Do you remember those movies that depicted this far-off, futuristic space house with gizmos and gadgets all over, just to simply close the curtains or toast the bread? Well it’s 2015, and we’re nearly there. As designers, we have to be aware of new trends, particularly home trends. In the past few months there has been an increase in ‘smart homes’, the ones that use said gizmos and gadgets to toast said bread. One company that makes this possible for the masses is Crestron.
As one of the industry leaders in all things automated, Crestron proves that everyone can have a remote controlled home. With shiny touch-screens and universal controllers, their policy is ‘if you can imagine it, Crestron can do it’. Which leads us to this: how much can they really do?
Well, unlike other smart companies, Crestron has thought of nearly every possible way to make life easier. We were slightly skeptical of how ‘interior design’ based the smart devices were but pleasantly surprised to find their control systems went so well with modern or traditional home decor. With their 3-Series Advanced Controller, you can automate nearly all facets of your home with the touch of a button from a single screen, as opposed to multiple buttons on multiple screens. Your thermostat, alarm system, TV volume, and light dimmers are all conveniently located in the handy dandy tablet, ready for you to dim, heat, alarm, and mute at your convenience. The best part about this system is the fact that it works seamlessly so as not to disturb the other systems. When you turn up your thermostat, it won’t also boost the volume on your TV. If you decide to set your alarm system for the night, it won’t turn on all the lights instead. Plus it’s all operated under one IP address, so no confusing tech talk if you do have a glitch. Pretty nifty, huh?
For those of us glued to our smart phones at all times of the day, you’ll be happy to hear that they have an app specifically for controlling your home system. Through your Apple watch, you can close the blinds as you drive off to work. With your iPhone 6 you’re able to make sure the kids are getting along by taking a peek at your home security’s video system during a meeting. With all of this added convenience, we’re not sure why you haven’t jumped on the smart home wagon yet.
One of the key elements that we found our clients love is that Crestron is sustainable and eco-friendly. By setting a schedule with your smartphone to switch off the thermostat and raise or shut the blinds, you’re controlling energy and light harvesting, eventually reducing your overall consumption rate. Also, by integrating all of their controls in one system, Crestron is able to house all of its energy and usage under one roof, instead of spending time and money on multiple houses and multiple machines.
Now, why don’t you pop over to their website and see just how long you last until you decide your curtains need to be on a timer.
