According to Lautner, every integrator knows there are a lot of things that are simply easier, faster and more convenient to do on a dedicated wand-style remote or hard-wired in-wall touch screen. Special features such as always-on intercoms, hard buttons for commonly used functions and deeper accessibility into security, energy management and media controls make these interfaces a necessary element to deliver the full functionality of a robust home control system. “And as homeowners add more wireless devices that can congest their Wi-Fi networks, hard-wired control interfaces ensure reliable access to the system.”
Lautner
stressed that advanced technology is now a part of everyday life, and cable
companies have begun promising cheap home automation from a smartphone. Because of this, he explained, it’s easy for
consumers to lose sight of the value of more expensive touch screens and
remotes that industry professionals consider must-haves.
“Increasingly,
integrators are working with clients who assume that their smartphone is the
only device they need to control their home.
It’s up to us to educate the consumer,“ Lautner stressed.
While it’s convenient to be able to log while away
from home, it’s also true that when in the home, using a smartphone may add four
or five steps to simply change the volume or pause the TV. Wand-style remotes are still the best solution
for home theater and home audio control.
In-wall touch screens also
have several advantages that are obvious to integrators but may be more elusive
to their clients. Lautner continued, “You
always know where it is, you can’t drop it, you never have to charge it, you
and your kids can’t break it, toddlers can’t reach it, it won’t slow down
because you have 1,000 Instagram updates, you can set different home screens
and accessibility options for different users, it’s always on, it’s available for
other family members to use when you aren’t home, and some models can double as
TVs, making them perfect for kitchens and bathrooms.
“Using a smartphone for home control is like using an air mattress,” Lautner concluded. “It’s extremely useful when you’re out of the house, and can be valuable in a pinch when you’re home, but it doesn’t provide the same level of functionality as a real mattress designed specifically for everyday use. Smartphones are great for remote accessibility, but once you’re inside the house there are much better ways to manage your home control system.”
About CORE®
Brands:
CORE® Brands is a
subsidiary of Nortek, Inc., a global, diversified company whose many
market-leading brands deliver broad capabilities and a wide array of
innovative, technology-driven products and solutions for lifestyle improvement
at home and at work. Please visit www.nortekinc.com for more information. CORE Brands combines the product and marketing
strengths of ten iconic audio, power management and control brands into a
single business unit that includes ATON®, BlueBOLT®, ELAN®, Furman®, Niles®,
Panamax®, Proficient®, SpeakerCraft®, Sunfire® and Xantech® brands.
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