDIA Online Community on-the-go with the all-new CEDIA mobile app. The app provides a space for CEDIA members to engage with their peers and participate in lively discussions.

This development is part of CEDIA’s ongoing commitment to offer programmes that make it easier for members to connect with one another, both in their own region and worldwide. Following the launch of the CEDIA Community in 2016, the online platform has grown extensively, allowing members to engage with one another yearround.

CEDIA CONNECTS COMMUNITY WITH MOBILE APP

The online forum gives members a platform to freely discuss industry news, share ideas, and provide advice to their peers. Members also have access to a variety of downloadable resources.

The mobile app has the same look, feel, and navigation as the desktop version of the CEDIA Community, with features including discussion groups, private messaging, news and announcements, and upcoming events, so members can stay connected, wherever they are.

How to Download the App CEDIA members can download the app by searching for “MemberCentric” in the app store. Once MemberCentric has been downloaded, the member will simply need to search for CEDIA and log into their community profile.

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Find “MemberCentric” in the app store

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Find CEDIA when the app opens.

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Enter your email and password, and…

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You're in!

NEW MEMBERS CEDIA welcomes 115 new members across the globe this quarter, including: BAHRAIN >

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES >

Home Control Scotland Ltd

SIBCA

SIBCA

Ideal AV Limited

FRANCE >

UNITED KINGDOM >

iEvolution Network Ltd

Qobuz

Abacus Aerials

StormAudio

ATI Group

Infinity Controls Intelligent Digital Solutions Limited Karma AV

INDIA >

Automated Project Solutions Ltd

DTI Automation Pvt. Ltd.

AVA Concept Ltd.

Lumos Building Automation Pvt Ltd

Balance Systems Limited

ISLAMIC REPUBLIC

Briant Communications

OF IRAN >

CJ Electrical Contracting Services Ltd

pkico

Smart Home and Smart Building Technologies

Cornerstone Electrico Systems Ltd

SmartCore

NIGERIA >

Dart Automation

Sonic Vision AV Ltd

Dixeritis Smart Homes

DAWSONS BANG & OLUFSEN

Stewart Security Systems Ltd

SPAIN >

Deco Shade

TCONTROL

Intesis

Electec Electrical Ltd

Trafalgar Electronics

Smart Business

Garden Tunes

Uber Smart Homes

Mi-Living Optikos AV Limited Partner Retail Services Ltd

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CEDIA ALIGNS STAFF LEADERSHIP WITH STRATEGIC PLAN CEDIA recently welcomed two new members to its Education Leadership team.

Thomas Darling has joined as the Senior Vice President of Development and Education.

This newly created role will lead CEDIA’s professional development department, specifically focussing on strengthening the education programmes and increasing the scope and quality of CEDIA’s curricula.

Thomas brings significant experience in higher education. For the last eight years, he served as the Executive Portfolio Manager for Career and Technical Education at Pearson Education, and prior to that served for five years as the Executive Director of Workforce, Economic and Community Development for Ivy Tech Community College in Indianapolis, Indiana.

CEDIA has also hired a new Director of Education. Samantha Ventura is a PhD candidate in organisational leadership, specialising in virtual leadership and cultural intelligence and has her master’s degree in teaching.

Samantha's entire career has been dedicated to developing and implementing learning programmes. Most recently as the Director of Learning Initiatives for the DevOps Library, she designed and developed online offerings supporting open source learning for a global audience.

REVISED ESC-T CERTIFICATION EXAM CEDIA has announced that the updated version of the ESC-T Certification Exam is now available. This new version was created with input and guidance from Americans and EMEA volunteers, ensuring the content was relevant for a global audience.

The ESC-T exam is intended for technicians with two years of experience and represents proficiency in the technical knowledge that forms the foundation of the residential electronic systems industry. The exam now covers lighting control and features expanded networking content in addition to first and second fix, integrated control systems, and audio/video systems.

“It is considered best practice to update professional certification exams every few years to ensure they stay relevant,” said David Whitney, CEDIA Director of Certification. “The ESC-T exam was last updated in 2014 and with the changing landscape of our industry, it was important to revise the exam.”

In addition to the updated exam, CEDIA has also created a certification handbook that explains the updated policies and provides more instruction on how to prepare and register for an exam.

CEDIA is also offering a new option for those renewing their ESC-T certification. Certification holders may now take a 50-question renewal exam from six months before to six months after their expiration date or they can continue to renew the traditional way by earning 30 CEUs in the three years after passing the exam. The renewal exam is administered through Kryterion’s online proctoring service, which allows it to be taken from a personal computer and monitored through a webcam, microphone, and secure test software.

“We recognise that it can be challenging for some to earn the 30 CEUs needed for renewal, so we wanted to provide another option.

It is our intention to add this choice for our other exams as they come due for revision,” said David. www.cedia.net/certification

NEW STAFF CEDIA recently welcomed Hafsa Mirza and Imogen Dent to the EMEA office.

THOMAS DARLING

SAMANTHA VENTURA

Further aligning staff leadership with the strategic plan, CEDIA has promoted Cris Pyle to Vice President, Marketing and Industry Relations and Olivia Sellke to Director of Public Relations and Industry Relations.

HAFSA MIRZA

In her new role, Cris will lead a key area outlined in CEDIA’s strategic plan — driving awareness among architects, builders, and interior designers. For her part, Olivia will continue to be responsible for all public relations efforts, including increased outreach to the design and build press. She will also oversee the growth of the CEDIA Outreach Instructor (COI) programme.

IMOGEN DENT

Hafsa previously worked at Reply Ltd as a Marketing and Communications Consultant.

With an MSc in Marketing, she has experience in content writing, corporate events, digital media, press relations, and international communication. She joins CEDIA as a Marketing Assistant, where she will be supporting the Brands and Communications Manager and will be responsible for digital marketing, content writing, and communication.

Imogen has joined the Industry Relations team at CEDIA. In this new role, she will be managing the Outreach Instructor and Accredited Presenter programmes, and all CPD content. Imogen has experience engaging with architects and contractors, having previously worked as a Business Development Coordinator for a commercial washrooms company.

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It has been a busy time for CEDIA’s global community, with events happening in three continents at the same time. These events provide the industry with access to manufacturer product training, technical knowledge, and valuable peer-to-peer networking. They also allow CEDIA to continue its mission to educate the design and build community on the merits of the home technology industry.

MEXICO CEDIA hosted a Tech Forum in Mexico City in May, where 96 attendees from Venezuela, El Salvador, and Mexico enjoyed an event packed full of education and networking opportunities. The first day began with a breakfast meeting specifically for women in the industry, where renowned U.S. author, speaker, and trainer, Leslie Shiner hosted a session on “Managing Businesses as a Woman.” For the next two days, event sponsors, Belden, Cleerline, Control4, Emotiva, Integra, Lutron, ML Audio, McIntosh, and Origin Acoustics all presented training sessions, while CEDIA presenters hosted workshops on industry trends and more business training. Over 70 people attended the keynote from Rich Green, entitled “Technologies of the Future and the Secrets of Silicon Valley.” Industry veteran, Antonio Legorreta ran CEDIA Certification exams in Spanish during the two-day event.

AUSTRALIA May and June saw CEDIA host three Tech Forums in Australia — in Brisbane, Melbourne, and Perth.

CEDIA welcomed Amber Technology, Audio Visual Distributors, Avation, Blustream, Connected Media Australia, and Ivory Egg Australasia as the sponsors of the events. CEDIA Director of Technical Content, David Meyer hosted an emerging trends discussion at the Melbourne and Brisbane events. On May 4, accredited CEDIA Outreach Instructor (COI), Rob Sanders of Entertaining Environments presented CEDIA’s “Designing Integrated FutureReady Homes” CPD at the DesignBUILD Expo.

AROUND THE WORLD INDIA CEDIA welcomed over 80 industry professionals to its training and networking event in Bangalore in May. The event sponsors — Artnovion, Crestron, Lutron, and Lyngdorf Audio — dominated the first day by hosting manufacturer product training sessions. The rest of the week saw CEDIA instructors, Guy Singleton and Geoff Meads, present courses to 20 attendees, including “Home Cinema Design,” “Essential Maths and Science of Cables and Connections,” “Essential AV, RF, HDMI, and Home Cinema Skills,” “Wired and Wireless Networking Fundamentals," "Residential Lighting Control," and more. There was also the opportunity to take a CEDIA Certification exam, followed by a Connect with CEDIA networking event — many thanks to Lutron for their sponsorship. Non+Ultra hosted a wine and cheese event, and Crestron conducted a tour of its facilities later that same week.

CHINA Looking ahead, CEDIA will be presenting its EST325: Audio Set-Up & Calibration class at the Beijing CIT Expo.

The four-hour class focusses on teaching attendees how to design an audio system, verify and calibrate home theatre audio, operate audio calibration equipment, and analyse data. CEDIA has experienced great attendance at the education events it has hosted with its training partners in China this year, so excitement is high for this forthcoming event.

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I AM CEDIA RAPHAEL OBERHOLZER, NEEO INC. Who are you?

My name is Raphael Oberholzer, co-founder and CEO of NEEO Inc. What’s your company and where is it based?

At NEEO, we strongly believe that using technology in our homes should be fast, simple, and fun.

That’s fundamentally why we have launched our start-up company, NEEO, which is based in Cupertino, California, and Switzerland.

Give us a bit of an update of the history of your company and where it is now?

“

In 2014, three of us launched NEEO. With a small team, we started to work on a smart remote.

Our goal was to truly replace the cumbersome mess of user interfaces, like the growing number of apps and all the remotes people have to manage today.

We saw some early approaches from others in this direction in the home technology industry, but we felt that it was time to go much further. As an example, it was very clear to us that a smart remote needs a touch experience similar to what people were familiar with from their smart phones.

“

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I BELIEVE WE SHOULD NEVER FOCUS ON THE ACTUAL TECH — IT SHOULD ALWAYS BE ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE IT PROVIDES.

Once we had working prototypes, we launched a crowdfunding campaign where we raised well over $1 million. We then developed mass production facilities in China and started to deliver our first products in 2017. Today, we are a team of over 40 designers and engineers, bringing NEEO to over 30 countries.

How did you get into the industry?

I got started with Bang & Olufsen systems in 1998. This was really when I began to feel that technology can create magical experiences. Since then, I’ve been obsessed with making people smile with thoughtful tech experiences. This passion was certainly also what made me co-found a European custom installation company in 2005 (which was later successfully acquired by the largest infrastructure and energy company in Switzerland).

Which home technology do you consider the most important today and why?

I believe we should never focus on the actual tech, it should always be

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about the experience it provides.

It is much easier to say this than actually understand and truly implement it. If I would have to pick one product though, I would choose the (still secret) prototype that I have installed at home…

How long have you been a CEDIA member?

We’ve been a CEDIA member since 2005, when we launched our installation company.

What do you enjoy most as a CEDIA member?

I believe work should be inspiring and fun. CEDIA has been exactly that in so many ways — every tradeshow, my time on the CEDIA Board, the training courses I have attended and the ones I have taught, all the friends I have made in the industry, and all the brainstorming around the “ideal” solution have been awesome experiences, and I keep learning from all these inspiring people.

What’s the best product that NEEO has launched into the home technology market in the last year?

Our first product, NEEO – The Thinking Remote, became

available in November 2017.

Being able to launch it, after all the hard work that went into it, was a very special moment.

It’s beautiful to now see broad adoption among customers and professionals in Europe and the U.S. alike. NEEO is currently growing at a rapid speed.

What is the next focus for NEEO? This year, we will heavily invest in CI market specific developments.

With our industry background and our deep understanding of the integrator’s pain, we believe we can provide a lot of tools

that will help dealers grow their businesses and amaze their customers.

If integrators want to see your products on display, where and when can they do this next?

Next up is CEDIA Expo 2018 in San Diego. We will unveil several of the developments we have been working on for many months now.

If there was one thing you could change in the industry what would it be?

I would love to see more start-up companies.

If you weren’t in the home technology sector, what would you like to be doing and why?

I would most likely be inventing and engineering magic tricks.

NEEO AG Niklaus-Konrad-Strasse 8 4500 Solothurn Switzerland

NEEO Inc. 20432 Silverado Ave #215 95014 Cupertino United States

www.neeo.com @NEEO

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INDUSTRY Q&A

Navigating Trade Shows: — Tips and Tricks What’s your number one priority when attending an exhibition and why?

SE | I love dedicating time to doing it all, however, for me personally, the number one priority has got to be networking. I have been attending CEDIA Expo for four years, and I have gotten the chance to meet the most spectacular people. This results in not only having personal contacts with manufacturers, system integrators, and other industry leaders, but I have the honour of calling some of them friends. We keep in touch beyond trade shows and share ideas, resources, and the occasional drink.

AB | Priority number one is ALWAYS education. That being said, the delight of being introduced to new technology is a close second.

SR | As head of procurement, my main priority is to meet up with

Hemant Daya

(HD)

Dayatech, Australia

manufacturers and distributors.

Not only is it an opportunity to build and improve communications and relationships, but I can catch up on ongoing projects, discuss upcoming projects, and make new contacts. I also see exhibitions as an opportunity to see the new technologies available.

How do you budget your time properly?

HD | I always budget my time around the training schedules. I then look at the exhibitors whose products I’m most interested in. But above all, I always seem to find lots of time for food and coffee.

SE | Months before the actual show, I schedule meetings with the people and brands I want to see and use the CEDIA website to manage the sheer number of courses I look forward to taking during that short period of time. I always leave the last day to walk around the show floor.

Sherrie Edward

(SE)

Archimedia, Egypt

AB | When I have training classes scheduled, then my time in between and after classes will be spent researching new tech and networking. If I’m not attending training, I schedule the first half of my day(s) to acquaint myself with new tech and industry partners. I then use the remainder of my time for every other possible invention that catches my eye — lighting, furniture, recliners, etc. The goal is consistent — keep your eyes peeled for any potential business idea.

MR | I avoid pre-arranging any meetings or booking educational sessions during a show floor event.

They put a spanner in the works, and you have to plan your day around them. I feel that systematically zig-zagging my way up and down every aisle is the most effective way to get around. That way, you never miss anything or anyone. You may spend more time at some stands than others, but it balances out as you skip past irrelevant stands and

Ankur Bhatt

(AB)

Sound Sense, India

Mike Ranpura

(MR)

Smart Life AV, UK

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eventually cover the whole show before it finishes.

EC | I build a plan for what stands I want to see, including the actual order I will see them in. I’ll then set aside time to meet with other dealers for coffee, lunch, or dinner, and plan to attend at least a couple classes on improving my business.

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Are there any tools you find personally useful for time management?

AB | I prefer to use the iPhone calendar app. It is simple yet effective and provides me with event and meeting scheduling/ reminders.

MR | You won’t see me without a watch on my wrist. Google Calendar is sufficient enough to quickly put appointments in on the fly and a simple Notes app to keep track of things to action after the event.

SR | I find that having an app with the exhibition map and the stand location by manufacturer is key. It saves time as it allows me to plan my route, mark off the interesting stands, and makes getting from one meeting to another more efficient.

KC | We create a WhatsApp group, so we can all stay in touch while at the event.

What’s the strategy for staying in touch with the home office? Do you set aside time to answer those emails?

HD | Anytime we attend a

Sandra Rogers

(SR)

Smartcomm, UK

conference, it means traveling to a major city, which means our home office is thousands of miles away, as we are based in a remote area of Far North Queensland, Australia.

The easiest methods of contact are good old-fashioned phone calls and messaging. We are also looking at using Microsoft Teams and other CRM apps for all messages, calls, files, customer connects, and so on.

SE | I usually do that during my downtime. It can be difficult, especially with the time difference between the different countries.

I get most of my emails/ communications done outside of the trade show hours. Jet lag can come in handy when its 3 a.m. and you can’t sleep.

AB | With the way our business works, there is never a way to schedule a fixed time to respond to emails/queries from the office.

I must manage as the need arises, and hence, need to stay connected 24/7. I do this in two ways — by having all email pushed to my phone

Manuel Fernández (MF) TrendHouse S.A., Argentina

Priority number one is ALWAYS education.

and have the mobile number I use in India activated for international roaming.

MR | I tend to let clients and partners know beforehand that I’m attending a show or event, if it’s likely they will get in touch.

Emails do not get checked until the evening, and if someone calls, I either call them back after the show or take the call if it’s important.

SR | I always allow a little break of 10–15 minutes between meetings to check emails and return phone calls to the office. For exhibitions that are over a day, I use lunchtime to network and catch up with work emails.

MF | One of the things I constantly work on as a leader is to improve my ability to delegate. I have an awesome team at home that takes great care of all important issues while I’m overseas or even when

Karen Chugg

(KC)

Intelligent Abodes, UK

Eric Crawford

(EC)

The Loop, Boise, ID USA

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I’m attending a convention locally. I do check emails for urgent issues three times a day when I’m away — early in the morning, at noon, and before dinner. If anything requires my attention on the spot, my team will reach me on my mobile at any time 24/7.

What are the main trade shows that you attend during the year, and why?

HD | I attend CEDIA Expo and lock that into my yearly schedule first. Then it’s an order of priority based on what my schedule permits.

I then focus on Integrate, local industry events from the Master Builders Associations and the Chamber of Commerce, and assisted technology exhibitions, including ARATA. SE | CEDIA Expo and ISE. Our company mainly focusses on residential projects. These two shows offer a wide variety of manufacturers, courses, ideas, training, and experience in that field, and it is where I find all I look for to constantly improve myself, my company, and our clients' lifestyles.

AB | CEDIA Expo, ISE, and

CES for training, new tech, and networking. We have made long-term business deals/ relations with many contacts at such exhibitions.

MF | During the year, we try to attend CEDIA Expo, ISE, CES, and InfoComm. The reason is very simple — they present all the innovation in the industry, and at the same time, we have the possibility of getting in touch with different people to expand the quality of the services we offer by learning from our colleagues’ experiences. We also like to attend local construction events. The main reason is to have a close understanding on the need of our potential and current clients. Of course, one of my personal favourites, are events like CASA FOA that

“

face design from the point of view of construction.

What makes CEDIA Expo different from other trade shows?

HD | I find CEDIA Expo is the main event that brings together the most relevant information for our business.

It’s where I am most energised and can immerse myself into the industry with amazing people and like-minded businesses.

SE | The thing I love most about CEDIA Expo is that I feel it is more focussed, compact, and generally has a great vibe to it. The CEDIA education that

Build out a walking plan so that you are not doubling over the same path.

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is offered during the show is also one of the things I look forward to while I am there. It offers a wide variety of courses that cater to all different aspects of our field.

AB | The training, of course.

MF | I believe that the main difference that CEDIA Expo has with most of the trade shows that we attend is that the attendees feel something in common with each other. Somehow, you feel part of the same family or community where you can meet incredible people, who in another area, could be inaccessible. The warmth you feel during the show and the peripheral events makes you feel very comfortable and very welcomed.

EC | A focus on the custom channel. There aren’t other products like cameras, fitness gear, car audio, etc.

Staying hydrated and fed seems obvious, but it can get away from folks. Any strategies here?

HD | The strategy for keeping replenished is easy — coffee and cake at every opportunity!

I find that with so much coffee, I also need to keep a bottle of water on hand to keep hydrated.

“

We rarely have downtime at these events, but the socialising in the evening is usually fun!

SE | I walk around with a water all the time, but every time I walk into a stand, I am offered drinks and snacks. It’s a very welcoming effect and makes going thirsty at these shows very hard.

AB | To be honest, thirst and hunger take a back seat when I’m doing what I love.

When I attend a trade show, it becomes worse. Sad but true!

MF | Set an alarm every two hours to get 11 ounces of water and, if necessary, bring your own bottle. Avoid energy drinks and coffee. Those drinks will keep you awake for a short period of time, but will dehydrate you, causing fatigue and you to lose your attention span later in the day. Having a protein bar is key to keeping my energy levels balanced if it’s been a good amount of time without having a meal.

KC | Most of the exhibitors

keep us hydrated, thankfully!

We tend to be hearty eaters at breakfast, which keeps us going most of the day until our evening meal.

EC | I carry protein powder, trail mix, apples or bananas, and granola bars for while on the floor. The food has to be something I can eat or drink in a couple minutes while walking between stands. I also always start my day with a good “attempted” low carb breakfast from the hotel.

If there is any downtime, what do you do with the R&R hours?

HD | At every exhibition, I think there will be some great downtime for me to just chill. The reality is that the connections you make at these events keep you out all day and night! Due to flying from Australia to the U.S. for CEDIA Expo, I now travel a few days earlier to make sure the jet lag stays under control. I’m pretty sure that my previous routine of six coffees a day in order to stay functioning is not sustainable if I want to be in this industry for the long haul!

SE | That part I enjoy the most.

I usually stop by the CEDIA stand or meet up with other industry friends to discuss what we’ve seen and what’s new. We share stories on our

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EC | A backpack with my laptop, business cards, log book, a show floor map with desired businesses highlighted, presentation materials, snacks, and a water bottle. I try and keep my pack light to keep me strong for the day.

experiences and offer to help each other moving forward by sharing resources or expertise.

AB | Downtime? With the way the trade exhibitions are these days, multiple days are not even enough.

There’s just so much to see and learn.

MF | I always try to have downtime and what I do is to listen to relaxing music and meditate, even for half an hour. This really helps me focus.

If it’s my first time in town, I try to experience the local culture and food.

KC | We rarely have downtime at these events, but the socialising in the evening is usually fun!

Everyone’s Fitbits log lots of steps at these things. What’s the preferred footwear?

MR | Trainers are preferred or casual shoes with good soles. You tend to be on your feet all day, so uncomfortable footwear is the last thing you want to be thinking about.

SR | Definitely FLAT, comfortable shoes, every time. I keep the heels for the evening events.

EC | Comfortable shoes are obviously critical, so I stick with running shoes on casual days or wing tips with arch supports on the formal ones. For events like this, you just need to suck it up. It’s only a couple of days.

Are you carrying a backpack or bag?

What’s in it?

MR | I tend to carry a messenger bag filled with a few business cards and a spare pen. As the day goes on, the

“

I use the CEDIA website to manage the sheer number of courses I look forward to taking

bag fills up with brochures. By the end of the day, you’ve done a gym workout with the amount it weighs.

KC | I carry the minimal to avoid achy necks/shoulders — so usually just my phone and business cards.

Any other tips or tricks you’d like to share?

SE | Enjoy and make use of the show in every shape and form. There is a lot to see and a lot of people to meet. Not to mention the courses to take advantage of. But definitely plan ahead and always leave room to enjoy the wonderful stands various companies have set up. Also, stop by the innovation area for new and developing companies and technologies.

AB | Try to get a floor plan and map of all participants and chart out the stands that you MUST go to, followed by those you WANT to go to.

MF | Speak with everyone. Shake a lot of hands and bring a LOT of business cards. Keep your mind, eyes, and ears open.

EC | There is way too much on the floor to stop and see every stand.

Look through the exhibitor list before ever going to the floor (hopefully you’ve also been building that list throughout the year) and highlight the stands/companies you plan to see. Build out a walking plan so that you are not doubling over the same path. Allow one to two hours to investigate new products on the floor that could improve your business.

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CHALLENGE AND SOLUTION

Programming Complex Automation Solutions — With Minimum Hassle Challenge: Deploying and configuring a whole home automation solution at speed What’s one of the biggest challenges facing the professional home technology industry?

“The ability to deliver a complete home automation solution that encompasses every facet of the home, such as shading, lighting, video, audio, and security, and delivering it at speed, on one consistent platform with the best profitability.” That’s according to Michael Short, Global Residential Marketing Manager at Crestron.

For many years, deployment and configuration has been time consuming and complex, which can be expected when you bear in mind the level of professional systems that have been installed over the last 40 years — pioneering and pushing the industry. This increases the time that integrators need to spend on projects and, inevitably, eats into their profit margin — or they tie a full system in at speed, but not necessarily with the best performing products.

Solutions that take the complexity out of programming can revolutionise home automation and really benefit the industry.

“Emerging platforms can enable the setup and control of home automation in just a few steps, straight from a tablet or web app,” says Michael.

“This type of solution, where the configuration utility is baked into the product, marks the future of integration, and it’s here now. By integrating the configuration within the product, dealers don’t have to worry if the professional on site has the correct version of software on their laptop or ask that typical question of ‘who’s got the latest file or programme’ for that specific project.”

“With configuration included, the project is backed up in the cloud, so it’s reliably available,

Michael Short

Global Residential Marketing Manager, Crestron

Solution: Removal of complex, time-consuming programming

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wherever and whenever it’s required, including on site,” adds Michael. “This equates to a key benefit for dealers and integrators — speed of deployment.”

Deployment also means training. Dealers are always under the microscope to make sure that their staff are trained to the highest level.

Michael continues, “The great thing about platforms like the one we’ve introduced recently (Pyng® 2.0, in this case) is that it delivers a consistent experience every time. This means a dealer’s training sessions, sales demonstration, and customer support remain the same across the board, making it easier and quicker to learn, sell, and, ultimately, deploy.”

Margins on equipment remain largely the same, but it’s the margins on labour that can make or break a project. Being able to keep labour costs down, from the training right through to maximising the time spent on site, dealers can sell more projects with the same staffing levels and, therefore, be more competitive.

Emerging platforms can enable the setup and control of home automation in just a few steps.

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“The first solution is removing complex programming to solve an industry challenge,” explains Michael. “The second is making it scalable so that it can be tailored to grow with the client and/ or property. If manufacturers can tick both boxes, it’s a winning formula for the future growth of our industry, creating more ‘customers for life’ for dealers.”

The desired result is, of course: Once you have deployed an incredible system at speed, you’ve left the client with the best user experience possible.

“Clients want to be empowered, so that they can confidently and intuitively make changes to their home automation, whether it be lifestyle scenes, settings, and even system schedules with just a few taps on an iPad or touchscreen,” says Michael. “They don’t want to have to call a professional to make simple changes to their preferences. They want a system that doesn’t require complex programming but updates with them, simply and automatically, for a user experience that is perfect just for them.”

Solutions with in-built configuration and cloud-based programming are the future.

“They provide the best automation service for both integrator and end user.

Not only does it mean a brighter, more profitable business for dealers, but it also creates the most personalised and adaptable experience EVER for your customers — now and into the future.”

www.crestron.com

@Crestron

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A

DESIGNER HOME

FIT FOR

007

This smart home was recognised twice in the 2017 CEDIA EMEA Awards.

London-based integrator, NV Integration won two of the highly contested categories: Best Integrated Home ÂŁ360,000 and over (Level IV) and Technology Meets Design, an award that recognises an integrator who, by working closely with a design/build team, has installed home technology that complements the design scheme for the room or home.

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The client wanted to build a fully-automated five-bedroom home in Thailand. NV Integration’s proposal included integrated control of all core systems, along with a custom user interface.

As this was the client’s third smart home, he challenged the integrator to deliver some creative features to impress his visitors, as one of the primary functions of the home was entertainment.

To effectively manage a project of this scale, NV Integration chose a Crestron control system.

The sub-systems comprise all AV, including a home theatre with cinematic-motion seats and distributed audio and video, internal and external lighting, window treatments consisting of both single and double curtains and blinds, CCTV, gate entry, climate control, and management of a wine cellar.

With entertainment in mind, an AV system that offered the highest level of quality and performance was required. NV Integration used Autonomic's Mirage Media Server to stream audio to 25 zones from sources including Tidal and Spotify, delivered by Bowers & Wilkins speakers. Alongside this, Crestron's DigitalMedia 4K video distribution system delivers centralised video content to 16 zones, making it available on all of the screens at any one time. Meridian Audio products were also in the mix.

NV Integration worked with a local Thai lighting designer and used Lutron HomeWorks QS to integrate lighting. Each of the lights within the 350 lighting circuits can be turned on or off or set to turn on automatically at certain times of the day. Lighting has been used to stunning effect. In the upper stair hall, DALI lights around a fish art installation have been sequenced to give the impression that they are swimming. The fountains have also been integrated within the Lutron system and are programmed to run at

select times of the day to ensure the ponds are oxygenated for the fish.

Control of the sub-systems is accessed through a combination of options. They include Crestron inwall touchscreens for whole-home functionality, touchscreen remotes for local areas with TVs and guest rooms, and a Crestron app via an iPad. The HD colour wall touch panels, located throughout the building, guide the user through simple, intuitive operation of the various options. There are a number of personalised features, such as access to major news sources and weather, plus a welcome screen for guests. The owner also wanted a "global" page with the ability to look at a custom plan of each floor of his home and view and control the status of lighting and air conditioning.

The integrator has programmed a variety of scenes, incorporating lighting, music, and AV to

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EQUIPMENT LIST

• Artcoustic Bespoke soundbar and subwoofer

• Autonomic Mirage media server • Bowers & Wilkins CCM Series speakers • Bowers & Wilkins Mini Theatre surround • BPT XIP Entry System • Cellar Tracker wine inventory system • Cisco managed network • Crestron 3 Series processor • Crestron DigitalMedia video system • Crestron Sonnex audio system • Dahua IP CCTV system • DrayTek enterprise router • Fortress D-Box home theatre seating • JVC X900 projector and Panamorph lens

• Kaleidescape Premier Line movie server • Lutron HomeWorks QS lighting control • Lutron Sivoia QS shade control • Meridian 9.4 Digital Theatre • Pakedge remote power management • Sonance DSP power amplifiers • Sonance Sonarray Landscape speakers

simplify setting an atmosphere.

These comprise a variety of entertainment modes, including “informal,” “formal,” or “birthday party,” as well as pre-sets for the home cinema and a shutdown sequencer if the residence is unoccupied. If the PIR detects activity during night hours, a dedicated TV in the master bedroom automatically switches on and displays the camera images too, enhancing security. The owner can access the control system remotely using an iPad and so can get his home ready for his arrival after he's been absent.

One of the innovative elements of the system is integrated control of the wine inventory. The wines are managed by scanning a barcode on each bottle via the CellarTracker app and a wallmounted iPad. The Crestron app then displays the wines available and is searchable by criteria such as regions, producers, or "readiness to drink."

The integrator was faced with some significant challenges in delivering this project, predominantly stemming from its location in Southeast Asia. Every scenario needed to be carefully

thought through to ensure that every possible piece of equipment was pre-ordered and shipped.

The logistics of getting everything and everybody safely on site was complex in terms of visas, import duties, and taxes. Although most of the local contractors spoke English, the team of electricians did not, which resulted in multiple site-visits and checks.

Not content with eye-catching features and extensive customisation of the system, the client also wanted the technology to be hidden. In three of the rooms, custom woodwork conceals the TVs, which create an impact when they are revealed.

This spectacular house took five years to build. NV Integration delivered an outstanding automated home with the wow factor that the client desired. The judging panel at CEDIA says, "The winning project is the definition of a smart home. It stands out on so many levels and truly feels like James Bond’s house."

www.nvintegration.co.uk

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9–11 OCTOBER 2018 NEC BIRMINGHAM

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WHO THE HECK

ARE THESE PEOPLE? How the team creates the Have you heard the expression, “If you want something done right, then you Managing Director and Owner of better do it yourself?” It’s a fallacy.

Visualization Limited The realisation that I couldn’t grow the business with this mindset was an epiphany for me. I was working with a sales trainer at the time, as I felt this was where my time should be focussed.

As a result, I was struggling to find enough hours in the day, since I was also micro-managing much of the business, from admin to engineering.

Nick Pidgeon

It was the sales trainer who asked me, “Why?” Why was I doing all of this? I clearly remember blurting out, “Because they don’t do it how I would.” From here on out, the only micro-managing I did was working with the team to create processes for anything and everything that was a recurring event within the business. This now sets clear expectations of the needs and requirements when onboarding new employees, creating accountability, and providing a clear roadmap to the Visualization way.

We pride ourselves on being process-driven and regularly add, review, and update to keep processes current.

— but getting done nevertheless — is a key tool which is essential to growth.

A key extension to the processes are the managers within the team. Trust and acceptance that not all things are going to be done exactly how you would

Planning is key to any business. In the early stages, I was focussed on the short term, but over time and with growth, I found this transitioned to mainly

Two processes we’ve used to great effect at Visualization are: KPIs — Key Performance Indicators allow us to measure, analyse, and continuously tweak key elements of the business, increasing efficiencies.

KRAs — Key Related Areas has revolutionised the focus of our staff, ensuring everyone knows what they should be accountable for and focussing on and redirecting what they shouldn’t.

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Grow Your Business By: Understanding how to hire Creating a culture behind a business Who and what to outsource Tracking the right things Empowering others to allow you to focus on key result areas Planning the big and the small things Leveraging experience from others

culture of your business focussing on the long term. I can’t stress enough — the long term is only possible if you are planning and managing the short term, so moderation is key.

looking for traits and characteristics that match the job role and even a practical assessment will give you the best chance of finding a fit for the business.

Too often people spend all their time planning and never doing.

Remember all new hires require a period

It has been said that there are two types of people that go into business — the salesperson and the engineer. The salesperson is great at finding opportunities, but how do they deliver the project?

The engineer loves what they do, but how do they deal with sales and capacity constraints?

As someone who fits into the latter category, I’d like to highlight a few other keys I’ve learned during my time running a business.

Have you heard the expression, “If you want something done right, then you better do it yourself?”

It’s a fallacy.

HIRING Never an easy task, hiring is something we are still trying to perfect internally. We’ve got a great training and development process for the early year trainees, but often find it hard to retain staff in the longterm after spending significant resources to develop their fundamental knowledge.

The one thing I have learnt is not to rush the interview process. A short telephone interview is a great way to ask a couple of key questions and raise any initial concerns on the CV without ruling out an individual too early on. Leading questions

to onboard and need their hand held while they get up to speed. If you’re struggling to retain staff early on, you may be missing one of these points.

CULTURE I’m not sure when it first became apparent that “culture” within the business was important, but it is a fundamental element for staff retention and belonging. We’d all love a Google culture, but this can’t be bred overnight. I recently read a LinkedIn post from a company owner who said

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he had “created” the culture within his business. I really feel while it is the obligation of the business owner to influence the culture, it takes the team to create one. A couple of favourites at Visualization are “Filthy Friday” (which involves indulging in a takeout lunch), a game of pool now and then, and the occasional “beer o’clock” at 4 p.m.

OUTSOURCING Outsourcing can be a great asset to a business, both limiting overhead and increasing efficiency. It’s key you don’t do this “backwards.” During the early years, I often focussed my time on key responsibilities that I neither enjoyed nor was proficient in and hired subcontractors to assist in core business functions. In later years, I learnt to keep my focus on our core business and leverage the skillsets and efficiencies of others, including outsourced accountancy and virtual administration.

LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT For the learning and development of the team to be effective, it must start and continue with the owner. For the initial years, and at times after that, they will be the driving force behind development. As per outsourcing, ensure you’re not wasting excess time learning outside your core area of business, but are continually seeking to improve your knowledge.

Running a business is fundamentally managing people, so no amount of time spent on this subject will be without gain.

This can come from books, mentors, blogs, etc.

We are very proficient at taking entry-level employees and imparting a massive amount of knowledge over their first six months to maximise their value. This hasn’t always been the way.

Around seven years ago, we identified a lack of a clear process to bring new starters up to speed. Rather than leaving them to just learn on the job, we identified the key requirements they needed to know and structured repetitive training in visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning styles.

We are constantly looking at industry certification that will add credentials to our team

Within our long-term development process, we conduct annual reviews looking at where expectations are being met from both sides and where training and personal development should be implemented for progression.

Additionally, we are constantly looking at industry certification that will add credentials to our team — and thus add value to our business.

We don’t have all the answers, and there’s not always time to learn them for ourselves, so don’t be afraid to take a shortcut. In recent years, my team and I have found that finding mentors is a great way of mining info from others’ experiences — and mistakes — to use it to our advantage.

www.avrackbuild.com

@VisualizationAV

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Are you asking

Charles Leon BIID Past President and Director of Leon Black

the right questions?

The question of what level of technology and intelligence a “building” should have comes up all the time. We think we ought to be using state-of-the-art technology — the latest, most intelligent, most entertaining, and user friendly.

Home automation and building management systems are now an integral part of almost every interior; from how we control our heating, cooling, lighting, energy saving, entertainment, and security, to how we interact with the technology. I think it’s essential that interior designers should have an understanding of what these systems can do for our clients (and hopefully our planet) and how they intend to use these systems. But it’s also essential for the interior designer to understand how the technology fits into the building.

But more often than not, the problem is not with the solution, the problem is with the question.

It’s very easy to leap at the latest gadget and gizmo because it looks and feels good, but the question that needs to be asked at the outset is; “What problem does this solve, and what do you want to achieve?”

Technology for technology’s sake will only answer the question, “Am I up to date?” It won’t really answer the question, “What do you really want to achieve?” And what you want to achieve is critical in coordinating what technology can do for the end users and the consultant team.

Setting prioritised goals is the key. Asking the right questions is absolutely imperative for the interior designer and the technology integrator.

• Do you want to save energy and why (responsibility)?

• Do you want to be secure in your home and why (security)?

• Do you want to be entertained, and why (pleasure)?

• Do you want to be able to control the mood, and why (emotions)?

Understanding how people live or believe they want to live, who they are, and who they want to become, is at the very heart of all design. You need to dig deep in order to know what is going to satisfy these needs.

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I also think that digging deep sparks creative thinking. Once we understand the fundamental needs and desired outcomes of our clients (even if they may seem trivial sometimes), we are better placed to find solutions that satisfy the need.

Technology has the ability to deliver deeply felt desires, moods, and emotions. That’s why it’s important for the consultants to ask the right questions early on in a project. When we know what our clients want to achieve and why they want it, we can find solutions that are based on satisfying the end users’ needs or desires.

That’s also why consultants should collaborate closely. When we all understand what we want to achieve and what the reasons are, we are much better placed to work together to find solutions.

In order to find the right solution, we need to ask the right questions. If we have the right questions, and the answers, it’s possible to find creative solutions that satisfy the needs of the client, the interior designer, and the technology integrator.

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ADVICE FROM THE DESIGN EXPERT: Dean Keyworth, BIID Past President and Owner of Armstrong Keyworth comments: "My main piece of advice to any technology integrator would be that however ingenious your technical solution to a client’s brief, the aesthetics of it will always be high on the designer’s agenda. The more that can be hidden, the better.

Personally, my ideal is that all the tech works quietly and efficiently in the background, but never impinges on the decorative scheme.

Clearly, the earlier the integrator, designer, and architect get together, the more options are available to achieve this.

A good example of this is a recent apartment project I completed with CEDIA member, Cornflake, where we centralised Sky boxes in common parts to maximise space within the living rooms and bedrooms and even went as far as having false walls in the back of hall cupboards to hide Lutron racks, but still provide hanging space for the coats.”

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CEDIA AWARDS

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SHORTLIST

CEDIA has revealed the shortlisted finalists for the project and product categories in the prestigious 2018 CEDIA Awards.

Project Finalists: •

Achme Communication

•

Andrew Lucas London

• Archimedia •

Clever Association

• ConnectedWorks •

Connecting Technology

• Cornflake •

Custom Sight & Sound

• Cyberhomes •

Effect Mozart

• Environ •

Finite Solutions

• Henri • Homeplay •

Intuitive Homes

• KNEKTD •

M.E.G.A. AV

•

The Next Level

•

The Pyramid Group

• SONA •

Sound Sense

• Teksclusive •

Total Solutions

•

TwentyTwo Integration

• Ultamation

Product Finalists: • 2N •

AVPro Edge

• Blackdove •

Lithe Audio

• Trinnov

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TECHNICAL JUDGES Judging for the Home Technology Professional Awards took place in June. The EMEA judging panel included Geoff Meads (Presto Web Design), Pip Evans (NV Integration), David Graham (Grahams), Melanie Malcolm (Bespoke Home Cinemas), Luke Newland (New Land Solutions), and Nick Pidgeon (Visualization).

Geoff and Pip also joined the Global judging panel alongside Ian Bryant (ZenArray) and Dave Tkachuk (Symbol Logic) to select the Global winners.

TICKETS ON SALE Tickets for the 2018 CEDIA Awards, which is taking place at the British Museum in London on Thursday 27th September, are now on sale and available to purchase at an early bird discounted rate.

Tickets include a glittering drinks reception in the Egyptian Sculpture Gallery and a threecourse dinner beneath the stars in the Great Court complete with evening entertainment.

Guests will have the opportunity to explore the treasures and artefacts of the Museum collection, with symbolic objects and architectural pieces ranging from the time of the Old Kingdom to the middle of the Roman Period.

Together with the largest covered public square in Europe, the Great Court, with its spectacular glass roof, the CEDIA Awards 2018 will be an evening to remember.

Single tickets start from £180 (+VAT) for CEDIA members and £230 (+VAT) for non-members.

Tables of 10 are also available for larger parties starting from £1,600 (+VAT). Please note the early bird discount will only be available until 12th August.

Jason Bradbury announced as presenter TV presenter and producer, Jason Bradbury will be presenting the thirteenth annual awards ceremony.

Jason is best known for presenting The Gadget Show UK and US. He has worked on hundreds of shows on the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Sky, in a career spanning almost twenty years. Jason’s understanding of technology has allowed him to become a creator in his own right, building hoverboards, robots, and mind-reading devices such as a real-life Tony Stark. Jason has also written for a number of technology and computer magazines, as well as both fiction and non-fiction works.

With a passion for technology and science, Jason brings confidence to his performance, while also boasting comic abilities, developed during his years performing in a double act with Little Britain star, David Walliams.

SPONSORS ABB, the world-leading provider of smarter home, smarter building and intelligent community solutions, is this year's headline sponsor. Today, ABB is at the forefront of delivering affordable smart home technology with its home automation system ABB-free@home, which can quickly and cost effectively transform any house or apartment into an intelligent home.

www.cedia.co.uk/cedia-awards

This year’s other sponsors include Bowers & Wilkins, IFSEC International, Gira, and Meridian Audio. Bowers & Wilkins has 50 years’ experience in making the very best audio equipment in the world. Whether it's hi-fi, home theatre, or custom installation, its loudspeakers are designed to reproduce sound as accurately as possible. Designed to keep the security and fire industry up to date with the latest technology innovations, IFSEC International is Europe's leading security event and the only global stage committed to co-creating the future of integrated security. Since 1977, Meridian Audio has been crafting innovative, elegant, high performance audio solutions. Meridian has an everexpanding portfolio of market-leading audio products to help dealers across the world create unbeatable high resolution audio experiences for their customers. Gira is a leading complete supplier for intelligent system solutions for electronic, networked digital building control systems. Gira products and solutions represent "Made in Germany" quality, which means the most environmentally friendly and sustainable operations possible and much more.

WHY INTEGRATORS SPECIFY

MUSIC STREAMERS UK designed and manufactured for residential and commercial CI racks HiFi grade streamers in a 1U chassis Crestron, Control4, AMX, RTI, Command Fusion or the LODE App for control Combine LA-1, LA-4 or the NEW LA-4D streamers on a project for up to 64 LodeNet zones

“The Lode Audio platform is one of the few multi room audio systems that hails performance as its primary aim. It is extremely important that we work with like-minded companies and this integration in particular highlights the importance of high quality music streaming to the custom installation market.”

Pål Bråtelund TIDAL Strategic Partnership Manager

Custom AV Distribution Ltd Phone: 01628 563344

info@cavd.co.uk www.cavd.co.uk

Custom AV Distribution CAVDistribution & CAVDtechnical

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The games room is a retirement present for our client. Construction of this 10m extension started in April 2017 and finished a year later in April 2018. The purpose was to create a bright and fun space consisting of traditional games and the latest technology.

Mike Ranpura

(MR)

Smart Life AV, UK

THE GAMES ROOM “At a fairly early stage of the process, my architect suggested that I speak to one or two companies that could help me look at home automation — one of whom was Mike” comments Brian Taylorson, the homeowner.

“I met him fairly early in the process, not having much idea of what was possible. The fact that he had his own showroom and demonstration room where he could show me some of the things that he was capable of in terms of lighting, sound, and home automation in general, started to open my mind.

“

“

Mike is an easy guy to work with, has a good sense of humour, clearly understands what he’s doing, is very very attentive, and extremely thorough.

Whilst the project was not a complete home renovation, we provisioned for infrastructure to be run to various existing rooms downstairs, as well as a secondary rack to be located in the loft, should the client decide to renovate upstairs in the future. Both racks are linked together via fibre through two Luxul switches. CAT6A and fibre were run to all primary rooms. The main rack and Rako lighting dimmers are located in a dedicated room behind the extension. The games room

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and adjoining living room contain the majority of the “fun stuff.”

ELAN has been used as the preferred home automation system to bring the whole experience together. One TP7 touch panel is located in the games room and various TV viewing zones have a HR200 remote control for traditional control. ELAN also allows us to map functions to voice commands that can be triggered via Amazon Echo, bringing another layer of fun to the experience. For example, “Alexa turn on sunshine” will open the blinds.

By connecting an Echo Dot as a source into the ELAN S1616A zone controller, we are able to recreate the “voice of god” effect of hearing Alexa through the ceiling speakers.

The ELAN S1616A provides amplification and zone control, with two Sonos Connects and the Echo Dot providing audio sources.

A Sonos Playbar is also located in the games room, with Sonos Play speakers in other rooms. The living room’s 5.1 system is powered by a Yamaha AV receiver. All speakers are Origin Acoustics with REL Acoustics subwoofers. With 3m ceilings and a large space to fill, the games room has 10 D64 ceiling speakers and 5 D67’s in the living room. They were comfortably able to fill the room with quality sound. Two REL T/9i’s provide crisp and beautiful bass and look the part with their piano white gloss finish.

externally. A mixture of 240V and RGBW LED Tape circuits allow for a large variety of scenes. One of our favourite parts of this project was being involved with the lighting design, choosing the fittings and watching how the games room transforms into a jaw dropping space in the evenings.

Blustream competently handles the video distribution of Sky and media devices around the home. Hikvision secures the premises with 4MP cameras. QMotion blinds provide a premium and silent solution for controlling natural light during the daytime and privacy in the evenings.

Climate control is possible by using CoolMaster and Heatmiser. Ubiquiti was used to provide a strong Wi-Fi network around the home.

Inside the rack room, TDI and Penn Elcom accessories enabled us to achieve a high standard finish. The

cherries on the top for this project were adding control of a gas fireplace and water fountain to ELAN. They were always considered bonus features and is definitely one of the elements we’re proud of the most.

“The final project is a lot of fun” continues Brian. “If I look through the whole process, one of the things that I have appreciated from working with Smart Life AV is not just the initial idea, but Mike’s attention and project management has been one of the big pluses and I think without a project manager like Mike, that could have been very difficult. I would definitely recommend Mike and Smart Life AV to anybody who wants to introduce home automation to their house. Mike is an easy guy to work with, has a good sense of humour, clearly understands what he’s doing, is very very attentive, and extremely thorough.”

Rako is used to control numerous lighting circuits internally and

www.smartlifeav.com

@SmartLifeAV

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Blockchain: What It Is, and Why You Should Care Ed Wenck

Content Marketing Manager, CEDIA

It’s a lot more than Bitcoin: Blockchain technology has profound implications for everyone — including those in the residential technology industry.

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Odds are good that you’ve heard the terms “Bitcoin” or “cryptocurrency,” if only as part of some ad campaign featuring a wild-haired “expert” who’ll ostensibly tell you how to get rich buying and selling the stuff. The notion of digital money — a financial product that’s not tied to any government or nation-state — is only possible with a computer technology called “blockchain.”

That technology’s less than a decade old. Tech Council Podcast regular, Geoff Meads (owner of Presto AV LTD, a marketing company for CEDIA channel businesses) explains, “I believe this happened in 2010 — the first registered purchase of anything with blockchain technology was two Papa John’s pizzas, in Jacksonville, Florida. The person who purchased the two pizzas paid 10,000 Bitcoin — which is a hundred million dollars in today's money.”

As sensational as the rise and fall of Bitcoin’s value sounds, the blockchain technology that backs it up has profound implications for everyone — including those in the residential technology industry.

So What Is It?

Impacts on Content

Shelly Palmer, CEO at The Palmer Group, provided a marvellously succinct deconstruction of the component parts of the thing in his blog post entitled “What Is Blockchain?” (shellypalmer.com, February 4, 2018):

Another terrific use for it is a bit morbid.

> Blockchain Defined A blockchain, or distributed ledger, is a continuously growing list (digital file) of encrypted transactions called “blocks” that are distributed (copied) to a peer-to-peer (P2P) network of computers. > Blocks As described above, a blockchain is an immutable, sequential chain of records known as blocks.

A block may contain any type of data, such as unique digital identifiers of physical products.

Blocks are “chained” together using hashes.

A hash is a function that takes an input value and from that input creates an output value deterministic of the input value.

Shelly goes on to outline the manner in which data is stored, how it’s encrypted (that encryption and security are two of the keys to the technology’s value), how that “hash” works, and eventually sums things up thusly: Blockchain technology offers a way to verify transactions without the need for a central authority. This means you can create smart contracts using distributed ledgers. For example, a landlord might put an IoT door lock on your rental apartment. The door lock might check the blockchain to see if your rent is paid. If it isn’t, the door lock (that is, the smart contract) would not let you into the apartment. The list of uses for blockchain is practically endless. From title searches to delivery verification, distributed ledgers offer a completely new, secure way to do business.

Geoff is well aware of that list of uses: “Suppose you buy a software license at some point. Perhaps later you lose the details of what you bought, and then maybe whomever you bought it from is no longer in business, and you've got to prove your ownership of that software license. It's pretty damn difficult.

“Now, that can all be stored in blockchains.”

Geoff: “If I download a music track and I pass away, who gets the rights to that music I purchased? The answer is, ‘Well, nobody.’ It goes right back to the person I bought it from.

However, if we can register those tracks using a download ID of the content to an individual and, in our will and testament, we can pass that ownership over — all of that can be stored, registered in blockchains.

“Every bit of software you ever purchased — even say, something on a laptop, that died 10 years ago — you can go back and reinvigorate if you really need to, because it's all stored permanently and irrevocably.”

Geoff knows he’s speaking about the tip of the blockchain technology iceberg. Serial number registration: stored in blockchains forever. Kickstarter projects without third-party management: reach the proper level and the developer gets the pay-out directly.

And imagine blockchain-based payments improving the quality of content on your TV set.

As Geoff notes, monetary transactions via blockchain tech are universal in their simplicity, no matter the amount changing hands.

“Blockchain technology can handle a lot of micro-transactions, so if we want to transfer tiny, tiny amounts of money — a few cents here or there — it's prohibitive through banks because it's just too expensive. But, with blockchain tech, it's the same amount of cost or time to transfer a million dollars as it would be a few pennies. These kinds of things will allow us to have small devices that can charge for the time you use them really efficiently.”

Welcome to the world of truly “on-demand” content, according to Geoff. “My favourite kind of potential use here? Imagine a TV subscription where you actually just pay for the minutes you watch.

“This automatically turns the emphasis on good quality content, because if the broadcasters don't give us good quality content, we don't watch it — and won’t be required to pay for it, even if it’s offered.”

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TRAINING & EVENTS CALENDAR Aug 6

22-24

CEDIA Outreach Instructor Course

Integrate

CEDIA, St Neots

Sydney, Australia

September 4-8

12-13

CEDIA EXPO

Home Cinema Design Fundamentals

San Diego, USA

Pulse Cinemas, Stansted, UK

13

17-21

19-22

21-23

CEDIA Outreach Instructor Course

Boot Camp

100% Design

Homebuilding & Renovating Show

AWE, Epsom, UK

CEDIA, St Neots

Olympia, London

ExCeL, London

27

28

CEDIA Awards — EMEA

AV Awards

British Museum, London

Grosvenor House, London

2

3

4

Customer Relations and Needs Analysis

Principles of Project Management

Consultative Selling Skills

CEDIA, St Neots

CEDIA, St Neots

CEDIA, St Neots

24-28 Celebrate

KNX Basic Training

UNDER THE STARS

CEDIA, St Neots

27 SEPTEMBER 2018

BOOK NOW AND SAVE ON TICKETS BEFORE 12TH AUGUST cedia.co.uk/cedia-awards

October 1

B R I T I S H M U S EU M , G r e at R u s s el l S t R EE T, B l o o m s b u r y, L o n d o n W C 1 B 3 D G

CEDIA Outreach Instructor Course CEDIA, St Neots

HEADLINE SPONSOR

A S S O C I AT E S P O N S O R S

8-12

16

17

Technical School

Introduction to CAD

Business Planning and Strategy

CEDIA, St Neots

CEDIA, St Neots

CEDIA, St Neots

18-19

24

25

Lighting School

Manage Your Business Finances

RIBA Roadshow

CEDIA, St Neots

CEDIA, St Neots

Radisson Blu, Edinburgh, UK

Book training at www.cediaeducation.com/courses

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eNet SMART HOME

eNet SMART HOME is a wireless-based system which transforms every home into a smart home, regardless of whether it's a new build or existing building. Functions such as lighting, blinds and heating are wirelessly networked and centrally controlled – via a switch on the wall or via smartphone while on the move.

Many everyday functions can be easily automated with the right Gira eNet components. Even existing functions can be integrated into the eNet SMART HOME system.

With little effort, existing switches can be replaced with Gira eNet wall transmitters, which can be installed anywhere on almost any surface.

More information: www.gira.com/enet

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THE 8K EVOLUTION

BEGINS HERE 8K is already a reality and AI threatens to make native content redundant.

Welcome to the future, says UK technology journalist, Steve May. Have you installed an 8K display yet?

In all probability, you haven’t. Although within 12 months, you could well be wrestling with this next gen display technology. In case you hadn’t noticed, the next evolution in UHD has already begun.

Sharp became the first screen manufacturer to introduce an 8K display, when it used the recent IFA GPC (Global Press Conference) to launch the 70" LV-70X500E. This display offers unprecedented 7680×4320 resolution and is available for you to spec right now, priced at €12,000.

Presumptuous undoubtedly, but Marketing and Sales VP, Sascha Lange (pictured left) believes that just as 55-65 screens sizes have been driven by 4K, 8K will drive 70" and larger models in the

Steve May Technology Journalist

near future. He even suggests 128" 8K LED LCD panels will become a residential reality over the next few years.

Consumers have the room, he says, they just don’t realise it yet.

Having stared at it for quite some time, I can confirm that the LV-70X500E is a remarkable screen. It uses a full array local backlight, with 216 zones, and presents an insanely sharp image. Up close, you can peer into the picture and see miniscule details. There is no visible pixel structure; it’s like looking at a stained glass window. The set is HDR10 and HLG compatible, with a peak brightness quoted at 1,000 nits.

So how does it work? A peer around the back reveals eight v2.0 HDMIs. Four of these are dedicated to delivering the native 8K signal. Alternatively, integrators

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could use these to display four independent 2160p feeds. In the short term, this latter configuration could prove the most intriguing, be it for entertainment (think sports bar) or security applications.

I was told by Toshiyuki Fujine, Division Manager at Sharp’s Sakai LCD panel plant, that the screen was originally conceived as a B2B product, serving corporate, security, and medical needs, but the manufacturer quickly came to the conclusion that there was an early adopter market eager to take one home. He concedes that the LV-70X500E is very much a preemptive strike at the 8K TV market, given that HDMI 2.1 support should be mandatory, but is sanguine about the implementation.

“Second generation 8K displays will offer a single HDMI 2.1 input,” he says, “but that’s not currently available to manufacturers.”

This won’t be the case for long.

Jürgen Boyny, Global Director of CE for GFK, is confident 8K will prove to be one 2018’s emerging trends; the floodgates will open fast when HDMI 2.1 chipsets enter the manufacturing ecosystem.

The LV-70X500E ships without a DVB tuner or HEVC decoder, but will upscale 4K or lower sources, and it plays 4320p still images from USB. But there is currently no native 8K content to watch.

IHS Markit analyst Paul Gray suggests

Creating 8K content may be expensive and delivering it challenging, but AI is an easy to implement interim fix.

that 8K presents genuine problems for creators, not least because most of the cinematic lenses available just aren’t up to scratch. “The resolution of 8K merely reveals the flaws in the glass, the lack of edge resolution,” he told me.

However, the content industry isn’t sitting this revolution out.

Bernard Fontaine, Head of Technical Innovations at France TV, confirms that the broadcaster undertook 8K acquisition trials at The French Open in May. The footage was never broadcast but was screened in the Roland Garros media centre.

The Netflix TV show Lost in Space was shot using 8K cameras.

In Japan, set top boxes are expected to provide native 8K content from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

But 8K screens probably won’t need 8K content to sell anyway. This is where 2018’s other much hyped trend, AI (artificial intelligence), comes into play. TV makers are already well advanced on leveraging AI techniques to improve image quality and exploit incoming 4320p displays.

Jürgen Boyny, Global Director of CE for GFK, is confident 8K will prove to be one 2018’s emerging trends

Machine Learning Super Resolution (MLSR), an AI driven image processing technique that can upscale any source to 4320p. It uses comparative algorithms to interpolate missing detail.

Detail Creation places texture in low definition areas, while Edge Restoration improves pixel definition, and smooths edges.

MLSR intelligently applies filters for brightness, black level, and colour.

The end result is apparently so convincing, viewers would be hard pressed to tell faux 8K from the real thing.

Samsung intends to use MLSR processing on its debut 85-inch 8K TV, due later this year. “When you consider that display market is rapidly shifting to the trend of large screens, 8K market growth is inevitable,” says Steve Mitchell, Samsung’s Head of Product Management for TV and AV.

Creating 8K content may be expensive and delivering it challenging, but AI is an easy-toimplement interim fix.

Samsung is leading the way with

@SteveMay_UK

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THE VALUE OF

EDUCATION

COMMUNICATES

Richard Colman, Company Director at Luxe Smart Homes, discusses how attending industry training allowed him to set up a successful installation company and why all integrators should maintain standards by regularly signing up for education courses.

I joined CEDIA just over a year ago, as I wanted to gain access to their training programme at the membership prices. I was the first inductee under the “individual membership” programme. I was transitioning from a different industry and needed to gain a solid understanding of how to set up an installation company and all the various aspects involved in doing so. I’m now 12 months on from this stage, and looking back, I don’t think I would be where I am today if it hadn’t been for that CEDIA training I initially undertook.

I travelled to the CEDIA EMEA HQ for three consecutive weeks as I threw myself into the Boot Camp, Technical School, and Networking School classes. While my brain may have been slightly overwhelmed by the sheer breadth of information I was taking in, it was all fitting into place and building upon the knowledge I had already learnt myself through playing around with AVRs, projectors, and computer networks in the past.

I think the biggest thing I took from those first few weeks was the confidence to go into a new industry and be taught with the highest of standards that CEDIA is committed to delivering. Once I had completed my ESC-T and ESC-N certifications, I was able to apply what I had learnt instantly when working onsite. When I encountered fellow technicians who had years more experience than I had, who didn’t understand the reason for using one wireless radio channel over another, or when to use a Cat 6a cable instead of Cat 6, I knew that the investment I made in training myself was immediately paying off.

After I completed the previously mentioned

A well-motivated, fully educated technician is going to have a calmer and more professional demeanour when facing challenges that present themselves on site.

CEDIA classes, I then dove into productspecific training courses with AWE, Invision, Control4, and Lutron. This advanced my knowledge even further — to the point where I can now design, specify, install, and maintain an overall home automation control system that can incorporate a home cinema, lighting routines, and smart home security.

Another benefit of continued professional development that has helped me grow my business is all the fantastic people you meet through these classes. There are usually plenty of breaks and lunchtime chats to discuss the state of the industry or the latest technological innovation. Not only that, after leaving the classroom, it’s been invaluable to be able to communicate with colleagues and friends on a regular basis.

I’ve been able to build up a network that has years more experience than I have but have all happily helped me along my way. Even junior technicians who I have met at these classes have been able to make connections post-classroom that have led them to further employment opportunities.

My company is growing at a rapid pace, and I’ll be looking to take on new staff members in the coming months. I’m a firm believer in investing in human capital as a means to attract, secure, and retain talent in the future. A well-motivated, fully educated technician is going to have a calmer and more professional demeanour when facing challenges that present themselves onsite.

So, for all those companies that have wondered where the value is in sending their staff on training courses, be it at CEDIA or at one of the many distributors and manufacturers that offer excellent training, think about the time a knowledgeable technician will save you on site, the extra money that will keep the smile on his or her face, and the more significant number on your bottom line for having a fully trained workforce.

www.luxesmarthomes.co.uk @luxesmarthomes

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INDUSTRY-RELATED PROFESSIONAL MEMBERS

Geoff Meads (GM)

Marcus Jackson-Baker (MJB)

Presto AV

Integrated Experience

CEDIA Industry-Related Professional Members are companies that provide services to the home technology industry. Here, we talk to four of these members to better understand the services they provide and how they engage with the CEDIA community.

John Dupree (JD)

Nick Pidgeon (NP)

Coordinated

Visualization

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You are a CEDIA IndustryRelated Professional member.

Tell us about the range of services you provide.why?

GM | Our services are predominantly website development and social media management.

However, we’re increasingly being asked for a wider range of B2B marketing services, such as print design and email marketing, which we’re also happy to provide.

MJB | Integrated Experience Limited is an Authorised Crestron Service Provider. We work in tandem with integrators to provide Crestron software development services and support throughout the lifecycle of their Crestron projects. We can help integrators deliver exceptionally intuitive and robust user experiences without having to take on the large overhead of hiring in-house programmers.

JD | Coordinated was formed 7 years ago to provide bespoke fire and security systems that integrate into an automated home. We currently work as fire and security integrators with around 20 CEDIA members and are actively seeking new partnerships.

NP | Visualization’s core service and what we are best known for is our outsourced off and onsite rack build resource, but over the last 13 years, our offering has evolved to help fill our partners' operations and engineering shortfalls as needed. Our services now include the supply and distribution of racks, cables and components, hardware, power distribution, and related products; lighting and control panel wiring; installation resource; configuration and programming; testing and commissioning; and specialised AV delivery service. Obviously, I’m a little biased, but I think the services that CEDIA Industry-Related Professional members offer to the core member base is incredible. Between us, we are able to assist or fulfil many gaps in knowledge or skillset on a permanent or ad-hoc basis.

How important is the home technology industry to you?

GM | The home technology industry represents more than half of our business, with most of this being with CEDIA related companies. We enjoy working in other markets too, of course. Our clients include companies from aviation, electrical, retail, and even a local choir and a floating hotel!

MJB | With over 20 years’ experience in the residential sector, we are solely focussed on working within this market. Our skills and experiences of working in the upper tiers of the sector ensure that we can create software and experiences that are unrivalled in their performance.

JD | Working with home automation companies constitutes about 75% of our business, with the remaining 25% coming from lower end domestic properties (although the line is constantly moving toward this type of property) and commercial / public work.

NP | In our capacity, this is not our immediate focus, it is that of our partners and customers.

We continuously keep abreast of emerging hardware and technologies in order to advise and assist where needed.

How has CEDIA membership helped elevate you within this industry?

MJB | Since the late 1990s, it was important to me (as founder of {ie}) to align the company with CEDIA. The education and learning opportunities presented by CEDIA are the very best in our industry and ensure that we are kept abreast of emerging technologies.

JD | The vibe and attitude in the AV market, especially with those who are CEDIA members, is unlike any other sector we work in. Instead of companies seeing themselves in competition with each other, there’s a real feeling of working together to solve problems and to provide a better service for everyone. I think the main help CEDIA has provided me personally is to give me the attitude of collaboration, which sadly is seldomly seen in other markets.

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NP | Our membership has provided us with a platform to teach others. In recent years, I can directly link our membership and association with CEDIA to the rise in awareness and uptake of our services. I should add, being a CEDIA Industry-Related Professional member is not just a one-way street, it takes commitment to attend forums, network, share, and educate the core members before you can reap the reward.

During our early years, we joined and sat back and didn’t find the traction we hoped for as we didn’t invest the time in becoming aware of what is out there and how we could have benefitted from it.

Europe (ISE) tradeshow in Amsterdam. This has not only provided us with an opportunity to discuss our services with potential customers, but also a community that supports each other and shares ideas.

What makes you stand out from your competitors?

GM | We’ve taken years to develop world class skills, particularly in web development and social media campaigning. However, we fully understand that most of our CEDIA related clients come to us because we understand

How do you engage with customers in this industry?

their industry. They don't need to waste time

GM | I act as a professional instructor for CEDIA, but our main engagement activities are through volunteering. I’m also a long-term volunteer for a number of CEDIA activities. I’ve been a CEDIA Awards judge since 2010, have appeared multiple times on the CEDIA Tech Council podcast, and am a long-term member of the Professional Development Advisory Council and Certification Working Group.

to develop, not only their website, but also the

MJB | We are active on social media and have recently exhibited at Essential Install Live.

Virtually all our work comes from referrals, but we work hard to reach out and help highlight how integrators without dedicated programmers in-house can successfully deliver large Crestron projects by engaging with Authorised Crestron Service Providers like ourselves.

JD | This is, or maybe was, a pretty small industry, so by providing high levels of service, we appear to be gaining cross company referrals. Exhibiting at Essential Install Live is probably one of our major methods of engagement, but we also utilise the Home Tech Gallery, Yammer, and Twitter to keep up with the latest technology. I also try to help with the CEDIA Tech Council when my particular experience is of use.

NP | Since becoming a CEDIA member, we regularly attend forums, networking events, the annual awards, and in the recent years, the Integrated Systems

teaching us about their industry, we already live it! This has led to a number of clients asking us text content for it too.

MJB | Having been in the industry for over 20 years, with much of that time being spent on the project management and design side, we have a deep understanding of the pressures integrators face daily. We aim to be as friction free as possible and to remove bottlenecks and information gaps wherever we can. Having spent so much time observing how people interact with technology, we are in a very strong position to understand how to deliver incredible user experiences with both existing technologies as well as new and emerging technologies. I have recently undertaken the next level of examination to become one of only around 50 Crestron Silver Master Programmers in the EMEA region.

JD | I used to think it was in our levels of integration, as we’ve helped to create some cutting-edge integration. A large factor is the bespoke finishes that we try to provide and an overall eye to the aesthetics, which is not common in most fire and security companies.

However, what really sets us apart is that the company was formed to operate like an AV company, not a security company i.e. to be more customer focussed.

NP | Not having a direct competitor means this isn’t something we have previously given much thought to, but we feel that our emphasis on streamlined processes, which have been developed over the years to ensure our quality and uniformity throughout our work certainly makes us unique. That, along with the size of our team and facility, certainly stands out. We build around 1,500 racks each year and are yet to come across another company that can offer the services we do on the same scale.

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IT'S SHOWTIME!

IN SAN DIEGO CEDIA Expo 2018, 4TH – 8TH September 2018 in San Diego, California, powers the disruptors, innovators, and integrators in the intelligently connected built environments by providing the only platform for discovery and collaboration.

With 500 exhibitors, 20,000-plus attendees, and more than 110 education sessions — 35 of which are new this year — CEDIA Expo remains the one can’t-miss event for those in the residential technology industry.

Along with home technology professionals on the front lines of tech adoption, this year’s Expo aims to gather the design and construction professionals on the front lines of consumer wants — both in the home and the home-away-from-home environment.

These architects, builders, and interior designers need to accommodate sought-after tech amenities, and they need the technology integrators to make that happen.

CEDIA Expo is where these groups intersect.

AT A GLANCE Tuesday, 4 September 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

CEDIA Training

Wednesday, 5 September 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

CEDIA Training

5:30 TO 6:30 p.m.

Opening Keynote

7 TO 10:30 p.m.

CEDIA Awards Americas (Petco Park)

Thursday, 6 September 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

CEDIA Training

9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

CEDIA Expo Exhibit Hall Open

Friday, 7 September 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

CEDIA Training

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

CEDIA Certification Exams

9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

CEDIA Expo Exhibit Hall Open

Saturday, 8 September 9 TO 11 a.m.

CEDIA Certification Exams

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

CEDIA Expo Exhibit Hall Open

Conference: September 4-7, 2018 | Expo: September 6-8, 2018 San Diego Convention Center | San Diego, CA

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EDUCATION IS EVERYTHING

THE DESIGN/ BUILD TRADES

CEDIA’s Dave Pedigo (Vice President, Emerging Technologies) is proud of what the industry has done over the past decade — and he believes CEDIA’s commitment to education has helped. “We had a threeday technology council meeting. We were looking at the emerging trends, opportunities, threats, and the number one threat to the industry was a lack of business acumen by our membership. Not technology changes, those kinds of things, but lack of business acumen.

“Fast forward to 2018, we've seen a doubling of the amount of average gross revenue that our members are making, which is good. I don't think we can take much credit for a stronger, healthier economy and those kinds of things. What I think we can take credit for though, is that we also saw a doubling of net profit.

That means that the education in this arena’s having a terrific impact — when you run a business better, you see more in the profit column.”

Dave notes that the volunteers who teach CEDIA classes have a broad array of approaches: It’s not cookie-cutter, lecture-with-PowerPoint stuff. Handson learning labs are key, along with sessions that encourage attendee discussion with facilitators — these are approaches one can find at various CEDIA sessions.

But Dave always comes back to a central thesis: the man is an absolute evangelist for continuing education.

“There's a document that was written by the World Economic Forum. It's called ‘The Future of Jobs,’ and it really talks about where jobs are heading from 2018 really to 2022. The big takeaway for me? I’ll sum it up: To be successful moving forward, you have to switch your mindset to be a lifelong learner.”

One of CEDIA’s biggest strategic pushes is outreach to the design/build community, and the people managing the Expo exhibition floor — Emerald Exhibitions — is providing an assist.

“I've been going to CEDIA since 2009, and one of my various hats is running the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS),” says Brian Pagel, Emerald’s Senior Vice President. “The National Kitchen and Bath Association's been working with CEDIA for a number of years in terms of trying to create that connection between the integrator, the builder, the designer, and the architects, because that's been a relationship to some degree that has struggled. I fear that some builders over the years have viewed integrators as another trade that they have to manage. We believe exactly the opposite. I think that if it's done properly, these are great upsell opportunities for builders, designers, and integrators, because you're selling a more robust package to consumers looking for these solutions.”

Brian and company are marketing the annual Expo to the other relevant industries that have allied with Emerald as their show organisers. Brian adds “I also run Kitchen and Bath Business magazine, which is the official publication of KBIS. So, we have dedicated an entire section of the magazine between now and through the show that’s going to talk about nothing but home technology, connected spaces, and CEDIA.”

Conference: September 4-7, 2018 | Expo: September 6-8, 2018 San Diego Convention Center | San Diego, CA

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INNOVATION ALLEY Innovation Alley is a unique section of the CEDIA Expo show floor devoted to celebrating newto-market technology products and services for the built environment.

This feature has been a tremendously successful launching pad for some of the industry’s best and brightest. “CEDIA Expo has been a great way for our company to get exposure to integrators and manufacturers,” says John Braden Fowler, Chief Product Officer of Domotz Integration. “Innovation Alley provided a forum to showcase our technology and educate the channel on how Domotz could

improve our clients’ business models. I’m looking forward to continued success within the CEDIA channel.”

At press time, the Innovation

Alley brands include AV Junction, Clovitek, Montavue, Weconekt, Altro, iGlass Technology, Iminate, SeeLess Solutions Mysa, and Danby Appliances.

DESIGN CONNECTION Design and construction professionals are hungry for information, introductions, and relationships that can give them a leg up in understanding how to deliver intelligently built environments. Technology integrators have that knowledge. CEDIA Expo is where they meet.

DESIGN CONNECTION PAVILION | The Design Connection Pavilion is specifically designed to allow brands never before at CEDIA Expo — in the design and construction space — to introduce themselves to the technology integrator professionals as well as the designers and other construction professionals in attendance.

DESIGN CONNECTION TOUR | There will be two tours taking place at CEDIA Expo 2018, one on 6th September and the other on 7th September.

The two-hour tours will be led by Joe Whittaker, Founder and President of The Thoughtful Home, and David VanWert, Principal of VanWert Technology Design.

The first tour starts at 11:30 a.m. with a light lunch and runs from noon to 2 p.m. The 7th September tour starts at 10 a.m. and culminates with lunch at noon. The guides will curate their tours, choosing exhibitors that best illustrate their integration experiences and expertise.

BOURBON AND BROWNIES | Bourbon and Brownies is a networking event that will draw design professionals, media, integrators, and exhibitors.

This exclusive event is scheduled for 7th September from 5:30-7 p.m. More than 75 guests will be invited to attend and enjoy catered bourbon and brownies. The Design Connection Tour guides, participants, and sponsors will also be in attendance, as well as the NKBA San Diego chapter officers, members of ASID (American Society of Interior Designers), and members of the local NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) chapter. In addition to these guests, a select roster of VIP media will attend including writers, editors, and bloggers covering content in the connected home-tech arena.

Conference: September 4-7, 2018 | Expo: September 6-8, 2018 San Diego Convention Center | San Diego, CA

The installer’s choice for over 20 years For over two decades Aquavision have continued to push technological boundaries and produce industry leading, top quality, specialist televisions including indoor, outdoor and bespoke mirror televisions.

RS232, Discreet IP and Full IP Control Commercial grade television panels Lifetime hole-in-the-wall guarantee 2 year on-site warranty 24/7 technical support

Available exclusively through: and

www.aquavision.tv

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LIVE AT CEDIA EXPO

CEDIA Talks | CEDIA BOOTH #1527 CEDIA Talks are 20-minute, TED-style talks that feature the best minds in the industry and cover topics from business acumen to technical trends.

Presented in the CEDIA Booth on the show floor, these talks will be covering topics from the growth of AI and AR/VR technology in the residential space to the abundant opportunities presented by lighting control and design.

TechBites | THE SMART STAGE TechBites are a quick-paced, speed-dating–style series of presentations where 15 selected companies will each conduct a three-minute presentation, immediately followed by a three-minute Q&A. The session guests will be comprised of purchase influencers, as well as elite media who are interested in reporting on the latest and greatest innovations in the intelligently connected built environment.

The presenting companies must deliver their latest product or service in only three to five slides. The

three rounds of Tech|Bites will focus on smart home, home theatre, and security, respectively.

Frank White, a partner at Weld2 & StayTuned, will host the lively TechBites events, which will occur on the CEDIA Expo Smart Stage in Hall A from 12-1:15 p.m. on 6th, 7th, and 8th September.

TechTalks | THE SMART STAGE TechTalks are an all-new series of inspiring and educational talks. These talks feature connected technology experts sharing insights into what the future holds for the home technology industry.

Partnering with CEDIA Expo to bring TechTalks to life on stage is CE Pro, the leading industry authority on consumer electronics for the connected technology professional. TechTalks will take place on the CEDIA Expo Smart Stage 6th – 8th September.

Also contributing to the content on stage is CABA (Continental Automated Buildings Association), WICT (Women in Consumer Technology), and Parks Associates, an internationally recognised market research and consulting company specialising in emerging consumer technology products and services.

Conference: September 4-7, 2018 | Expo: September 6-8, 2018 San Diego Convention Center | San Diego, CA

September 4 - 8, 2018 San Diego, CA

Residential tech is your industry.

CEDIA members receive a FREE badge and discounted conference pricing.

Register Today!

Get Your FREE Badge and Register at CEDIAExpo.com/register

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COMMUNICATES

BY THE NUMBERS

44%

of attendees are CEOs and principals More than

70%

of exhibitors launched products at CEDIA Expo 2017

+ brands presenting at TechBites

10 No.1

event in connected technology full days of CEDIA training

3 3 120 100

full days of exhibit hall + CEDIA classes

+ media outlets covering CEDIA Expo

brand new CEDIA training classes

34

3,700

30x30

CEDIA member companies worldwide +

Design Connection gallery space

20,000 100 industry professionals that manufacture, design, and integrate goods and services for the connected home at CEDIA Expo

bottles of bourbon and 20 pounds of brownies

+ brand new companies appearing for the 1st time at CEDIA Expo

40

billion home technology industry

$14

+ exhibitors

500

Conference: September 4-7, 2018 | Expo: September 6-8, 2018 San Diego Convention Center | San Diego, CA

Smart Sonos Clever Flexson Add the Sonos Beam to any room with a thoughtful range of quality install products from Flexson Flexson Adjustable Wall Mount for Sonos Beam Ideal for secure wall-, ceiling- or under-cabinet-mounting of the Sonos Beam. Tilt functionality allows you to angle the sound exactly where you need it, too. The Sonos Beam is compact enough to deliver incredible sound in many different rooms and positions

• Allows 180° tilt (90° up, 90° down) • Can be inverted to securely hold the Sonos Beam upside down • High grade-steel construction • All fixings included • Black and white versions to match Sonos Beam • Designed and manufactured in the UK

Cantilever Mount for TV and Sonos Beam

Cantilever Mount for TV and Sonos Beam or Sonos Playbar

Adjustable TV Stand for Sonos Beam

• TV and Sonos Beam can swivel up to 180° (90° left, 90° right) • TV and Sonos Beam, can tilt 20° down, subject to TV size • VESA Compatibility up to 200 x 200 • Suitable for up to 43” TVs, weighing up to 20Kg

• TV and Sonos Beam or Sonos Playbar can swivel up to 180° (90° left, 90° right) • VESA compatibility from 200 x 100 up to 600 x 400 max • Suitable for 40” to 65” TVs, weighing up to 40Kg

• Allows you to mount a TV above the Sonos Beam, keeping the screen visible • TV swivels 50° (25° left, 25° right); ideal for corner room placement • Securely holds 32” to 65” TVs, weighing up to 45Kg • Great range of height adjustment • VESA Compatibility up to 800 x 400

Remember to add Flexson to your next Sonos order 01279 459 170 premiumaudio@exertis.co.uk

The world’s bestselling accessories – for every Sonos product flexson.com

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Beyond Content

A preview of the CEDIA Expo Keynote with speaker, John Penney John Penney is expanding his horizons.

John, who’ll be presenting the keynote speech at CEDIA Expo 2018, plans to speak on subjects beyond his day gig: He’s Executive Vice President of Consumer Business Development and Strategic Partnerships for 20th Century Fox. WHAT’S THAT TITLE REALLY MEAN? “It’s actually pretty simple,” says John. “I focus on moving the studio towards a consumerdriven strategic approach rather than a wholesale model. Right now, the studio is selling to theatres around the world on a one-way basis, and the rest of the world has gone to digital distribution in homes, in cars, in every facet of our lives. Digital is embedded in the core of all we do — a two-way data stream.

My job is try to bring the studio closer to the consumer by creating strategic partnerships with companies that have either direct consumer relationships or stand closer to the consumer than the studio does.”

John’s been on the job at 20th Century Fox for less than a year, so those partnerships he speaks of are currently in development.

His resume prior to this position is indicative of the chops he brings to the job, however. “I was

a Wall Street equity research analyst in media technology,” he notes. “For three years, I worked at Viacom; I worked at HBO for six years around digital distribution and content and technology.

I worked at STARZ for seven years helping to launch direct-toconsumer businesses, one that's domestic and one that's essentially the Netflix of the Middle East. It’s called ‘STARZ PLAY Arabia.’”

INTRODUCING THE 2018 KEYNOTE SPEAKER JOHN PENNEY

FROM CONTENT TO GEAR TO EXPERIENCE John’s summation of the presentation you’ll see at Expo makes it clear that he’ll be stepping outside the confines of his office at Fox: The connected home is constantly evolving into a richer and more varied technological ecosystem where hardware, software, and entertainment content come together to deliver truly powerful experiences. As this evolution continues, those who distil simplicity from complexity will win. This keynote will reveal how the powerful hand of human and machine-based personalisation will further change the content and distribution landscape and bring about opportunities for your business.

John explains, “I am hopeful the keynote will deliver a holistic view of the home as a dynamic

Conference: September 4-7, 2018 | Expo: September 6-8, 2018 San Diego Convention Center | San Diego, CA

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“In the traditional model, there's the way that the director wanted you to see it or the way the artist wanted you to hear it — but now there's all this other stuff in between where there's lots of opportunity for your members to create value in the home.” and evolving environment where hardware, software, and services requiring integration come together to provide consumer experiences that are even richer and more compelling.”

John understands — after watching algorithms sort content for end-users — the impact that AI and machine learning will have on the home of the (very near) future. After all, it’s not a big leap from a machine learning “This user likes rom-coms” to “This user likes the lights to be raised slowly around 6 a.m. – except on the weekends.”

THE SPACES BETWEEN As something of a content specialist, though, John’s fascinated by what’s happening in the entertainment universe: “That experience — watching a movie, what have you — is rapidly being modified and changed by software companies, new types of hardware companies coming into the space, new types of distribution technologies.”

John paints the picture of where that content is headed: Imagine an AR production that allows you to choose the characters and drive the narrative as you point your phone at a point in space. Suddenly, a story complete with Hollywood acting talent is unfolding in your

living room — or perhaps a virtual “you” is starring in a sci-fi setting.

(Imagine if the “Pokemon Go” game that was all the rage a short time back included characters that carried on conversations — or even became your “enemy or “ally”?)

What gear will that need to bring it to convincing life? What kind of service will be needed when that experience is inevitably upgraded?

“In the traditional model, there's the way that the director wanted you to see it or the way the artist wanted you to hear it,” notes John, “but now there's all this other stuff in between where there's lots of opportunity for your members to create value in the home — create a service opportunity in a way that they didn't in the past because complexity is increasing at home at such a rapid pace. That's the world that I work in: The interface between the technology, the content, and the economics of it.”

And that range of study can translate into specifics when it comes to client interaction. Every integrator has heard the request: “Make it simple enough so Grandma can use it.” John understands what that really means: “When people use the grandma example, it's often because of their own fear — because they're unwilling to say to themselves 'I don't

understand how this works.' It's like a guy who doesn't like to ask directions.” And John’s advice when this discussion pops up: “Think like you're a psychologist.

Think like you're a social scientist.

What does ‘Grandma’ really need to understand? And how do you handle the rest — both at that first sale and then as you enter into a longer relationship?”

For a lot of people, what’s happened in the tech universe runs parallel to the experience they’ve had with medicine, says John.

“You went from being able to call the doctor whenever you want to hardly being able to get in touch with them, and now to this other idea that’s developing: ‘concierge medicine’ where you pay a retainer, a subscription.” That “middle stage” is where the average consumer is living: A lot of folks are buying DIY stuff and are becoming frustrated by the lack of tech support for those products (and are likely blissfully unaware of the security risks they might be facing, too).

The metaphor continues: “What I see is that you're going to have a world in which a more aware consumer will be more discriminating, and just like people who are purchasing health plans understand, it’s very complicated, they’ll want a trusted party to help them make the multiplying decisions about proliferating tech in their home.”

CEDIA EXPO 2018 Keynote

John Penney EVP, Consumer Business Development & Strategic Partnerships, 20th Century Fox 5th September 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Room 20A

Conference: September 4-7, 2018 | Expo: September 6-8, 2018 San Diego Convention Center | San Diego, CA

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ARCHITECTURAL CINEMAS John Bishop speaks about high-end home cinemas John Bishop’s resume is pretty impressive. He needs a minimum of three business cards by way of introduction: • Personal cinema architect and president, b/a/s/ (Bishop Architectural-entertainment Services, a tech rep company for high-end entertainment systems and sales engineering); • Director of architectural audio services for James Loudspeaker (including training, presentation, and design consulting for music and cinema systems) and; • Founder, T/PCA The American Society of Personal Cinema Architects (a design group applying professional cinema standards to high-end residential entertainment systems).

As you’ve likely guessed, John’s been around for nearly the entire lifespan of CEDIA itself. “I was an original Runco International HT guy (from 1993 until they closed shop in 2016) and developed a design utility programme for Sam Runco to help launch CineWide,” he recalls. “I called the programme the ‘Personal Cinema Architect’ and did many trainings in Cabo and on the HT Technology Cruises with WSR [Widescreen Review]. Before setting up my rep company in '93,

“My 'Experience Mapping to the Academy Theatre' process tells the truth about the quality of a movie experience driven by a genuine cinemaviewing geometry.”

I was EVP of a/d/s/ and helped launch their 'Architectural Audio' CI series of loudspeakers and an audiophile multi-zone electronics system driven by LCD keypads. So, I'm very attuned to architecturally designed homes and the entertainment systems appropriate to them.”

John continues, “As James Loudspeaker's Director of Architectural Audio Services, I just launched a series of pre-engineered immersive audio sound system designs for specific room sizes, from 1,500 cubic feet to 24,000 cubic feet with imaging system criteria included. These are simple 7.4.6 architectures, but in the process, I developed a rationale for immersive sound design that takes into account seat proximity to elevated speaker positions for all three codecs. I'm looking at it in a new way that addresses the practical realities of ceiling heights and wall distances. I also address perimeter sound system design for opaque screens, both projection and direct LED.” John tells us that all of this informs his class content, which he calls “a survey of high-end architectural cinema; a 90-minute overview of these issues.” That

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90-minute survey is stuffed with practical information, says John.

“I’ve just benchmarked a cinema we designed in the Boston area using my 'Architectural Cinema Proof of Performance' procedures, which I'll cover in the class.” The project he references is clearly close to his heart, as one can feel his excitement when he shares the specs: “This is a cool room: It’s SH Acoustics acoustically ‘architected,’ with my imaging design using the Barco Prometheus Blue Laser DCi 4K projector driving a 10' x 24' Stewart Filmscreen Vistascope on an ST100 reference surface.

We set up seven pixel-mapped and masked AR's and three lightlevel modes for SDR, HDR, and ‘lights-up’ entertaining, so one might watch sporting events like the Kentucky Derby in the room while having enough light to socialise.”

That excitement extends to the rest of John’s class: “If you attend, you see a lot of images and hopefully get something useful from some of it, or at least a little food for thought.

For example, one of the topics that gets good reaction is my 'Experience Mapping to the Academy Theatre' process. It tells the truth about the quality of a movie experience driven by a genuine cinema-viewing geometry. It guarantees design outcomes in that regard.”

True to the client base that often asks for John’s service, he’s developed a “Wine Spectator” ranking system for the final overall “cinematic quality of experience.” John explains, “We call it 'Cinema Spectator' and it's on the same 100-point scale as wine and concours d'elegance events.”

John welcomes cameras and smart phones in his classroom, telling us that he uses dozens upon dozens of images in his presentation: “The slides may reach cinema-frame rates at times,” he says with a laugh.

“As a result, I not only allow recording, I encourage it!”

Left: Phoenix Audio Video receives a “Cinema Spectator Score” for its Connecticut Showroom Theatre, 96 points. The wine gift box is Coppola’s top shelf red called ‘Cinema Director’s Cut.’ A fitting message on the bottle.

The Micro Cinema left (with a viewing area of 5' x 12' in a 15' deep room) is in contrast to the Macro Cinema below (with a viewing area of 10' x 24' in a 40' deep room). Both deliver a genuine cinematic experience at the highest levels.

A sophisticated Micro Cinema, (1500 cubic feet) with Audiophile Cinema Sound and a native 2.55:1 aspect ratio screen. The SFC VistaScope side masking screen has 11 preset aspect ratios.

The James Loudspeaker Mavericks Theatre in the Napa HQ & Training Centre. A framing and resolution pattern shows the quality of image, the perfect timbre matched Quad Tweeter Array speakers in the 3D audio array show the quality of sound.

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HR101 Courtney Berg discusses the 5 keys to building teamwork and trust Courtney Berg has managed retail stores, handled insurance underwriting, studied at med school, and eventually landed at an ambulance company. Along the way, she picked up a unique set of human resource skills that led her to open her own company specialising in helping small businesses: CourtSide Consulting in Colorado.

She’s also taught a number of courses at CEDIA Expos, and she’s returning with a pair of courses that cover hiring, team building, and even the thorny questions that surround discipline and termination.

When it comes to her day-to-day client interactions, Courtney says

Courtney Berg

President/Founder CourtSide® Consulting LLC

she’s “a practical strategist. I figure out what's the right strategy for that organisation by asking questions, by listening, by really zeroing in on a company’s culture and needs.”

But, while her one-on-one advice is tailored with precision, she’s uncovered some general principles that can help companies both large and small in the CEDIA universe.

THE EMPLOYEE LIFE CYCLE “The Employee Life Cycle Workshop” covers the following for those making hiring decisions: • What to do before you hire someone • How to orient them to your company • How to effectively set expectations and manage their behaviour • How to discipline and terminate employees safely Courtney shares that she covers

“preparing attendees to hire people, how they go through the hiring process, how they make a hiring decision, even the interview questions…I give them examples.

Then once they get on board, how do you manage that employee dayto day? How do you manage their activity? How do you keep them engaged? All of those things are going to be in the Employee Life Cycle.”

She also covers both hiring and firing in that “life cycle.”

“It's not easy to sit down with somebody and say, ‘Hey, you're not meeting expectations,’” says Courtney. It's not easy to say, ‘I've got to fire you.’ You know that your conversation is not just impacting that individual, it's impacting their family.

“How do you have those conversations? What I do is set up a system — a system where you don't

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start at the point where you're disciplining. You start at the point you notice there's a problem.”

And one way to avoid that discussion? Ensure you’ve got your priorities straight at the outset of that employee’s “life cycle.” “If you're not ready to hire the employee, and you bring somebody on, chances are that person won't be successful because you're not exactly sure what you want them to do.”

TEAMWORK AND TRUST Courtney’s “The 5 Keys to Building Teamwork and Trust” course covers her philosophy of giving employees enough autonomy to become real stakeholders in a company’s success. The example she uses is that of a farm: “I'm not going to give you the keys to the farm, but what I am going to do is say that barn right there, that outbuilding over there, that's yours. You get to decorate it the way you want.

You get to lock it up at night the way you want. You and I are going to meet once a week, and we're going to talk about why you're doing those things. If I need you to correct something, I'm going to tell you, but I'm not going to do a daily inspection of your outbuilding. I want you to own it.

“I gave you some guidelines on where you can make decisions. I gave you some parameters on what those decisions can be. Maybe they're budgetary, maybe something else. Then I'm going to say, okay, now I'm going to give you another outbuilding. Here you go, now you have two. What are you going to do? Can you duplicate your effort from that first building to the second one? Can you transfer those skills?

“What I've done is started to teach you and lead you down that path, so that you build your confidence. I'm not giving you the entire farm, because you're going to blow up if I do that. I'm not giving you the entire farm, because I'm going to blow up if I do that.”

www.courtsidehr.com

@CourtSideLLC

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% last 5 the

“The toughest part of a job?

Sometimes it’s the last 5%.” - ANON “I like the intimacy of it. I'm not just lost in 150,000 people on a five-mile trek. I can really bounce around to different people, have one-on-one conversations — it's up close and personal.”

Lewis Franke (LED Systems, USA) on CEDIA Expo

“Cloud computing can have latency… when you’re local, you don’t have access to a lot of devices and processing…and fog is that in-between.”

WISDOM FROM OUR MEMBERS (And Some Others, Too)

Alex Capecelatro (josh.ai, USA) on “Cloud, Mist, and Fog Computing,” a CEDIA Tech Council Podcast (No. 1811, Episode 50)

“Are we inducing “gadget fatigue” amongst our clients?”

Michael Heiss (M Heiss Consulting) on the huge range of available devices

“It's a great congregation for likeminded people and to bounce ideas off of one another to say, "Hey, this is what I've been successful with, and this is what I haven't been successful with."

Networking is crucial for me whenever I come here.”

JJ Canon (Digital Delight) on CEDIA Expo

“Whether you decide to build a traditional cinema, a themed parlor, or a space-age galaxy, have fun.”

Mark Withers (Cornflake) on the key to a happy career

“5G will help the arrival of selfdriving cars — and it’ll be part of the answer as to how we help people age economically, comfortably, and in place.”

Brian Markwalter (senior vice president, Research and Standards, Consumer Technology Association) on a CEDIA Tech Council Podcast (No. 1819, Episode 58)

“We’re here to see the new technologies, to see what's projected to come down the road. We see a lot of stuff that doesn't make it to market, but the ideas are there.

What's the next cutting-edge thing? We know it might be a luxury item now, but down the road it's gonna be a mass market product, just like 4K TVs.” Jeff Cooper (Simply Sight and Sound), on CEDIA Expo

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