One thing I was messing around with in my house was RFID. That parts are pretty cheap, but you can do fun stuff. Keep the transmitter in your car and automate gates, garage doors, lights etc. They have different range antennas from 8M on up.
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--- In Crestron@..., "Marcus" <marcus@...> wrote:
Thanks for the comments.
My post was a little warning not to get carried away with the cool, expensive, tech - it's often the really mundane stuff that hooks people because it enhances their life much more than an angel-supported plasma. It's easy to get carried away and actually miss the idea that the tech has to complement the user's life and make it better - it's usually something to do with heating, lighting or security and rarely to do with having the latest and greatest mechanised plasma screen.
Your example of the pressure pads is one we've used in the past - so the homeowner would step out of bed between certain hours (at night essentially) and it would bring on the bathroom lights at a low-level so they could find their way to the WC etc. You could certainly utilise the mats further to make coffee etc. if the time is between certain hours (let's say between 6 and 8 am).
We all work with some of the very wealthiest, smartest individuals in the world - and they will be good at spotting someone just suggesting stuff because it is lots of money etc. - but find the things that irritate them, solve those issues for them and you'll be in a much more trusted position to suggest the expensive, show-off toys.
--- In Crestron@..., "Mark W" <weldywire@> wrote:
Sorry to hijack with an off-post but I just wanted to thank Marcus for hi comment...
Original reply:
[I'm sure that we've all had a few clients like this over the years and I have
found that the key is not bombarding them with dozens of ideas and concepts
(that is the second stage).
Just find the ONE thing that they don't know that they NEED in their life. Talk
to them, find out their passions, their concerns. Something will stand out -
take that and elaborate on the concept.
It might be something really simple and mundane to us, something to do with
lighting or heating for example, something that's bugged him his whole life.
Solve that issue for him, and he'll suddenly trust you a lot more when you
suggest the 103 inch plasmas in every room or whatever!
Easier said than done - but find the hook and run with it.]
...exactly
It isnt about loading a house with 60" plasmas that float down from the ceiling on the wings of porcelein skinned angels(the 'awe'(sp?) factor).Its about using the automation to suit the needs(and yes wants as well) of the client. Taking the time to 'listen' to what they do during the day,the 'activities',the 'schedules' their habits and simplifying it for them with automation.
Marcus, if I was consumer and you sat down and listened to how my life spins and what you could do for me to take some weight off,I would let you sell me on plasmas mounted into the side wall of my pool with a trained dolphin to harmonize serial signals through echo location to change the channels...
...as long as I can have a Psi mat next to my bed so when I wake up and my feet hit the floor, the light in my bathroom ramps up,coffee pot starts(lets be honest,we dont get out of bed EVERYDAY at the SAME time and my coffee pot isnt smart,hence the pressure mat) and the shower starts at a preset mix of scalding hot and insanely hot.Thats it,Im simple LOL
Marcus, once again thank you for the great words and I hope that others will follow your lead.
