Discovery - Rumble A/V Consulting

What is Matter, and how will it change Smart home technology?

Matter is a smart home technology platform that allows users to connect and control various home devices using a single, unified interface. With Matter, homeowners can easily manage and automate their home’s lighting, heating, cooling, security, and other systems using their smartphone or another smart device.

Some advantages of Matter

One of the critical benefits of Matter is its ability to connect and control a wide range of devices from different manufacturers. This means that homeowners can mix and match other smart home products and still have them all work seamlessly together. For example, you might have a smart thermostat from one company, a smart lock from another, and smart lighting from yet another, but with Matter, you can easily control all of these devices from a single app.

Another advantage of Matter is its use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to anticipate and respond to the needs of homeowners. For example, Matter can learn your daily routines and automatically adjust your home’s temperature or lighting to suit your preferences. It can also detect unusual activity in your home and alert you if something is amiss.

How Matter can also save you money

But Matter’s capabilities don’t stop there. In addition to automating and controlling various devices in your home, Matter also provides a range of features that can help you save energy and money. For example, the platform can track your energy usage and provide insights on reducing energy consumption. It can also integrate with smart appliances, such as washing machines and refrigerators, to ensure that they only use energy when necessary.

One of the critical features of Matter is its ability to connect with a range of smart home devices and sensors. These devices can monitor various aspects of your home, such as temperature, humidity, and air quality, and provide you with real-time updates on your smartphone. This can be especially useful for homeowners who are away from home for long periods and want to ensure that their home is safe and comfortable while they are away.

How Matter can keep you safe

In addition to its smart home capabilities, Matter also offers a range of security features to keep your home safe. For example, the platform can be integrated with smart security cameras and doorbells, allowing you to monitor your home and receive alerts for suspicious activity. It can also be connected to smart locks, allowing you to easily grant access to your home to guests or service providers without needing physical keys.

Created with real people in mind

Overall, Matter is a powerful and versatile smart home technology that makes it easy for homeowners to connect and control their home systems. Whether you want to automate your home’s lighting, security, or energy usage, Matter has you covered. Its features and integration with a wide range of devices make it a top choice for homeowners looking to take control of their home’s technology.

More High Impact Displays For 2022

In part one we talked about the latest offerings from Planar, LG, and Séura. In part two of this series, we’ll continue our view of advancements in displays being released into the Luxury Residential market in 2022. Products include Samsung’s NEO QLED, Hisense Certified WiSA, and Sony Cognitive Intelligence TVs.

New 4K and 8K Displays From Samsung

Samsung Electronics America, Inc. has announced new sizes for its Neo QLED 4K and Lifestyle TVs, as well as a new version of The Wall.

Samsung’s Neo QLED QN90A 4K display will now be available in new 43″, 50″, and 98″ sizes. These new screens join the existing lineup of 55″, 65″, 75″, and 85″ models. Samsung’s Lifestyle portfolio is also expanding with an 85″ model of The Frame and a 65″ Terrace Full Sun for outdoor.

Samsung has further developed The Wall (IWA Series). Samsung says it’s “the industry’s first 8K resolution with a 120 Hz refresh rate and simple 8K playback.” The Wall can be configured to be over 1000 inches — or about a quarter of the length of a football field. That’s impressive!

Hisense Certified WiSA Ready

WiSA LLC has announced a global collaboration with TV brand Hisense. Their premier TV models have been certified WiSA Ready to connect to all WiSA USB transmitters and certified speakers to create immersive home cinema systems. Hisense joins LG, Skyworth, and Bang & Olufsen brands in integrating wireless technology into their product lines and launches.

“We are very excited to announce the WiSA Ready Certification of these amazing TVs from Hisense,” said Tony Ostrom, President of WiSA. “As the smart TV continues to solidify itself as the center of the home entertainment experience, it is critical for these multifunctional devices to own the front end of great audio performances. WiSA Ready TVs can be seamlessly connected to transmitters and speakers to create immersive sound with direct control from the TV. This is a huge step forward in simplifying the pursuit of bringing outstanding cinema quality entertainment into the home.”

Hisense is the fifth leading TV brand in the U.S. and the fastest-growing among the top five TV brands in the U.S. by units. Hisense is building on its products by bringing even more options to the market in 2021 for consumers to have a premium viewing experience.

Sony Cognitive Intelligence Displays

In 2021, Sony Electronics announced the new BRAVIA XR televisions, including MASTER Series Z9J 8K LED, MASTER Series A90J and A80J OLED, X95J, and X90J 4K LED. What it calls “the world’s first cognitive intelligence televisions.”

Powered by the Cognitive Processor XR, the brain of the new BRAVIA XR use a completely new processing strategy designed to replicate the ways humans see and hear. Cognitive Processor XR, powered by cognitive intelligence, divides the screen into numerous zones and detects the “focal point” in the picture. The new processor can cross-analyze various elements at once, just as our brains do. By doing so, each component adjusts to its best outcome, in conjunction with each other, so everything is synchronized and lifelike — something conventional AI cannot achieve.

Cognitive Processor XR can also analyze sound position in the signal, so the sound matches precisely with what’s on the screen. In addition, it upconverts any sound to 3D surround sound. It learns, analyzes data, and intelligently optimizes the most lifelike picture and sound Sony has ever delivered.

High Impact Displays For 2022.

In this two-part series, we’ll go over advancements in displays being released into the Luxury Residential market in 2022. Products include 100″ 4K Direct-lit LED LCD to Cognitive Intelligence TVs, to budget-friendly yet WiSA certified models.

Planar Lifestyle Displays – 100-inch Model added in 2022

The Planar Luxe UltraRes X 100 is the latest in the Planar Lifestyle family. The Planar Luxe UltraRes X 100 features 700-nit brightness, a wide color gamut for HDR content, and advanced video processing capabilities.

Planar Luxe UltraRes X 100 installs simply with the ultra-thin Planar Profile Mounting System keeping the display close to the wall while remaining completely front-serviceable. In addition, picture-in-picture is available in dual, triple, or quad layouts using the built-in Planar MediaPlex Plus processing.

Planar Luxe UltraRes X 100 LCD displays include a three-year warranty and optional Planar Luxe UltraRes X 100 Service Plan, which includes on-site service performed by Planar’s Technical Services to add another level of assurance.

LG DVLED Wall-Sized Display Line

The LG DVLED Extreme Home Cinema uses 2 million to 33 million individual diodes (depending on resolution) to deliver high performance, exceptional brightness, wide viewing angles, and very high color, even in rooms with high ambient light. Direct-View LED technology is visibly different from “LED TVs.” Direct-View LED technology images to provide high contrast ratio and exceptional brightness.

LG Extreme Home Cinema offers seamless 16:9 displays in sizes from 81 inches to 325 inches diagonal, as well as video wall-style installations that deliver a seamless 32:9. A great solution for multiple video feeds such as live sports.

LG DVLED displays are only available through a new custom installation dealer program. Consumers cannot purchase the Extreme Home Cinema line at stores.

Installations include integrator training and customer support from an LG field engineer during installation, twice-yearly LG on-site “health checks”, LG integrator remotely monitoring, and a five-year limited warranty on every display.

Séura 2000-Nit Full-Sun Televisions

Séura Full Sun Series televisions with narrow bezels and a sleek profile provide a striking addition to outdoor home décor.
The Full Sun Series is built to bask in direct sunlight and is fully sealed to keep out rain, snow, ice, and dust. Designed with Extreme Temperature Protection, it automatically heats and cools for temperatures between –40 degrees F to 140 degrees F. Blackout and UV protection prevents the summer sun from frying the display. That’s impressive.
The Full Sun Series outdoor televisions are ready to connect and store your devices within the roomy, weather-tight media box. Including one of Séura’s front-facing weatherproof soundbars will nicely complement the system. Séura also includes a 2-year warranty.

End part 1. Come back for part two where we discuss Samsung NEO QLED, Hisense Certified WiSA, and Sony Cognitive Intelligence TVs.

Retail Is Blurring The Line Between Physical And Digital

When done right, the retail experience can be just as engaging as a well-done live event. Retailers are moving away from marketing posters and mannequins into the “phygital” arena.

Many merchants are now using large LED screens as part of the in-store experience, creating a “wow factor” that drives people into a store. They’re the equivalent of window displays of days past.

Along with AR technology, we’re talking shopping like we’ve never seen before.

As fascinating as the technology is, however, retailers should always remember that content is king. Thus, carefully considering how the content is going to be delivered, how it’s going to be produced, etc. for retail displays.

“You can’t create a customer experience on a website, at least, not the immersive customer experience you can create in a retail environment. And digital is the way to do it—posters don’t cut it.”
Bruce Wyrwitzke, director of sales, PPDS

Many applications came to mind after reading this article about LG’s new Transparent OLED Displays on MyTechDecisions.com. Too many to list, but here are a few examples from LG.

LG Display unveiled its first proprietary Transparent OLED back in 2019. Since then the company’s Transparent displays have been used in mixed spaces outside the home such as malls, museums, and subways.

“According to a recent study by leading global consulting firm the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), the global transparent OLED display market is predicted to expand continuously at a compound annual growth rate of 116% over this decade, reaching a total value of around $2.7 billion by 2025 and $10 billion by 2030.”

Those are big numbers!

This is going to be a leading A/V trend in commercial lobbies, amusement parks, and museums. After that, In-Room Hospitality then Luxury Residential.

This nascent trend will quicken with staggering scale and speed. We’ll see a rapid shift away from touchscreen kiosks. Voice technology will move out of the home and into the office. Personal mobile devices will connect to and control buildings. Environments will be seamlessly integrated with an array of sensors to detect and respond to human behavior automatically.

Sensor integration
Voice command
Gesture detection and facial recognition
Haptics
Next-generation vending machines and kiosks
Mobile device integration
Contactless payments

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the country will reach a new milestone in 2034, when the number of older adults is projected to edge out children. People at least 65 years old are projected to number 77 million, while children under 18 will number 76.5 million.

That will be the first time in history that this happens, according to the government.

While the healthcare industry provides an abundance of opportunities for AV integrators, there is an equally abundant number of barriers to entering the rewarding but complex industry.

“If you’re struggling, you have not paid proper attention to the needs of the [Healthcare] market,” Alan Brawn, principal of Brawn Consulting.

“Having to install such a large amount of LED in such a secure environment and within a very limited four-month timeframe, was extremely challenging,” said Shaun Xu, Absen’s regional manager. “Astel had technicians on-site 24/7 for many weeks to ensure the project was completed on time and to the highest level.”

The running of this complex visual network is managed by Sistem9 which provided central management and control of all the screens with its signage software S9Vision. Sistem9 also provided price checker, wayfinding, video analytics and exchange rate information flowing of the duty-free area, as well as providing a remote monitoring service and on-site support to ensure all systems operate at peak performance.

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