This shouldn’t be news to anyone, but your average home contains more “smart” devices than ever before. Nest thermostats may have brought the trend to the mainstream, but Alexa, HomeKit, Sonos, and others have taken that momentum and run with it. You might think that adding a few of these devices would take you to the pinnacle of the “Smart Home,” but is there anything that is missing from these consumer or DIY devices that is available in the professional systems like Control4, ELAN and Savant? Let’s take a look.

Who ever said bigger isn’t better has never walked the TV area at CES, the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Reporters and news programs can give a misleading view of what CES has to offer, as they tend to focus on the ‘concept cars’ rather than the ‘production cars’ of technology. Last year, the stories about LG’s rollup TV and this year’s Samsung's swing-into-portrait-mode Sero TV fell into that bucket. Yet underneath all the hype, we find some real changes coming to TVs, and many of them are available today.

I often wonder “Why do we welcome technology more in our cars than in our homes?” After all, let’s go back to the last time you approached your car:  You probably pressed the button on a remote that unlocked the door and disarmed the alarm.  As you pull back on the door in your car, the light conveniently comes on for you inside and the seat moves back.  When you sit down, and either put your key in or press start, the seat moves forward as the steering wheel moves down and towards you.   As you take a drive down the road, your favorite music is just a single button press away on the six presets.  Why doesn’t your house do all this? 

In our homes, thousands of products are available to give you the same experience as in your car; people just don’t know about them.  For example, there are ways to install a remote on your keychain that unlocks your door and disarms the alarm.  It’s also rather easy to install a simple keypad beside your entry door.  These six buttons act as “presets” for you and your home.   Much like the 6 buttons on your car stereo, press the #1 or “Welcome” button, and your house takes on the setting that you prefer, like having the lights illuminate the path to your bedroom closet, your thermostat change to “comfort mode,” and your favorite music to start playing throughout the house. 

Does calling for help on your smart home problems give you Technical Support Derangement Syndrome?  It’s frustrating for anyone, especially when dealing with a luxury custom integration company, that all you hear is:

• “I’m sorry. The person you need to speak with isn’t in the office at the moment. Can I have him give you a call back?”
• “Let me make a few calls and get back to you as soon as I can.”
• Or the dreaded “Hold please,” only to be left hanging for an inordinate amount of time.

Whether you are traveling for work or pleasure, your home automation system can keep tabs on your property while you are away. BRAVAS Boca Raton puts you in complete control of your home and all its features no matter where you are.

With remote monitoring your home alerts you when an issue arises. Using your smartphone, tablet or laptop you can see the status of your home security system. If a preset event occurs you will be automatically contacted through a text message, email notification, or a recorded voice message.

The Internet of Things (IoT), the latest buzzword du jour, refers to the idea of connecting everyday objects to the Internet and thus allowing them to communicate with one another. From controlling your lights and thermostat to your smart fridge telling you when an item is about to expire, the application of the concept varies and some predict it will generate the next wave of consumer technology purchases.

By the year 2020 the number of Internet connected appliances, sensors, and other things will grow to as many as 50 billion devices.

As home builders ramp up building again, technology is a key feature of many of these new homes. Both high- and mid-volume dealers report that production-housing opportunities are back. With so much new construction technology we know it can be overwhelming. The experts at BRAVAS Boca Raton are here to help, whether you live in Dade or Broward counties.

Even with the boom years behind us, editors at CE Pro say more attention is being paid to outfitting homes with technology solutions. Some of the more popular solutions include security and surveillance systems, home theaters, whole- home music systems, lighting control, motorized shades, and energy management. Other technologies gaining steam include thermostats that respond to real-time utility rates, voice –activated remote controls, and automated door locks.

Before the drywall goes up and the carpet is laid there is a very important installation that takes place; the installation of audio and video capabilities, also known as the pre-wiring stage. It’s the backbone for all things technological in your home. BRAVAS Boca Raton are new construction technology experts from Royal Palm to Broward County. Pre-wiring is done immediately after electrical wiring is installed, and before insulation and drywall is completed. The process takes place before the completion of construction on a remodel or newly built home.

One national industry group suggests that new homeowners budget approximately one percent of their new homes value to wiring infrastructure. While the pre-wire process may not be the most expensive part of the construction process, it is one of the most crucial with regards to technology integration. The experts at BRAVAS Boca Raton can work directly with your builder to design a system that fits your family’s individual needs and takes into consideration available technologies. We’ll coordinate scheduling to ensure that construction deadlines are met.

Building a custom home is a great accomplishment and a significant investment. The construction phase of your new home is the best time to plan for the role technology will play in your residence now and in the future.

BRAVAS Boca Raton are licensed, low-voltage technicians that can prepare your home’s infrastructure for today and tomorrow’s smart home technology, audio and video entertainment systems, and monitoring systems.

The team at BRAVAS Boca Raton wants to help ensure your home is prepared for anything, from the newest in Ultra HD technology to inclement South Florida weather. Having the proper infrastructure in your new home will make it easy to upgrade to whatever the future may hold.

With the next generation of 4K TVs on the horizon, many across South Florida are considering an upgrade to the newest in Ultra HD viewing technology. At BRAVAS Boca Raton we work with many homeowners to create the best possible entertainment experience for your 4K TVs. But what does 4k actually mean?

4K represents the next big jump in image resolution. With nearly 8.3 million pixels, compared to approximately 2 million in a 1080p image, Ultra 4K TVs come in at about four times the resolution of your current television.

Spectrum offers 4k televisions from the world’s most popular manufacturers – Samsung, LG, Sony, Sharp, and Panasonic – for an Ultra HD viewing experience second to none. Yet, we believe that the ultimate in high end entertainment deserves background support from other leading integrated technologies. Here are 3 ways to enhance your entertainment experience: