Hiring a professional for your distributed audio installation will save you time and money! On today’s blog, we share a little bit about distributed audio.
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Advantages of Smart Home Automation
Smart Home Automation
With the rise of technology development, there seems to be a smart device for just about everything, from smartphones to home security cameras, lighting, audio, thermostats, etc. Let’s face it, having a smart device, or a smart home will make your life easier. In this article, we discuss some of the advantages of smart home automation.
What is Smart Home Automation?
Smart home technology consists of devices, appliances, or systems that connect via network. From the touch of a button, this technology can be controlled independently or remotely by your smartphone or mobile device. With smart home automation, users can increase their home’s functionality like never before. For example, you can schedule your lights to come on automatically and set your thermostat to turn the A/C on before you return home from work. Smart home automation makes life more convenient and enjoyable!
Big Advantages of Having a Smart Home
1. Manage All of Your Home Devices From One Place
Most people choose to integrate home automation because of the convenience factor alone. Managing your home from one interface saves you time and money. It’s easy to manage, even for those who are not tech-savvy. Once the device is set up, all you have to do is download the app to your smartphone or tablet, and from there, you can tap into all your devices.
2. Flexibility for New Devices and Appliances
New smart home devices seem to come out every other day. Luckily, smart home automation allows users to easily integrate new technology. Whether you’re replacing older systems or adding new ones to your space, the process can be done seamlessly.
3. Maximizing Home Security and Safety
In this day and age, security systems are a must-have for homeowners. With an increase in crime, protecting your home with a security system seems like a no-brainer. You’ll never have to wonder what’s going on while your away.
There are thousands of home security systems you can choose from at Specialized AV. It just depends on your needs! You have the choice of 24/hour video surveillance, automated door locks, motion detectors, etc. The best part about home automation systems is that you can receive security alerts and view live footage on your smartphone from anywhere.
4. Remote Control of Home Functions
Being able to control your home from a distance is incredibly convenient. Suppose you’re on vacation and need to turn your inside lights on or preheat the oven while you’re at the grocery store. Smart home automation systems are like having your own personal assistant. You can adjust the thermostat or turn on the tv without having to physically be there.
5. Increased Energy Efficiency
Many smart-home technologies have the ability to save your home energy. Energy-efficient products like a smart thermostat can learn your heating and cooling habits and suggest the best way to save energy. Home lighting controls can also help reduce your energy bills by turning lights on and off automatically when entering or leaving a room.
6. Improved Appliance Functionality
Another benefit of smart home automation is that it helps you run your appliances better. As mentioned before, this technology is like having a personal assistant! For example, a smart oven will help you cook your meals without undercooking or overcooking them. Additionally, smart kitchen appliances can easily be monitored from your smartphone, so you’ll know exactly how much you’re saving on energy bills. Our friends at Tureks Plumbing, a kitchen remodeling company in Appleton, WI, agrees that smart home appliances are a true game-changer in any home.
7. Home Management Insights
With smart home automation, you’ll not only be able to manage your home from your smartphone, but you’ll also get insight into how your home operates. Find out how often your children watch TV, how often you do loads of laundry, etc. With this data, you can better understand your energy consumption habits and make adjustments however, you please.
8. Resale Value
One benefit of smart home automation that homeowners often forget about its resale value. Since smart home technology is on the rise, more than ever before, you are more likely to get a higher resale value for your home. Who wouldn’t want a smart home?
Professional Smart Home Services
Now that you know some of the benefits of smart home automation, you can decide if it’s worth the investment. If you have any questions about our professional, smart home automation services, Specialized AV is here to help. We’ve been serving the Sacramento valley, Bay Area, and beyond since 2003. Contact us today, and we’ll give you an estimate for your commercial or residential property.
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Continue reading6 Tips for Proper Video Wall Installation
Video walls are fast becoming permanent fixtures in corporate headquarters, retail stores, and even government offices. To a certain extent, the surge in popularity in the use of video walls can be attributed to recent advances in technology. For example, the screens available today offer crisper images and have thinner bezels that translate to better images and videos. Furthermore, today’s screens have become more versatile and powerful—capable of handling a wide variety of content. If you are keen on having a video wall installed within your stores’ premises, here are a few helpful tips that will allow you to reap good returns for your investment.
According to a new market research report “Video Wall Market by Product (Video Wall Displays, Housing, Installation, & Content Management), Application (Indoor, Outdoor, Menu Board, & Billboard), Vertical (Retail, Hospitality, Transportation, Healthcare) & Geography – Forecast to 2020” the total market size is expected to reach $17,956.26 million by 2020, at a CAGR of 23.44% from 2014 to 2020.
Tips on How to Select the Right Video Wall Installation Company for Your Business:
Don’t Forget About the Content
Before even contacting companies specializing in video wall installation, you should have a clear idea of the type of content that you wish to use. The type of content that you are planning to use should be a vital factor to consider before shopping for the hardware. Additionally, you need to make sure that the hardware you purchase and have installed should be fully compatible.
Opt for Industrial-Grade Products
If you are going to invest in a video wall, it is advisable to opt for industrial or professional-grade products instead of those usually sold in consumer electronics stores. Products sold at the latter are often not recommended for use for an extended amount of time. Additionally, they cannot handle the demands and needs for applications in a retail store.
Invest in a Suitable Mounting System
A suitable mounting system will answer two key needs for video walls. First, these will ensure a suitable platform for video walls. Second, they will ensure that maintenance will be safer and easier for your staff.
A Word on Temperature
In order to prevent unnecessary damage and keep video walls running efficiently, it is important to keep these systems cool. Apart from ensuring that the display wall has adequate cooling and ventilation, it is also worthwhile to choose displays with integrated cooling fans.
Use an Appropriate Power Source
The bigger the display wall, the larger its power requirements will be. Ideally, display walls should have their own dedicated power source and should be complemented by a surge protection system as well as power conditioners.
Leave it to the Sacramento Video Professionals
Video wall installation can be a complex endeavor. As such, it is a task that is best left to the professionals. Hiring experts to video installation services will ensure that the display wall is up and running at the soonest possible time without undermining safety. Contact Specialized AV for audio and video services in NorCal.
Home Automation System – One Smart Device to Rule Them All Remotely
Home automation systems are becoming more popular in the Sacramento Valley and nationally expected to top $100 billion in sales by 2020. Remote control units have always been designed to increase the functionality of the systems they come with while providing convenience to people. But when you have different remote control units each for climate control system, home entertainment, lighting, and security camera systems, that’s having one too many.
It may seem like a minor inconvenience handling different remote controls inside your household or commercial property, but almost every property owner knows that remote controls can be easily misplaced. And instead of enjoying your downtime at home, finding the right remote control for the system you are going to use can add to your confusion. Luxury home automation manufacturer, Savant has one remote for almost everything in your home! Read more about it here in this article from Forbes.
A home automation system integrates various components of your home’s different systems into a single unit. By upgrading with this system, you can conveniently enjoy your home’s various units with just one smart device to control everything. Devices aside, homeowners are choosing home automation for safety, security, and peace of mind.
A Task Best Left to the Experts
Here at Specialized AV, we understand your needs and motivations. We know that you want a powerful yet easy-to-use system that provides you with greater control without the hassles of dealing with several remote control units and all the woes associated with that. We know that you’d want to hear your favorite tunes streamed to different parts of your household, enjoy your favorite movies and TV shows, control the lights, and even bolster home security. You can do all of those and more through home automation.
Although it is possible to go the DIY route with this task, it is certainly better to leave it to the experts who have the knowledge, experience, and yes, even the tools to get the job done right the first time and in a hardwired and reliable system.
One System to Rule Them All:
An automation system can control various systems inside a dwelling or commercial property, including their subsystems. These systems include:
Climate Control
Automating this system offers the benefits of greater control, efficiency and even savings on energy bills. With just one console, you can turn heaters and AC units on and off.
Home Entertainment
Whether you want to enjoy your favorite music anywhere in your home or watch movies in your den, we can integrate all the systems involved in one handy console.
Lighting
Switching lights located in different parts of your home on and off can be one great inconvenience after a difficult day at work. With a universal remote control, you can easily turn different lights inside your home on and off and even set a timer for these.
Security
Through automation, you can enjoy greater functionality from your property’s security cameras. With an automated system, viewing, controlling the cameras, recording and taking snapshots have never been easier.
Access Control
Allows you the ability to open and close home doors, garage doors, gates, etc. when you are away from
home. This can be a great tool for allowing people access like maid services, family, friends, etc without having to give copies of your keys out. This is also a good tool for the person who looks on their cameras and notices he left the garage wide open.
Pool/Spa Control
Control everything on your Pool/Spa system. Turn deck jets on/off, control temperature, control schedules, lights, etc. from your Smart Device
Irrigation
Control schedules, turn system on/off, etc.
Planning Your Server Room
Tips for Planning Your Server Room
In setting up a server room for your computer network, there are two important things to bear in mind: security and effectiveness.
You can spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars toward the best equipment but if you fail to house your server and related equipment in a suitable environment, you can end up shortening its lifespan — or worse, damaging your server.
Determining the Ideal Location for Servers
There are a few critical factors that you need to consider in determining a suitable place for your server.
First, you have to ensure that there is sufficient room for the area that will house your servers. That does not simply mean that the area you choose should have enough space for the equipment. You should also leave ample room for access to the cables of the computers.
If space is not an issue, it is highly recommended that you add another computer in the server room. This computer can be used for the configuration of the internet access, performance monitoring, and other tasks.
Prior to the installation of the server, it is a good idea to draw up a basic layout of the room. It does not need to be complicated but it should be highly detailed. Highlight the location of each component of the system and label each cable.
Designing Your Server Room
In planning the room, the first thing that you need to do is to get a fair idea of the space you will require. Make sure that you also take into account the space requirements of cabinets and racks. It is also highly recommended that you put a chair, table, and storage in the server room. Finally, remember to make allowances for the addition of new equipment in the future.
Then, go back to your initial plan for the room. When you have a clear layout for the room, the next thing that you need to do is to reconfigure the electrical set up of the room. Perhaps, you may need new electrical outlets or an upgrade of the ventilation. Enlist the help of an electrician or an HVAC professional if modifications need to be done.
Once the setup is complete, make sure that your staff knows that the room you have chosen now houses the server and is no longer used for its former function. Finally, make sure that access to the room is limited to prevent problems later on.
If you’re interested in Specialized AV’s audio and video services, contact us today! We’ve been proudly serving Sacramento valley since 2003.