Security
Homeowners Are Turning to Smart Technology to Streamline Their Lives and Reduce Energy Use
04/12/11 15:33
Article by Amanda Ash, Contributor for eHow
Long gone are the days when we read by candlelight and cooked dinner on a wood-burning stove. And for many North American homes as of 2011, the acts of flipping light switches and manually controlling thermostats are going the way of the dinosaurs.
The Green Revolution, coupled with incredible technological advances, has spawned tech-savvy "smart homes": digitally outfitted dwellings that may be programmed to do just about anything you can think of, except maybe clean your room.
Harry Saini, who owns Digital Smart Homes of Canada and has wired his Vancouver condominium to the hilt, believes that automating your home not only simplifies your life but also reduces energy consumption. Home automation technology is becoming more accessible every day, allowing the average person to transform a home into something straight out of "Star Trek."
"If you were looking at home automation five years ago, you'd easily be looking at 10 times the cost compared to now," Saini said. "And the number of dealers and retailers that are able to support that technology compared to five, six years ago has doubled---tripled, even.
"People used to think home automation is for lazy people, but that's not what it is. Essentially, everything talks to one another. Your lights talk to your stereo. Your alarm knows what your garage is doing. All your devices know what's going on."
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What is Home Automation or a Smart Home?
04/12/11 15:32
In today’s ultra-complicated and fast-paced world, home automation and smart home technologies were developed to simplify life! Thanks to revolutionary devices, you can now link and control all of the electronics and systems in your home from a single digital interface.
Digital Smart Homes links together onto one operating platform the following technologies and more:
- Home theatre systems
- Multi-room music & video
- Smart lighting & shades
- Advanced temperature control
- Safety and security devices
Transforming your living environment into a “smart home” not only makes life more manageable, it makes it more secure. For instance, let’s say that you head out of town for a weekend trip and you realize a few hours out of town that you forgot to arm the security system and program the porch lights to illuminate at dusk. All you have to do is pull out your iPhone, bring up the Control4 interface, and push a few buttons to secure your alarm & program your lights.
Is Home Automation Scalable? As you revolutionize and grow your home technologies, you may be wondering if home automation is scalable. This is actually the beauty of a system like Control4. You can begin with one or two technologies and then scale out to meet additional needs. For example, if you have an amazing home theatre setup and a security system, you can begin there and then add to your setup as time progresses.
What’s in a Smart Home Console? This is where the fun begins! Just to give you an idea, here are some of the things that Control4 can accomplish:
- Control your home theatre
- Dim the lights as the opening credits roll
- Turn off all your TVs when your kids should be studying
- Alert you when the garage door is open…and then close it
- Manage your lights, window coverings, and thermostats
- Monitor your locks, lighting, and security cameras
- Allow you to play music in any room of the house
Visit our fully featured hi-tech showroom in Vancouver at 1385 West 6th Avenue.
Introducing Wirepath Surveillance
23/06/11 20:19
With an initial offering of 8 cameras, 3 DVRs and 1 amazing iPhone app – we're confident this lineup will meet the requirements of your CCTV needs.
- Deliver bullet-proof products with the latest technologies like Sens-Up, WDR and H.264
- Create easy-to-specify solutions that remove system complexity
- Provide best-in-class Apps for remote viewing
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Professional DVR CCTV System
09/02/11 00:35
Our biggest request from our clients with Smart Homes is to extend IP camera support within Control4. Well now we can provide DVR support for IP Cameras! It's not just for a few IP cameras that can now be DVR integrated, it's literally hundreds.
This is achieved through a great piece of CCTV DVR software that runs on a Mac Mini. So you can now specify a fully digital and professional CCTV system as part of your Control4 installations. Read More...
Control4 Announces Kwikset SmartCode, ZigBee Deadbolt Locks in a New Contemporary Style.
20/01/11 17:08
The Kwikset SmartCode, ZigBee Deadbolt Locks add enhanced security and convenience to any Control4 system.Designed with a sleek contemporary style to complement home interiors and exteriors, these locks make it easy to secure entry doors and never again have to worry about carrying a key. View the status and lock or unlock the lock from any room in the home from any Control4 interface, or monitor and control the locks remotely through Web Navigator. ZigBee Pro provides 128-bit encryption for secure communication within the Control4 system. Read More...
The Security Sensor Bridge V2 is now shipping.
16/01/11 01:13
Card Access is pleased to announce the new the Security Sensor Bridge V2. An update to the Sensor Bridge previously offered by Card Access, the “Security Sensor Bridge V2” is an easy way to utilize small security sensors for home automation purposes. Compared to its predecessor, this fully updated product is smaller, more rugged and comes at reduced pricing. Read More...
Lutron Releases New Apple iPhone and iPod Touch App
10/09/10 00:49
Light control manufacturer Lutron Electronics is pleased to introduce the Lutron Home Application, which provides control of lights and shades, including the new RadioRA 2 total light control system, via an Apple iPhone and iPod Touch. The Lutron Home Application provides control of a RadioRA 2 system over a Wi-Fi network and requires RadioRA 2 Software version 3.1.14 or higher. RadioRA 2 Software is available only to qualified installers. The application is available now, free of charge, on iTunes®. Read More...
Sequel Technologies Security Systems
26/08/10 15:06
We are excited to announce that Digital Smart Homes now offers security systems by Sequel Technologies for residential and commercial applications. When integrated with Control4 Automation, the security system can be tied in with lighting, motorized blinds and shades, whole home audio/video systems, door bell and much more. Imagine being able to activate your security system or trigger a panic alarm from any light switch in your home or office by simply tapping the light switch a given number of times. Arm and disarm your security system from anywhere in the world and even unlock or lock your front door at the same time from a single interface. Lighting scenes can automatically be initiated when the home is armed and in “away mode” making it seem like someone is at home. It can even turn on audio zones automatically during the day. If the alarm gets tripped, have all the lights turn on to maximum, sound the alarm through the siren and the home audio system at full blast, trigger the outside lights to flash on and off, have a text or email broadcasted to your neighbours and yourself and have your shades open up. The possibilities are endless.
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Viper SmartStart is now available in Canada!
22/05/10 12:24
What is Viper SmartStart?
Are you tired of carrying around another clunky remote control on your keyring, or finding yourself out of range when you really need to warm up or cool down your car before getting in? Now you can remote start or lock and unlock your car just by pushing a button on your iPhone or iPod Touch; using the exciting new Viper SmartStart app
The simple graphical interface gives you control over the following features of your installed Viper remote start or security/remote start system:
- Lock/arm
- Unlock/disarm
- Remote car starter
- Trunk release
- Panic or car finder
- 2-Way confirmation of commands received at vehicle
- Error messages if command not received successfully
- Vehicle personalization
- App pass code protection
- Password management utilities
- Button confirmation sounds