insider secrets
Text Zakiya Kassam
Modern technology allows us to control
our entertainment systems, home
environment and security like never
before!
Photo by Hunter Douglas,
www.hunterdouglas.ca
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THE PERFECT LIGHT Start your morning with a gentle, calm
wake-up as your lights gradually brighten or adjust lighting
levels from a single lamp or an entire room with the touch of a
button. The Savant lamp control system
app gives you full control of the lighting in
your home and can also coordinate your
entertainment, temperature and security
systems. - Savant, www.savant.com
WARM AND COSY The Learning Thermostat by Nest learns
energy usage patterns and even preferences, subsequently
tailoring usage accordingly and saving you money on your
energy bill. Built in safety features will alert your phone if the
system senses issues with the furnace or a temperature drop
that could affect the integrity of your pipes. - Nest, www.nest.com
INTEGRATED ENTERTAINMENT ELAN
offers a home entertainment system that
will unify functionality across all facets
of your media systems throughout your
home, even outside, for a completely
integrated entertainment experience. ELAN, www.elanhomesystems.com; Photo by Core
Brands, - www.corebrands.com
COOL FINDS
Robotic devices are
another way that
technology is making our
lives easier. Here are a
few new robotic machines
we’re excited about!
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SMART
SHADES
Programmable
window
treatments from Hunter Douglas, are controllable
with the new PowerView Pebble™ Control or with
the PowerView app. They are the perfect, modern
and stylish option. PowerView technology allows you
to set your shades to operate on a schedule of your
choosing and even interacts with your location to
accommodate changing sunrise or sunset times.
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Hunter Douglas, www.hunterdouglas.ca
ENHANCED SECURITY PACKAGES Control4 promises
to enhance your home’s security, keeping your family
and your possessions safe. The system
will notify you if the doorbell rings, water
heater leaks or garage door is left open.
You can even use the app to remotely
close the forgotten door! Another neat
feature: you can program the system to
automatically pause your movie upon
receiving a phone call so that you don’t
miss a cinematic moment. - Control4, www.
control4.com
The FoldiMate is a robotic
clothes folding machine
that is expected to be
available for pre-order in
2017. This is definitely at
the top of our wish list!
FOLDIMATE
www.foldimate.com
The Grillbot is a great new
product that takes the grunt
work out of cleaning your
grill. Just turn it on and let
it work while you visit with
friends and family!
GRILLBOT, LLC,
www.grillbots.com