My iPhone Talks To My Building And My Building Talks Back

Grant's Perspective on ... the AMX TPC-Apple application that lets me talk to my building and my building talks back to me.

I posted a blog a while ago on the Internet of Everything and wanted to post an example from AMX (audiovisual system control hardware and software). The AMX authorized touch panel application for mobile devices (for remote access to system in addition to wired controller) is TPC-Apple. TPC-Apple enables users to control their AV systems from their iPad, iPod Touch or iPhone to control office HVAC system, lighting, cameras, projectors and videoconference systems.

One of the TPC-Apple application features is that you can use your voice to send commands to the system. The text below was lifted from the AMX website and is a great example of the Internet of Everything as you can talk to your building (instead of another person) and the building can act on your commands and tell you that they have been executed.

VoiceControl - Using Speech-to-Text and Text-to-Speech functionality within TPControl allows you to talk to your control system and have it talk to you. For example, you say "Turn the entry lights on" and TPControl initiates the command and replies "The entry lights are on" when completed

BTW - We (Inland AV) are an AMX dealer and are available to talk to you about your AV system design and integration.

Grant

Crestron Dock For IPad Mini

Grant's Perspective on ... Crestron announces the imminent release of a docking station for the iPad.

Crestron announced that they will soon have tabletop and in-wall docking stations for the iPad mini. No firm date was given but we are to be on the "lookout for details and availability".

Crestron makes touch screen control systems for both organizations and home AV systems. These controllers can control music, video and videoconferencing systems as well as lighting, window coverings and HVAC systems.They have apps available that enable an iPod to be the AV system controller.

Below is a Crestron YouTube video showing the docking stations for a regular iPad.



Grant

AMX Introduces 20" Touch Screen AV System Controller

Grant's Perspective on ... the widescreen touchscreen for controlling boardroom audiovisual systems.

I'm down in hot and humid Orlando as a part of the Inland AV contingent attending InfoComm 2011.

One of the items that caught my eye was the new AMX  20.3" Modero X Series Panoramic Table Top Touch Panel. This looks like a great solution for a boardroom requires a control system to include videoconferencing screens and lots of other control screens open simultaneously. Below is a photo I snapped at the AMX booth.

I was also intrigued by the Hitachi stacked projectors. They were promoting the idea of using two 4,000 Lumen projectors instead of one 8,000 lumen projector.

I will follow up with more detail once I return home to Winnipeg.

Grant

iPad as a Crestron Controller

Grant's Perspective on ... the iPad as a Crestron controller.

A while back Crestron produced an App for Apple iPads and Apple iPhone / iPod touch that will control your Crestron System.   We've programmed systems that include control specifically from iPads and receive more & more requests to include this functionality.  I've been wondering if this is the best way for organizations to go.

In the world of AV we (Inland AV) specialize in commercial grade control systems for boardrooms, meeting rooms, classrooms, lecture theatres and the like.  My comments are focused on professional AV and not home theatres or home automation.  

Traditionally the control system user interface is a graphical one - a touch panel.  There are many different sizes and types depending on the application.

Crestron control via Apple products is a great idea.   Actually prior to this we've done many systems where an IP based control panel (Crestron X-Panel) is a duplicate of the primary touch panel hardware, could be accessed anywhere via a web browser from a PC, and of course the almighty Mac.   

An example of where this feature is beneficial is in a Help Desk application.  In a facility using touch panels in many training rooms (Schools, Universities, Colleges, manufacturing facilities, etc.), or even a smaller facility but with many different first time users (education, hotels, public/rental facilities, etc) the Help Desk personnel can see any rooms' touch panel pages on their own computer and assist the user to know what button to press, and even press it for them.

While the X-Panel works great in the AV world, and while I believe control via Apple products is fantastic, the iPad control system doesn't necessarily have its place in the professional AV World.  It's more of a residential thing, as marketed in this ad.

I doubt the education market will ever want to use control via iPads but the corporate market - boardrooms - seem to want this.  While that's cool, and the iPad looks really good, the corporate boardroom and training rooms should still have the customary Crestron touch panel.  The iPad may be a great secondary device but the touch panel should not be replaced.

Reasons: a touch panel is attached, ideally, to the room and is always there - like a light switch, and not like remotes getting misplaced or inadvertently stuffed in a laptop bag.  Also, the user needs to be able to access the touch panel when required - it should be there close by and readily available - the user shouldn't need to flip through Apps or wait for the App to load and connect.  That's not corporate boardroom functionality.  

The touch panel is a solid commercial grade device and should not be replaced by an iPad. An iPad makes a great secondary control but it is not quite ready to be the sole source of an organization's AV system control.

Grant

Keeping Crestron Updated With MasterInstaller

Grant's Perspective on ... Crestron makes keeping current with software updates easy.

When creating a custom Crestron control system, there are a handful-plus of software applications required in order to write the custom program.  Ditto for data bases.  Primarily there is one program for the controller and one for the touch panel.  Then there are the miscellaneous Apps needed for uploading, configuring, etc. and the data bases containing device modules and logic symbols, etc.  I pity the beginner programmer who naively figured they could download some software and create a masterpiece in a few hours - LOL.

With all the data bases, new features, graphics, etc. Crestron is excellent at providing, all the software applications and data bases need to be updated.  This occurs so frequently I upgrade all these apps and data bases every time I start a new project.  And keep in mind the files are huge!

Crestron has now made it easy!  A while back they provided an App called MasterInstaller that will do this for me. I simply open Master Installer, it automatically checks the current version of all my Crestron Apps and Crestron data bases, and provides a list of what needs to be updated.  I can edit the list and then simply let it proceed with downloading and installing all the new updates.  Awesome!   Since most of the downloads are huge, I can just let this run while I’m away at a meeting, when I return it’s all done.  Double Awesome!  Life is good and this computer-impatient person doesn’t have a cow before 10:00 am! 

This is also very beneficial to field techs who are working with Crestron long distance.  I know they will have their “tools” updated as required on a regular basis.

AND, even better, this is good for the Crestron customer.  They can be assured what they get under the hood is recent.  I believe a control system should run for years for the client and the only time the client should need an upgrade is when they want to add more devices or control features to the system.

Grant

Future of AV System Control & Touch Screens

Grant's Perspective on ... the future of audiovisual system control and touch screens.


I came across this Corning video of where they see the future of system control. I really like the "video phone" chat. The "phone" is placed on a table and the screen jumps onto the table so the image can be larger and the whole family can participate in the call (1:48 mark). Control of window tinting and using the bathroom mirror, fridge, counter, car, bus stops and everything at the office as a touch screen and monitor.

If this is really what’s in store for us, then this is cool.

Grant

Kramer RC-8iR Audio Visual (AV) System Controller

Grant's Perspective on ... the RC-8iR a simple wall plate AV system controller with tremendous power.

Kramer has a simple 8 button AV system control wall plate that programmers, integrators and clients love. With only 8 buttons, the unit is very user-friendly but allows for some fairly sophisticated programming. See the photo below taken at an Inland AV installation.

Pressing the "on" button can set up the entire system by lowering the projection screen, turning on the projector, dimming the lights and powering up the audio system. The RC-8iR has infrared capabilities and can learn the functions of IR remotes. It can also be controlled via IP meaning that the system can be set up to be controlled from anywhere a person has internet access. This is a great feature for AV technicians working at a large university institution.

The screen capture below is a Flash demonstration of the RC-8iR wall plate at the Kramer Canada website. Click through the text links and give it a try! Please note you need to click on the Product Overview button to view the interactive room simulation.

I have installed hundreds of these and they have always been well received.

Grant

Crestron MPC-M5

Grant's Perspective on ... Crestron introduces an SSL encryption control device

My October 16 post AV System Integration Over IP touched on IT security issues. Crestron must have been taking note of my post as they just released the MPC-M5 Media Presentation Controller.



The MPC-M5 is a cost effective, functional and easy to operate AV system control device. But more to the point of the post, it provides for IP-based remote control that is SSL encrypted.

Grant