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Optimizing a room for the flow of ideas

Boosting productivity at a Chinese University

North China University of Technology (NCUT) is known for its beautiful campus and for the wealth of talent on its faculty. Located at the foot of the scenic West Mountain in the suburbs of Beijing, the school enrolls approximately 11,000 students on a 300,000 sqm campus. The core program of study is engineering, but the university also offers programs in science, literature, business, management, law, and the fine arts.

NCUT contributes to the development of Beijing and also to the whole of Chinese society through research and innovation in science, engineering, and social policy. NCUT is also home to one of Beijing's key municipal laboratories, a city research center for university and college projects, and seven of Beijing's key construction project courses.

Optimizing a room for the flow of ideas

The generation of ideas, innovations, and discoveries at a university is driven by communication between teachers, researchers, and students. At NCUT, Crestron is making communication more effective in one of the school's key arenas for learning: the university lecture hall.

As a venue for classes, conferences, workshops, and seminars, the lecture hall seats up to 680 people and is equipped with an array of communication aids, such as video projectors, motorized projector lifts and screens, hi-def media players, microphones, speakers, and desktop computers.

Crestron's DigialMedia technology enables lecture hall presenters to easily operate and adjust all of the above devices through a single computerized touch screen located in a control room on the side of the lecture hall. Media devices can be manipulated even more conveniently through a hand-held touch screen device with Wi-Fi or even an iPad with our mobile app installed.

The DigitalMedia solution enables lecture hall users to enjoy seamless format-independent video switching and delivery of hi-def video signals. Video and audio signals are delivered from their source and converted to an appropriate format before routing it onto the chosen display device.

The system also integrates controls of the air conditioning, heating, and lighting in the lecture hall - thus giving presenters total control of the room environment. Even the multi-camera monitoring system in the lecture hall is connected to the control system.

Prior to installing Crestron, teachers and researchers were frustrated by difficulties in configuring and operating lecture hall devices and classes, and academic exchange events were often delayed by quipment glitches. By and large, these difficulties have now been entirely eliminated.

NCUT lecture hall manager, Mr. Pan Yue, reports satisfaction with these results. "NCUT chose Crestron's DigitalMedia solution because we were convinced that DigitalMedia is the best solution for rapid switching and routing of HDMI/DVI data. Having now used the system (for a while), we know we made the right choice."

As an added benefit, the lecture hall solution is scalable, which will make deployment in other areas of the campus quicker and more cost-effective.

Academic communication with zero impedance

Thanks to our lecture hall solution, classes and events held in the space now run smoother than ever. Teachers and presenters are able to focus on communicating knowledge without being distracted by the difficulties of operating complicated or inefficient media presentation systems. Likewise, listeners can better focus on learning since events no longer suffer from frequent equipment-related delays or media quality issues.

Another benefit for the university is the amount of resources saved by the efficiency our solution offered. Less staff hours are needed to set up and operate media and room environment devices for each event, and the savings achieved can instead be invested in activities with higher purposes.

"Having Crestron's DigitalMedia system will enable NCUT to make the most of its resources, "noted Mr. Pan Yue. "The simple and intelligent control system increases work efficiency and reduces time needed to understand and operate the lecture hall's media devices."

Is your conference room Crestron-smart?

Thanks to Crestron, the meeting space or conference room of the future is already here. But, what does it look like and what can it do?

Imagine...

As you walk by the conference room, you realize you forgot to reserve the room for an afternoon meeting. A quick glance at the Crestron touch screen on the wall outside the room shows you the full day of meetings taking place in the room. You notice there's a free hour between 2pm and 3pm and you quickly reserve the room straight from the touch screen.

When you get back to your desk, you receive an email from one of your meeting participants. He'd really like you to push the meeting back an hour (sound familiar?). You open up Outlook, Google Calendar, or Lotus Notes (yep, we seamlessly integrate with all), see that the conference room is free at 3pm and move your meeting. The touch screen on the wall outside the conference room automatically updates and now shows your updated meeting.

A few minutes before 3, the conference room automatically gets ready for your meeting. The projector is turned on automatically, shades lower, and lights dim. At 3pm the touch screen lights change from green to red, signifying to all that the room is yours. You start the meeting on time because the room was automatically setup just for you. Everything just works.

The meeting runs smoothly and you end up finishing 30 minutes earlier than scheduled. Your team high-fives you for the quick effective meeting and you all leave the room.

Sensing no movement in the room for at least 10 minutes, the Crestron-controlled conference room correctly assumes that the meeting is over and frees up the room in Outlook or Google Calendar. It also powers off the projector, raises the shades, and turns off the lights. The touch screen lights turn green and the room patiently waits for the next scheduled meeting.

Pretty cool, huh? Can your conference room do that?

If you'd like to learn more about Crestron office solutions, visit our office solutions page.

Making the intercom part of the modern home

The idea of an intercom system for your home is nothing new. However, as your home’s wiring and infrastructure transitions to digital, your intercom system can be used in ways it couldn’t before.

Crestron RAVA helps usher the intercom into the future. It allows you to leverage your IP wiring (CAT5e) to create a whole-home communication system that ties in seamlessly with your Crestron control solution and other non-Crestron technology.

So what is RAVA and what can it do?

RAVA is a plug and play VOIP-based hardware/software solution we've developed that allows you to transform select Crestron touch screens and remote controls into fully-functioning intercom communication points. With RAVA, as long as the touch screens and remotes are on your home's local area network (LAN), delivering point-to-point communication between any or all of the devices without a third-party switcher is a breeze. RAVA even features full duplex, which means that the communicating parties can both listen and speak to each other without the need to press and hold buttons.

RAVA can also be used to incorporate other non-Crestron technology into the intercom system, such as digital or analog door stations (think fancy doorbells), and SIP telephony systems from Cisco, Mitel, Panasonic, 3CX, and others.

The RAVA intercom is an invaluable and effortless addition to the modern home. Just imagine being able to use your Crestron touch screen to alert the family that dinner is ready, or using your Crestron remote control as a baby monitor.

How would you use RAVA?

Learn more about RAVA at crestron.com/rava

Our Time at the Architectural Digest Home Design Show

Here at Crestron, we're big fans of Architectural Digest magazine. So we were excited to take part in the 12th Annual Architectural Digest Home Design Show from March 21-24 in New York City.

At the show we provided attendees with an inside look at the seamless blending of technology in the home to achieve comfort, convenience, and energy savings. Guests experienced live demonstrations of control of motorized shading, lighting, HVAC, audio, television, and security.

Our goal at the show was to highlight our "Integrated by Design" approach, allowing us to deliver complete technology solutions designed and engineered to work together on a single unified platform.

The Architectural Digest Home Show brings the pages of Architectural Digest to life, allowing visitors to explore the latest products for the home and to spark inspiration, new ideas, and insight from tastemakers in the industry.

If you weren't able to visit us at the show, you can experience everything we demonstrated and more at one of our Design Showrooms and Experience Centers. To schedule an appointment or to find a location closest to you, visit crestron.com/experiencecrestron

 

Display Technology Taken to New Heights at NASA

Every Tuesday, we'll be reposting some of our most popular posts from our old blog. This week we revisit the role that Crestron played in the launch of NASA's Mars Rover Curiosity.

Background

If the most critical part of your mission lasts only 50 seconds, the right technology can make the difference. When NASA launches a vehicle that includes a radioisotope power source, the first crucial seconds of the launch must be monitored by the NASA Radiological Control Center (RADCC), which is responsible for monitoring, and coordinating protective actions in the unlikely event of a launch accident that releases radioactive material in the launch area.

The job of RADCC scientists became a lot easier in November when the Mars Science Lab lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center. This was the first mission using a newly redesigned and reconfigured RADCC, with a complicated array of new technology made simple and seamless thanks to the Crestron control system.

Mission critical

NASA does not launch payloads with radioisotope power sources every day, but their importance to a mission’s success is well recognized.

“The 2003 Mars Rovers had eight radioisotope heat sources, each about the size of a 35 mm roll of film,” says Randall Scott, Radiological Control Director for NASA. “The heat they produced kept critical components from freezing at night on the Martian surface and helped the rovers, designed to last 90 days, remain functional for over six years.”

The Mars Science Lab, with the rover “Curiosity” tucked in its belly, launched with a nuclear battery containing plutonium dioxide. Even though the likelihood of a release of radioactive material was low because the fuel was in ceramic form and encased in strong metal alloy with three layers of a heat resistant carbon fiber material, it was still necessary to establish an assessment capability should a launch mishap occur. Scott wanted the newly designed RADCC ready for that launch.

The RADCC existed in some form for nearly 40 years but was overdue for renovation. Scott and his team began by gutting and enlarging the room, then dividing it into two areas of operation: technology and management.

During a launch, representatives from a variety of government agencies sit on the management side, including FEMA, the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security, the EPA and emergency management agencies from Brevard County and the state of Florida. NASA scientists and technical support personnel from the Department of Energy and other federal and state organizations sit in the slightly larger technical area, most at workstations positioned in a U shape to offer more efficient exchange of data. Each workstation has a custom-built console that allows RADCC personnel to plug in their laptops and provide up-to-the-minute information during launch. Operators display output from these laptops on nine plasma monitors ranging from 42 to 58 inches, plus four digital projectors with drop-down wall screens. In addition, scientists can view live video of the launch from 11 cable boxes and recorded video from two DVD players. They also have video conferencing capabilities in both areas. Multiple ceiling speakers provide zoned audio to three different areas of the room.

Team scientists use their laptops to receive data from a variety of sources including 30 Environmental Continuous Air Monitors (ECAM) spread in and around the Kennedy Space Center to monitor air quality for the presence of any radioactive material. They also view information from 16 field teams mobilized to monitor the ground and respond in the case of a positive reading from an ECAM following any launch accident. The team also receives constant updates on wind direction and velocity, weather changes, telemetry data, and animated scenarios of possible event results.

Controlling the control room

Bill Lally, president of Orlando-based independent programming company Mode:Green programmed the Crestron control system. “We needed a simple way to handle the large number of sources coming in and make them switch easily and quickly, so we created an on-screen image of the layout of the room itself with the sources and monitors included. All an operator has to do is touch the image of the console they want to display and then touch the monitor they want to send it to.”

When the RADCC is in launch mode, all component controls are accessible from a trio of Crestron touch screens, which have identical interfaces. While one remains in the equipment rack, two operators under Scott’s direction are seated at the other two, executing his orders as to what data to display on which monitor. Crestron provides an intuitive and consistent experience experience across all touch screens, including the Director's PC (running Crestron XPanel software) and Apple® iPad® (running Crestron Mobile Pro G). The interface is so simple that there’s little chance of a mistake in an emergency situation.

Of course, emergencies are rare. In four decades of radiological launches there have only been three accidents. In 1964, the nuclear power source of a navigational satellite reentering the atmosphere burned up in the upper atmosphere, as it was designed to do. Four years later a rocket took off from California but landed in the Pacific. The power source was undamaged, salvaged and used in another vehicle.

“And then there was Apollo 13 where they had an accident on the way to the moon,” says Scott. “They had to use the Lunar Lander as their lifeboat back to earth. Since they never made it to the moon, the nuclear power source was still attached to the Lander. Ultimately the astronauts transferred back into the capsule for landing, and that power source went in to the Pacific Ocean’s Tonga Trench, which is several thousand feet down.”

The RADCC stands ready to fully support any NASA launch requiring a radioisotope power source. “We rehearse constantly before a mission,” Scott says. If there ever is a release of any radioactive material, personnel would kick in to high gear, getting the word out immediately to the public and their respective agencies through several pathways including the videoconferencing systems installed in the RADCC.

“One of the last phases of the project was to build a secondary room to facilitate information release to the media,” says Lally. “Besides public affairs representatives from several federal & state agencies, NASA added a Twitter^® station and a Facebook^® station and were actually blogging the whole launch procedure for the Mars mission. We were sending them feeds, which the Crestron system handled as well, and it managed the video conferencing in the event something happened.”

The launch of the Mars Science Lab went off without a hitch. The team spent their 50 seconds intensely monitoring the vehicle and the environment, but there was no need to deal with an emergency. There may not be another radioactive launch until 2016, but the RADCC will be available for other launches as well, acting as backup to the Kennedy Space Center’s Emergency Operations Center, a job it is now fully equipped to handle.

In the end, Scott got what he asked for: a simple and seamless system. “The technology needs to stay out of the way,” says Lally. “And it needs to be seamless for the user, because if an emergency occurs, they won’t have time to think about how to use it.”

Introducing our newest DMPS…DMPS…DMPS…

Recently, we’ve introduced a brand new member to the DigitalMedia family. Born out of our best-selling DMPS-300-C (DigitalMedia Presentation System), the new DMPS-300-C-AEC packs all of the features you’ve grown to love but also adds more power and an amazing new feature. Care to guess what that feature is?

Here’s a hint… AEC.

Acoustic Echo Cancelation (AEC) is now available. Even better, it’s available on all six of DMPS-300-C-AEC’s microphone inputs. So, what is AEC and why do I need it?

AEC describes the process of removing echoing from amplified voice communication, creating cleaner audio and improving quality. With regards to its use in a presentation environment (where the DMPS would be used), AEC essentially removes any echoing or feedback caused by audio from conference room speakers leaking back into the microphone (you know, kind of like this...).

 

 

So, while the new DMPS-300-C-AEC will make it much harder to recreate Lou Gehrig’s famous speech, it will make your meetings, lectures, or presentations much easier on the ears of others.

The DMPS-300-C-AEC represents the first all-in-one presentation system on the market to feature AEC. It also features native control of all signal routing and audio processing functions, eliminating complex interconnections and programming of third-party DSPs.

Learn more about the new DMPS-300 with Accoustic Echo Cancelation.

Does anyone have any good stories about echo or feedback during a video conference or lecture?

The Green Light - The Lighting Specifier's Dilemma

Crestron  makes designing and commissioning lighting control easy using DALI®

For lighting specifiers and designers, Crestron’s lighting solution using DALI delivers a win-win: simplified communication and installation AND maximum control and flexibility. Wiring and commissioning is simpler, so installation costs are lower. Even better, it enables you to provide a high-performance lighting solution that perfectly matches the needs of a building’s occupants now and in the future, as requirements change.

Crestron’s comprehensive lighting solution using DALI includes:

•DIN-DALI-2:                 DALI Controller

•GLB-DALI-T-1:             1 Lamp DALI Ballast

•GLB-DALI-T-2:             2 Lamp DALI Ballast

•GLB-DALI-T-3:             3 Lamp DALI Ballast

               Download the new DALI Design Guide                   Download Crestron DALI ballast
                                to learn more!                                                        quick facts!           

                                                          

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Customer Success Stories

Continental Automated Buildings Association

“Open protocols encourage and foster the development of a mass market in the connected home space for a myriad of products, including lighting and home automation. Celebrating its 25^th anniversary in 2013, the Continental Automated Buildings Association (www.caba.org) has always been at the forefront of promoting standard interoperability.  By encouraging and facilitating industry-wide interoperability of standards and protocols as one of its central tenants, CABA intends to reduce and eliminate consumer confusion relating to various systems, with the aim towards increasing the reliability and consistent operation of combined systems.   Since the number of protocols and standards has proliferated immensely in the past few years, it has become necessary to explore their standardization and interconnection in order to achieve mass market penetration.  CABA actively supports the development of common technical frameworks where a multitude of technologies can interconnect and thrive.”

-- Ronald J. Zimmer, CABA President & CEO

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People & Places

Lighting Control - The Hot Topic at ISE 2013

Lighting control and energy management were at the top of most people’s minds at the Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) show in Amsterdam last week. Interest in Crestron energy management solutions spanned the gamut, from entry level to end-to-end. We were astounded by the response to our lighting control showcase and the interest in energy efficiency - beyond just dimming the lights.

At the show, we launched our new international wireless dimmers, switches and keypads. What’s unique about this series is it operates both as dimmers and as fully-functional control keypads. But the real “A-HA!” moment came when we explained how we can deliver simple, entry level automation and energy savings for retrofit installations when this dimmer series is combined with our other wireless products, such as thermostats and sensors. Also, since the dimmers can be combined to form 3-way and 4-way configurations there's no need for expensive multiways.

Visitors to the Crestron booth came away understanding how all the lighting control system components – from wireless dimmers to DALI commissioning – work together with effective power metering. The goal is to have all of these systems come together seamlessly, and the ease comes from having one manufacturer able to deliver this as a scalable solution. The Crestron solution ensures that all systems − AV, energy, voice & data, lighting, security, room scheduling, and HVAC – can communicate easily without additional interfaces, programming and commissioning, i.e. on a single platform. This maximizes energy savings, lowers operational costs and increases productivity.

Here’s an overview of the lighting control and energy management solutions we demonstrated at the show:

•DALI ballasts for simplified maintenance and commissioning 

•Power metering

•Fusion Energy Management software (link to Fusion EM product page)

•International wireless dimmers

•Complete DIN rail modules including LED drivers, dimming and switching modules and best
  in class Crestron control processors

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We’d like to thank everyone we met and talked to at the 14th annual Strategies of Light Conference and Exhibition. This was our first time exhibiting and the opportunity was excellent. Our commitment to the lighting industry includes spending time with lighting designers, consultants, fixture companies and engineers to help educate, and this was the perfect venue.

The shift to LED technology is spreading quickly and with the combination of wireless options, this will continue to grow rapidly. There was a lot of interest in how Crestron LED drivers, wireless keypads, dimmers and sensors, thermostats and energy management software all integrate with controls. Simplified commissioning and programming are key to this solution as is smart communication between all the interfaces: keypads, dimmers, touch screens and mobile devices. As part of this industry evolution, we gave attendees a sneak peek into what they will be seeing in a much larger scale at LightFair – how Crestron delivers completely integrated lighting control and energy management through wired and wireless systems that can monitor, manage and control every element in the building including each individual light fixture.

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Crestron Showcases Lighting & Energy Management Solutions at LIGHTFAIR® International 2013

 

In the Crestron booth at LIGHTFAIR^® International 2013, attendees will experience interactive demonstrations of fully integrated building and room solutions. Crestron will showcase everything needed to create a truly energy efficient facility – all the hardware, software, engineering, and design expertise - to integrate commercial lighting control with HVAC, AV, IT, BMS, shading, and security. 

As energy codes and guidelines become more restrictive, designers, builders, and engineers can no longer rely on yesterday’s design models. Creating an efficient building that meets the energy requirements of today, and is adaptable to meet those of the future, requires a wholistic view of all the power in the building. The integration of all building systems on a single, intelligent platform provides the one dependable way to achieve measurable, worthwhile reductions in energy usage and utility costs.

To learn more about Crestron lighting and energy management solutions, stop by Crestron’s LIGHTFAIR^® booth #545 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, April 23-25, 2013. 

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Resources

• www.ies.org
• www.caba.org
• www.lightfair.com

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All brand names, product names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Certain trademarks, registered trademarks, and trade names may be used to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products. Crestron disclaims any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others. Crestron is not responsible for errors in typography or photography. Specifications are subject to change without notice.

ISE 2013 in Review

ISE 2013 was the biggest and best yet; in every way possible. With more than 44,000 delegates, nearly 900 exhibitors and thousands of innovative products on show, once again ISE proved just how buoyant and resilient the AV market truly is. 

If you were in Amsterdam for ISE, you probably visited our booth and saw all the amazing new products we had on display; but if you weren't, then this is what you missed. Either way, here’s a review of the most exciting and dynamic exhibit.

Biggest booth with more products than ever

120 Crestron staffers from around the world came together to give over 4,000 delegates a true Crestron experience during the show. We were also joined by hundreds of delegates in our on-site training sessions and at our Crestron Consultants Summit.

New Products

With more than 270 new products on display in comparison to our 2012 ISE booth (more than 400 products in total), the real highlights were the significant additions the DigitalMedia™ line, including new DMPS-300-C-AEC with acoustic echo canceling, and the powerful DM-MD64x64, which is the first 4K compatible switcher. We also previewed the next-generation 3-Series control processors, our mobile device-styled TSW touch screens, featuring Core 3UI™ graphics and PoE connectivity, and the only in-wall dimmer that doubles as an integrated keypad available in Europe – our CLWI range (www.crestron.eu/clwi).  

Below, Justin Kennington introduces the new 64x64 switcher.

inAVation Awards

For the second year in a row, we won Most inAVative Commercial Control Solution at the annual inAVation awards. This time for our TSW-750 seven-inch touch screen. It was a great evening with many industry figures coming together to celebrate another successful and innovative year.  

Integration Awards

Each year we celebrate the best commercial installations featuring Crestron solutions. A panel of judges had to choose winners from over 50 projects that were submitted. The awards were announced at our booth in front of a large ISE crowd. A full list of winners can be found here: www.crestron.eu/ise2013

Cresfest

This year’s Cresfest proved to be a memorable evening of great entertainment, good food, and plenty to drink – and gave each of the 1,200 attendees the opportunity to relax with clients, colleagues, integrators and friends from across Europe and beyond. Ali Campbell’s UB40 rocked the crowd late into the night.

Keep up-to-date with the events that Crestron will be attending throughout 2013 by visiting  http://www.crestron.eu/?q=en/about/upcoming-events.

We hope to see you at next year's ISE from the 4^th to 6^th of February 2014 in Amsterdam. 

The Green Light - What is Energy Monitoring?

Crestron Green Light® Power Meter

The Green Light Power Meter (GLS-EM-MCU) logs overall electricity usage in real time. Facilities managers and building owners can now accurately measure and monitor all electricity coming into the building. It measures and tracks actual energy consumption by attaching to the incoming electrical service and branch circuits. The GLS-EM-MCU also works in unison with the GLS-EM-CTI and GLS-EM-CT to provide more detailed data by tracking individual branch circuits in a home or office.  Actual power usage data is then transferred to a Crestron control system over Ethernet where it can be displayed on a touch screen, laptop, or Apple® and Android® mobile devices for easy viewing. Armed with this substantial data, rather than estimates, managers can make intelligent and informed energy savings decisions across the building and campus.

Power Metering, the best method of energy monitoring, is a key component of many Crestron Lighting Control Solutions. Some of our products that also come with optional Power Metering built in are:

Crestron Green Light® Integrated Lighting System (GLPAC)

Crestron Green Light® Power Pack w/infiNET EX Wireless (GLPP)

Crestron Green Light® DALI Ballast 

 

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Customer Success Stories

Revel^®

Upscale resorts such as Revel^® are setting a new standard in luxury accommodations, while saving an average of 9.4% on lighting and HVAC energy costs per month*. Among their amenities are Crestron systems in all guest rooms, meeting rooms and public areas that go far beyond anything previously installed. It’s simplified system monitoring and maintenance, resulting in $2 million in savings over the cost of installing and managing separate systems.

*Based on calculations made by Crestron integration team. Actual energy savings may vary.

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People & Places

Check Out Our Sustainable Integrated Building Management Solutions at ISE 2013

Today, commercial buildings are smarter than ever before and require a fundamentally new approach to building management. Crestron will introduce the European Market to its Integrated by Design™ solutions in Amsterdam during ISE 2013. Crestron solutions enable global monitoring, management and control of AV, energy, voice & data, lighting, security, room scheduling, and HVAC on a single platform to maximize energy savings, lower operational costs and increase productivity. ISE attendees will have the opportunity to experience the fully-functional integrated building environment live at the show.

To see Crestron Integrated by Design solutions in action, visit Crestron in hall 2, booth C24 at ISE 2013.

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Crestron will be showcasing unique lighting control and light driver technology next month at Strategies in Light 2013 in Santa Clara, CA. We invite attendees to visit us at booth #845 to see the latest in DALI and LED technologies designed to bring lighting together with temperature and technology so facility managers can get accurate data and manage energy usage across the entire building.

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Crestron Green Light® Power Meter Wins 'Product of the Year' Award

Shades, 6X4 DigitalMedia™ Switcher, and GLS Power Meter Recognized as
Best Home Technology

Crestron was honored with three 2013 Electronic House Products of the Year Awards. EH Products of the Year Awards recognize the best technology, products and services for the electronic connected home. Winners were chosen by a panel of industry leaders along with the Editors of Electronic House and CE Pro magazines. Electronic House is one of the most prestigious trade publications in the custom electronics industry.

The winning Crestron products are:

•Crestron Shading Solutions - Décor Series - Category: Motorized Window Treatments

•6x4 DigitalMedia™ Distribution Center - Category: Multiroom Audio

•Crestron Green Light® Power Meter - Category: Energy Monitoring Devices and Services

"This year has truly been a year of innovation for Crestron as we launched more cutting-edge products than we ever have before," said Sean Goldstein, Crestron VP of Marketing. "Winning three Products of the Year Awards is great recognition from our industry and we're excited that our new home technology has been chosen among the best of the best."

Featuring Quiet Motor Technology™, Crestron's complete line of quiet motorized roller shades, Roman shades, and drapery track systems offer a wide variety of designer-inspired fabrics and hardware finishes to match any décor.

DigitalMedia™ 6X4 Distribution Center offers an affordable solution for distributing all HD digital and analog audio/video content through the whole home. Over a single CAT5e wire DM-MD6X4 feeds your favorite HD content from a central location to any or every room, no matter how big or small your home. Play Blu-ray movies, HD cable TV, Apple TV®, streaming Internet videos, songs from your iPod®, and 3D video games such as Wii™ and PS3™ in any room throughout the house.

Mounted next to a standard breaker panel, the new GLS Power Meter logs overall electricity usage in real-time kilowatt hours, enabling homeowners to accurately measure, monitor, and manage all electricity coming into the dwelling.

To see these and many other Crestron products in action, schedule a tour of a Crestron Experience Center or Design Showroom today.
 

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Resources

• www.strategiesinlight.com

Enjoy this newsletter? Click the subscribe button below to receive future issues of The Green Light via email. 
 

 

All brand names, product names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Certain trademarks, registered trademarks, and trade names may be used to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products. Crestron disclaims any proprietary interest in the marks and names of others. Crestron is not responsible for errors in typography or photography. Specifications are subject to change without notice.

The role of a CSP

Written by Jim Felderman, President of http://controlworks.com

This week’s post has graciously been written by Jim Felderman of ControlWorks. Jim is the outgoing Chair of our Crestron Services Provider (CSP, formerly CAIP) program. CSPs are not Crestron employees, but are instead independent services providers that have been certified by Crestron.

As the outgoing Chair of the Crestron Services Provider Advisory Board I’ve fielded a number of questions that indicate a lack of understanding as to what a CSP is and what function they provide in our industry.  A CSP (previously known as a “CAIP”) can be an organization ranging in size from a sole proprietor to as large as a 30-employee corporation.  In 2001 Crestron started a program to recognize, support and cultivate the community of Crestron programmers that were working behind the scenes building innovative software solutions.  Now some 200 CSP organizations exist around the globe expanding the depth of Crestron services for AV Integrators and End Users alike.  Any Integrator setup as a Crestron dealer can also program or develop solutions for their own installations.  The CSP program provides an alternative to the in-house capabilities of the Integrator.

We are often asked, “How do I engage a CSP?” and “What are the benefits of working with a one?”.  End users as well as Integrators and Manufactures can engage a CSP for a variety of services.  Some CSPs engage Crestron end users directly whereas other CSPs have a business model where they contract directly with the AV Integrator.  Whatever the specifics of the arrangement, the number one benefit to working with a CSP is their specialized expertise.  Most CSPs have a singular focus and when you hire one you are benefiting from a level of specialization that you won’t typically find with an Integrators in-house staff. This is due to a 24-7-365 focus on the Crestron hardware and development tools, which translates into an improved Crestron experience. 

While each CSP has their own set of specialties the range of services can start with sales/engineering support, design and documentation then moves on to coding software solutions and user interface designs.  Most CSPs also provide services at the project site such as commissioning the control system code, Digital Media commissioning or services focused on Crestron Lighting or Fusion RV and EM deployments.  So if you are a Consultant, End User or Integrator, you’ll find that a Crestron Services Provider can bring a tremendous amount of technical and software expertise to deliver a more consistent, reliable and functional control system experience.

For more information on Crestron Services Providers (CSPs), please visit our CSP page.