Home Technology Tips & Reference Notes For NARI Silicon Valley Chapter

Home Technology Trends & The Implications For Remodeling Professionals Created By James Stout Chief Concealment Officer The Integrated Lifestyle Check Out Your TV Idea Gallery At: www.digitallifestyles.com Download Digital Copies Of Presentation Notes: Scribd.com Setting The Stage How Mainstream Consumers Are Enjoying TV, Movies, Music
o o o o o o o Multiple TVs All flat panel Most connected to web TVs increasingly wall mounted and integrated into dcor / layout More clients enhancing audio due to the Thin sound of thin TVs TVs / Blu-rays connected to the internet Netflix, YouTube, Pandora Consumers beaming music from mobile devices, some up to 32 rooms wirelessly Check out videos at SONOS.com iPad and iPhone screens beamed to TV via Apple TV Media Furniture Trends Leaner cabinetry Glass doors, use of speaker cloth diminishing Sometimes, no cabinetry, New TV over fireplace designs Using new Music Services / Apps to shrink cd, album, tape collections Reduce storage requirements Control of equipment by Universal Remote Controls and Mobile Apps New speaker shapes flooding market: More customers opting out of full surround systems. Sound Bars Custom / Off Shelf / 3-5 speakers, one enclosure, less than 2 deep Compact Subwoofers, many wirelessly enabled Paintable in-ceiling and in-wall speakers

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What The Technology Latest Trends Mean For Remodelers

o o o More opportunities to demonstrate creativity and expertise Custom installation can increase project size and profitability Opportunity for clients to spend less money on technology based on your guidance

Design Tools o Universal Radio Frequency Remote Controls Allows equipment control through solid cabinet, doors, walls and floors. Up to 70 Factor cost of $1,000 - $1,300 for remote, RF base station, programming o Cabling Materials & Techniques New HDMI Cables / Cat 6 to HDMI converters allow TV to be separated from components by up to 100 feet May eliminate the need for media cabinetry. Store components in closets, garage, etc.
James Stout The Integrated Lifestyle Affordable, Elegant, Home Technology Solutions 408-393-4779 james@theintegratedlifestyle.com www.theintegratedlifestyle. Showroom By Appointment: 1190 Dell Avenue, Ste. J, Campbell, CA 95008

Wireless Multi-room Music Systems Hard wired music systems with keypads dying a rapid death SONOS Wi-Fi Hi-Fi offers unparalleled design flexibility No wires between rooms Music library, Pandora, 10,000 Radio Stations, XM Radio, and Spotify all accessed via single Apple or Android App Spotify may completely or mostly eliminate CD and LP collections Each room can play different content or all rooms joined Wireless Self-Powered Speakers For Outdoors Portable, self-powered speakers operate up to 200 ft. away. More flexibility in use and possible lower cost than traditional outdoor speakers Cabling Materials & Techniques

What Clients Dont Know Limit Client & Contractor Possibilities

o Client focus on TV leaves more important issues overlooked. Falling TV prices Installation has remained the same Audio has crept up Clients have seen few aesthetically appealing TV installations Dont know they can hide components or relocate them far away from TV Few clients understand low voltage cabling and what is needed for today and future Misunderstanding of wireless opportunities and challenges

Project Considerations
o o Timing advantageous for you and client to define objective and how to achieve them Issues affecting contractors: wiring, cabinetry, TV wall mount options Budget Advantageous if client knows what investment will be required and when the investment needs to be made. Will the technology budget competes with yours? Getting To Know Your Integrator Control your project and have a resource for client at project beginning. Its important to know if technology specialist is an asset or liability

Project Timing Considerations

o o o Contractors need to know product calendars for industry so planned products are still available If completion date for project beginning in 2012 is completed by March of following year, planned products are likely still on the market By April, 2013 products are making way for new in a very uneven rollout through July. By July, 2013 all new arrivals should be available

Product Trends
o TVs James Stout The Integrated Lifestyle Affordable, Elegant, Home Technology Solutions 408-393-4779 james@theintegratedlifestyle.com www.theintegratedlifestyle. Showroom By Appointment: 1190 Dell Avenue, Ste. J, Campbell, CA 95008

Gradually bigger sizes, ultrathin designs, more TV less space Mobile App, Gesture Control, Voice Control coming fast Ultrathin TVs complicate installation little room for power / cabling Increasing use of external speakers Brackets Thinner brackets across the board Thinner full motion brackets thanks to lighter TV weight Drop down brackets to adjust TV height Cat6 Cabling / RG6 to new locations/ few phone connections/ longer HDMI connections

o Cabling o Speakers
Increased use of sound bars and disappearing, paintable speakers New category of self-powered speakers from ZVOX, SpeakerCraft, and Proficient Compact, cubed subwoofers which sit in cabinets or are wirelessly connected anywhere in room. Increased use of wireless, portable, self-powered speaker outdoors Gaming Latest consoles using wired sensors which must be located below TV, i.e. Xbox Kinect Wireless Greater speed and coverage needed Todays wireless suitable for audio / control, not High Definition video New faster AC standard coming but not available until next year New wireless technologies augment Wi-Fi: Radio Frequency, Bluetooth, Airplay Direct LED Lighting and other technologies can create interference

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o Mobile Device Control Almost every TV, Blu-Ray Player, Receiver comes with Mobile App to compliment both manufacturer and universal remote controls Opportunities For Concealment Integration o Cabinetry RF remotes eliminate need for open space, glass doors, and speaker cloth. Solid wood most always more elegant. New speaker shapes such as Sound Bars and disappearing in-ceiling speakers allow for simpler, less cluttered designs in and out of cabinet Compact subwoofers, 11 cubed, can handle big rooms and be located behind solid wood doors o Equipment Concealment - Remote Location Of Components Client may prefer a naked TV on wall, with attached speaker, bottom or side In-ceiling speakers liberate TV options o New Fireplace Designs Change Idea Of Fireplace TVs Location of TV to side of fireplace More clients eliminating the traditional mantle Fireplace TVs require early planning & budgeting, especially if there is an inset
James Stout The Integrated Lifestyle Affordable, Elegant, Home Technology Solutions 408-393-4779 james@theintegratedlifestyle.com www.theintegratedlifestyle. Showroom By Appointment: 1190 Dell Avenue, Ste. J, Campbell, CA 95008

o TV Concealment A Variety Of Options TV Lift Furniture Framed mirrors over TV Art of TV Sliding or bi-fold TV doors a part of wall design Cabinet doors to conceal TV when not in use Cabinetry Considerations o Plan for new cabling installation prior to cabinet installation o If TV is inset on a mount, particularly moving mount, determine depth requirements for TV and o o o o
Mount TV Inset Allowances: Allow 2 around TV with fixed mount. TV Inset Allowances: Allow 1 around TV with full motion mount Sound bars / side attached speakers provide a forward looking design Multiple bookshelf speakers looking dated

Sizing The TVs Typical TV Dimensions

40 46 50 55 60 65 70 80 36.5 Wide x 21.9 High x 1.25 Deep 41.5 Wide x 24.4 High x 1.25 Deep 45.3 Wide x 26.8 High x 2 Deep 49 Wide x 28.3 High x 1.5 Deep 54.5 Wide x 32 High x 3.0 Deep 59.2 Wide x 35.2 High x 2.0 Deep 63 Wide x 38 High x 2.3 Deep 73.5 Wide x 44 High x 4.0 Deep

Low Voltage Cabling What Remodelers Need to Know o Concealment 60+ inch TVs make door design more challenging o Receivers Plan for 20 usable depth inside
o Cat 6 As A Strategy HDMI Cables up to 60 meters reliable and affordable $200 - $250

Care should be taken to protect cables. HDMI cables cant be repaired. HDMI over Cat 6 (Balloons) travel farther and the ends can be replaced for repair or upgrade.

Should Contractors Perform Low Voltage Cabling? Usually clients want accountability. Is builder ready to come back post installation to troubleshoot One strategy is have builder run Coax and Ethernet and leave specialty cables (HDMI / Speaker) to the Technology Integrator Prudent to run extra Cat 6 wires between TV and components to prevent premature obsolescence.

James Stout The Integrated Lifestyle Affordable, Elegant, Home Technology Solutions 408-393-4779 james@theintegratedlifestyle.com www.theintegratedlifestyle. Showroom By Appointment: 1190 Dell Avenue, Ste. J, Campbell, CA 95008

The Limits of Wireless o Wireless network used more for tablets, web enabled equipment. Faster speed, greater distance and
reliability are required. o Router placement may be critical, central location preferred o Best current routers are N Dual Band. AC standard arrives this year and is 4 times faster. However, PCs, adapters, TVs, Blue-rays will not incorporate new standard until 2013 o Wireless suitable for audio and control. HD video still a challenge and equipment must be located nearby to perform well. o Non-Wi-Fi wireless technologies are arriving and can often operate in parallel with Wi-Fi for specific applications, i.e. wireless speakers from Sound Cast and SONOS.

James Stout The Integrated Lifestyle Affordable, Elegant, Home Technology Solutions 408-393-4779 james@theintegratedlifestyle.com www.theintegratedlifestyle. Showroom By Appointment: 1190 Dell Avenue, Ste. J, Campbell, CA 95008