Today we are living in the era of “The Internet of Things” aka IOT.  Not only are our computers and phones using Wi-Fi at home but so are things like our appliances, thermostats, security systems, home monitoring, lighting, and more!  When we think of having a Wi-Fi network we probably think of it as something that businesses need but, in reality, today’s modern home needs a network as well.  If you are still skeptical don’t worry, many people are.  But, having a professional install a home wireless network will actually benefit your daily life!

We have all probably experienced slow, frustrating internet at our home and now today’s demand on our home’s Wi-Fi is greater than ever with multiple devices vying for connection.  And, not only that but Wi-Fi must travel between multiple walls so if your Wi-Fi connection is on one side of the house but you are trying to use Wi-Fi on the other the connection may be sub-par.  While you could install a few wireless access points in your home to try to improve your Wi-Fi signal, without a professionally installed network it may not work properly and you could be leaving your home open to a security attack, as CNET points out, “Since the Wi-Fi signal broadcast by the access point is literally sent through the air, anybody with a Wi-Fi client can connect to it, and that might pose a serious security risk. So only approved clients can connect, the Wi-Fi network should be password-protected (or in more serious terms, encrypted).”  And, when it comes to setting up a network, it is something best left to the professionals, as Tech Home Builder points out, “Roberson and others highly recommend commercial-grade routers and switches, as most off-the-shelf routers often can’t support the number of wireless devices streaming video and other services from the Internet. Legrand recommends wireless access points (WAPs) that act as signal repeaters to be placed out of sight in attics, while still providing a reliable whole-house wireless signal. So there’s your wireless network. Why do you still need the structured wiring of Ethernet and coaxial cabling? You only need to review the Cisco predictions. A robust wireless network will support a home’s growing legion of mobile devices, but as Roberson says, “Wireless is like a pie, and you can only slice it up into so many pieces. Netflix and other video and entertainment streaming services take up to 80 percent of the bandwidth [or the size of that pie, that pipe, whatever you want to call it] in your home.”  A professionally installed network in your home will improve your daily life by enhancing the quality and reliability of your home’s Wi-Fi while also maximizing security.

Smart home technology can sound daunting to someone who is unfamiliar with it but once properly installed can actually make your home life much easier.  We are in the IOT era – the Internet of Things era – in which all of our “things” are becoming “smart” and are Wi-Fi connection capable.  But, without professional installation of home automation, all of those things are likely operating in silos and not taken full advantage of.  We live in a connected world and now everything including our dishwasher, refrigerator, oven, washer and dryer, coffee machine, thermostat, lighting, window coverings, security system, home monitoring and more can be controlled from a smart device.  Control4 is the home automation company that is revolutionizing the space by providing products and services that, when professionally installed, are easy, efficient and cost-effective to use.

There are many home automation products available to homeowners but not all allow you to truly take control of your home automation in an easy and efficient way.  Control4 explains what sets them apart from the competition, “When designed and installed properly by a trained, knowledgeable home automation integrator, an automation system is able to perform some amazing feats. This goes for systems offered by Control4, as well as many other home automation products on the market. Where the differences between systems often lie is in the engineering of their control platforms. For example, some system may have the ability to control just about anything, but actually getting the system to do so may require extensive—and expensive—programming. Or, there may be a system that comes with a huge assortment of stunning user interfaces. This is always helpful, but if the layout and design of the control menus differ among these interfaces, you and your family may have a difficult time mastering them. To preclude issues like these, and to make automation as simple, straightforward and affordable as possible for homeowners, Control4 has implemented several innovative technologies into its systems…Thanks to Control4’s commitment to the development of integration “drivers,” more than 7,500 individual products from hundreds of different manufacturers are able to join the Control4 ecosystem, with minimal programming and engineering required of the home automation integrator. “No matter what type of electronic systems or products you have in your home, chances are we have a driver for it,” says Control4 Vice President of Lighting and Comfort, Paul Williams. This goes for everything from programmable thermostats and dimmer switches to pool and spa systems and energy monitoring devices.”  When you want to take control of your home and be able to control just about anything at the touch of a button right from your smart phone or smart device, Control4 is the tool you need.

Technology is constantly evolving and advancing.  It can feel like you buy a new piece of technology or electronics and the second you buy it a new & better version of the same product comes out.  While you may not buy the latest technology each time is is released (or maybe you do, and that is great too!) one thing that can make a big difference in your home audio/video experience is investing in a new television.  There are a lot of acronyms and technical terms – 4K, LED, 3D, OLED, HDR, 1080P – what does it all mean and do you need it?

You can determine whether or not it is time to upgrade your television by asking a few simple questions:

• How old is my television?
• What type of television do I typically watch?
• What new features sound like they may enhance my viewing experience?

 
These are important questions to ask and generally, when you ask yourself these 3 questions you will have the answer you need to help you decide if you want to upgrade your television.  Is your television more than 3-5 years old?  If so, it is probably time to replace it.  Not only is that a long length of service for a television but odds are, television technology has advanced quite a bit in that length of time.

Next, it is a good idea to consider what type of television you typically watch.  While most people watch varied programs, some watch more movies than other.  Other people are sports fanatics and “the big game” is constantly on their television.  Other people are cinephiles watch the latest and greatest blockbusters on their televisions.  K owing what your favorite thing to watch on your TV will help you know what features you need.  For example, if you love movies and particularly the big blockbusters you may want a television with 3D capabilities so you can have the ultimate movie theater-like viewing experience.  If you love watching sports.  Additionally, if you love watching sports you may be interested in a 4K television because it will give you the clearest, most crisp images possible.

Finally, are there features you have heard about that you think might enhance your viewing experience?  If so, you may want to upgrade to enjoy those features.  As aforementioned, 4K provides the best picture quality on the market.  And, if you already have a viewing source such as an Apple 4K TV, you are not taking full advantage of it without upgrading to a 4K TV.   Also, if you have a smaller television than you would prefer you may want to upgrade to get a larger size while simultaneously taking advantage of new features such as a curved screen.

It may sometimes feel like talking on the phone is disappearing in favor of digital communications but it is still incredibly important for a business to use a custom telephone system.  Custom, unified communications offer a myriad of benefits to businesses, regardless of industry.  A custom telephone system will streamline things and help employees be more efficient while offering the ability to also provide improved customer service.

In today’s modern era custom phone systems are far more than simply a network of phones throughout a business. There are products available to help unify communications and offer benefits like the ability to move from a desk phone to mobile device seamlessly, or for a call to ring on multiple devices (desk phone, mobile phone, etc.) simultaneously.  Today’s custom phone systems are completely customizable and scalable so that you can easily add features and functions on when needed.  Additionally, many of today’s unified communications and custom telephone systems will actually reduce the cost of telephone service because many are digitally-based.  New, custom phone systems also keep up with the modern workforce that is not always tied down to a desk in an office.  Many employees work remotely or on the go and with custom phone systems your business can still look professional and be unified while offering location and mobility flexibility.  And, in an era where information security is a high priority for businesses in a variety of industries, unified communications security must be enhanced.  Avaya explains how they are improving communications security in their custom telephone systems for healthcare, Avaya has identified UC practices that can help healthcare organizations prevent intrusions and operational disruptions while maintaining compliance with privacy and security mandates.

• Secure all end points, especially those most often used for remote access such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops
• Use specialized UC security appliances that can encrypt both media and signaling connections in real time and on the fly, without requiring virtual private networks (VPNs) and tunnels for e-mail, IM, VoIP, and video communications
• Deploy SIP trunks for network and communications security, demarcation, and control
• Deploy enterprise session border controllers (SBCs) that contain integrated capabilities for policy enforcement, access control, failover, and deep packet inspection

Today’s communications travel in a multivendor, multiple-device, interoperable world. It spills into the controlled environment of the hospital or clinic, and brings opportunities to enhance patient care. Unifying these communications can help healthcare organizations increase flexibility, reduce cost and complexity, and enhance user experience. But UC needs to be secure. By addressing the four dimensions of UC security, healthcare institutions can capture UC benefits, and at the same time, protect patient data from unauthorized access and patient care from disruption.”