Welcome! What's On Your Mind?

See Also: HOME NETWORK INSTALLATION: DIY OR PROFESSIONAL UPGRADE

UNDERSTANDING THE RISK

While staying vigilant in the face of a potential threat is important, it's also important to know how a cyber attack could potentially affect you and your lifestyle. As we've mentioned above, attacks on homes are rare, but it's essential to protect yourself anyway.

Recently, two men, from the US and UK respectively, were charged with committing a series of denial of service (DDoS) attacks on parts of Los Angeles and London. Their crimes ended up shutting down schools and businesses in both major cities, as well as impacting LAX.

According to Cyberscoop:

“Threats allegedly made by the men closed hundreds of schools in the United States and United Kingdom, according to the indictment, using email addresses that spoofed other entities, including the Mayor of London, to lend legitimacy to the threats.”

See Also: WHERE DOES YOUR MUSIC SOUND BEST?

MUSIC EVERYWHERE

Though Ozzie may have decried having to play the same song a million times, you could do exactly that in every corner of your property with a whole home audio system. Of course, you don’t have to -- thanks to millions of songs available from a variety of streaming services like Spotify, Tidal, and Apple Music.

As part of an expert multi-room audio system design, speakers are placed throughout each room of your home, as well as outside, for a complete listening experience. You’ll never deal with hot spots or peak audio. Speakers are set up for full coverage, with multiple units firing at once and providing even sound.

INVISIBLE COMPONENTS

With so much technology in your home, you may think your rooms are going to clutter up with AV components. Actually, the opposite is true. When you integrate a whole home audio system, you only see the components you want to see. The receivers, amplifiers, and sources are tucked away neatly in an unused basement or closet. You retain full control through a smart system. From your smartphone, dedicated controller, or even your Amazon Echo, you can select songs, playlists, and more. Stream to a single room or many, and even choose a different playlist for different parts of the house.

Plus, you won’t have to look at the speakers. Instead, in-ceiling units are recessed overhead. Roughly the size and shape of LED canned lights, they’re virtually invisible when you walk into a room.

See Also: 5 WAYS TO MAKE YOUR HOME SMARTER IN 2018

MOTORIZED SHADES REGULATE TEMPERATURE

Smart TVs are fun to have in your home and integrated security helps keep you and your family safe but the most versatile technology in your home may be motorized shades.

Not only do they look great, but they can help enhance your privacy, protect your furnishings from harmful UV rays, and help regulate the temperature in your rooms.

Because most heat escapes from your windows, covering them just makes sense. When you do it with automated shading solutions, you can combine the controls with your smart thermostat’s built-in temperature sensor. That way, when the room gets too cool, your system can start warming it efficiently as the thermostat kicks in and the shades automatically lower.

AV GETS YOU READY FOR GAMEDAY

During the cooler months, you’re more likely to spend time inside. That means putting your home AV system to good use! And with the Super Bowl quickly approaching, you’re going to want a simple system that works every time you use it.

See Also: WHAT YOU NEED TO GET STARTED WITH CONFERENCE ROOM AUTOMATION

LED REPLACING PROJECTORS?

For decades business owners have used projectors for conference rooms and auditoriums. Not only were they convenient, space-saving devices; they also generated giant displays that anyone in the room could see.

Today, there’s been a shift. LED flat-panels are growing in size, shrinking in depth, and offering features not thought possible with projectors. Appreciated for their bright backlighting, LEDs don’t need specific light conditions to operate. With modern technology like 4K and HDR, LED displays are popping up throughout workspaces for easy viewing anywhere.

INTERACTIVITY

Whether you choose to upgrade with a traditional projector or a modern LED display, one thing is certain: interactivity is key. Businesses have been experimenting with interactive video content, and the demand for capacitive touch technology is growing.

Capacitive touch means the interactive image isn’t affected by the pressure of a user’s finger, but rather the ability of your finger to disrupt the flow of electricity. What that means is that you can directly modify images on a screen -- or even a projected image -- with the touch of your finger.