Archives - Articles of Interest Creative Solutions for Smart Home Design We're going to take a leap at this point and hope that if you're still with us, you are genuinely interested in the concept of systems integration. (past being just mildly curious). It's a fascinating subject, for sure, and one that is currently in a tremendous state of fluidity. With the changes and evolution taking place so rapidly, all of the elements in systems integration seem to have captured the fancy of the popular press. For as much as we'd like to think that you believe and agree with everything we've said thus far, we think you might also be interested in what the critics at large have to say. We'll do our best to constantly scan, read and study, and always be on the lookout for articles that are pertinent to the subject, to give another perspective, a different opinion. (which we may or may not agree with). In assembling the current cross-section of articles, the common denominator that seemed most prevalent is how advances in technology have genuinely affected LIFESTYLE, and in that regard, we are in complete agreement that the changes are ALL for the better. Grasping the intricacies of the technology can sometimes make even the experts a bit bleary-eyed. For the end user, the home owner, all that really matters is what it can do, and not how it does it. We enjoy reading what others have to say on the subject, and hope that you do as well. Wherever people gather to relax, there should be music.

What the Media Said: Excerpts... Chicago Tribune 02-07-04' "Think before rejecting upgrades" By Allison E. Beatty Another option for enhancing the home is electronics... It is wise to consider these options before the home is built, as some electronic systems are designed to be built into the wall or cabinetry... Keep in mind that stereo systems can be wired into the walls during construction to avoid speaker wires trailing across the carpeting and up the walls. A full theater, which might be in a 12-by-12-foot room, can cost $ 12,000 to $ 45,000 for the electronics. Chicago Tribune 02-08-04' "Home theater systems drive furniture designs" By Molly Millett Home theater is an exploding market... About 35 percent of American homes are now equipped with DVD players... In 2003, sales of DVD players were up 30 percent, outpacing VCR sales almost three to one. When consumers see the higher viewing quality the DVD ofers, industry watchers say, they often want to upgrade their other entertainment options too - digital cable, televisions and audio systems such as Surround Sound. The change in the size and shape of the television is driving changes in new furniture to house them. With a nod to the idea that more Americans are entertaining at home.. Pieces within the collection can lock together to form loveseats and sofas as well as single- or double-tiered stadium-stle seating. Consumers also want an attractive way to house them and are looking for specially designed furniture units for these monster-size pieces. Wall Street Journal 01-15-04' "Retailers Learn That Electronics Shopping Isn't Just a Guy Thing" Associated press Women actually buy more technology than men do nowadays...women accounted for $55 bilion of the $ 96 billion spent on electronics gear in 2003. Sharp Corp. redesigned its flat-panel TVs two years ago with women in mind. Circuit City Stores Inc. ad prominently featured one of the sleek TVs in a kitchen. Women are involved in almost 75% of all electronics purchases, and they are increasingly interested in gadgets. Chicago Tribune 12-27-03' "Family life makes PC hot kitchen tool" By Katie Hafner We've known for a long time that the kitchen is where the family interacts. The main reason for the migration of PCs into the kitchen is the proliferation of high-speed Internet connections. If we didn't have broadband and it was all dialing up, PCs wouldn't have moved into the kitchen, It's all about being able to do things very fast and not have to wait. The Web is about information, communication, shopping and entertainment. ....an Icebox, a $ 2,200 device by Salton Inc. that mounts under the kitchen cabinets. With a 12-inch screen that flips down and swivels and a remote keyboard, the Icebox serves up a broadband Internet connection, TV, movies on DVD and music on CDs. Chicago Tribune 01-4-04' "Get a lock on home security" By Dan Rafter A walk around your home, preferably by a professional, should help pinpoint your home's security weaknesses. A study by Temple University found that 81 percent of residential break-ins take place someplace on a home's first floor. The study reported that 34 percent of burglars enter through a front door, while 22 percent come in through a back door. Nationally, some security experts have guessed that 70 to 80 percent of all alarm calls end up as false alarms. As a result, many municipalities are imposing stiff fines for false alarms. Wall Street Journal 06-11-03' "Home Theater at Just $20,300 ?" By Phred Dvorak All of these are the kinds of products that wouldn't have been possible if we had worried about how many would sell," ...a home-theater projector, a compact-disc player, a television set and a lipstick-size digital camera. The products range in price from $3,217 for the camera to $20,300 for the projector. All Qualia products are extremely expensive and will be produced only to order...the first to be released of 17 projects that have been incubating in the Qualia program for the past two years.

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