A technophobe is a word used to describe someone with a fear or dislike of advanced technology or complex devices.  When demonstrating our range of home automation products we often meet people who claim to be technophobes. But why this fear of technology? Isn’t it time to embrace digital technology across our homes?

Despite pre-conceived perceptions of home automation, the last decade has seen a dramatic rise in the number of software and hardware products within the smart home industry. These new products have been purposely designed to make your life easier using innovative user-friendly technology. Common suggestions from technophobes that they are ‘technically challenged’ when considering a home automation installation is no longer an obstacles as systems can be tailored to individuals specific needs – whether it’s a simple lighting control system or the complete rewire of their home.

Designed to improve your day-to-day life, home automation provides homeowners with the opportunity to simplify and control everything within the home. Even the biggest technophobes would appreciate the range of different benefits a home automation system could offer.  Why tolerate numerous remote controls cluttering the coffee table, ugly wires tangled around your home entertainment system or the costs of leaving the heating and lights on when your not at home? It’s time to embrace technology and take control with Control4.

 Here are our top 5 reasons why even the biggest technophobes will love home automation:

1. Take Control! Control4 home automation systems empower homeowners to control almost anything in the home. Using smart switches and mobile devices you can control entertainment, lighting, heating and security from almost anywhere in the world.
2. Win back the living room! The kids are playing their games console in the home cinema room and Mum and Dad want to start Friday’s family movie night. Take control, with a simple switch of a button the room can be primed for movie watching without changing sources or input cables. The mood lighting dims the room, the blinds and curtains close and the TV powers on via Control4. Now its time to pick the movie, don’t worry a wealth of movies stored on a central database will solve that problem!
3. It’s time to go to school! Get the children out of bed with a flick of a switch. The Control4 keypad enables you to play music in every bedroom of the home and even automates messages to make announcements for example ‘its time to get up’ or ‘breakfast is ready’. You may never be late again!
4. Even a technophobe will love Control4 smart security systems! Let’s assume you take a trip up to Brecon Beacons for the weekend and leave your home under the supervision of a neighbor or house sitter. You don’t have to spend all weekend worrying about unlocked doors, the garage door being left open, lights being left on and more. All you need is your smartphone or tablet device to see which doors are locked or unlocked, which lights need to be turned off or on, and whether or not you need to shut the garage door. You have the power to control almost anything in your home remotely using a Smartphone or tablet device. With Control4 CCTV security systems you can view any room in your home remotely from anywhere in the world.
5. Add value to your home! Home automation provides a unique way for homeowners to add value to their properties. With the tough economic climate, home automation can future proof a property and provide a unique selling point in the competitive property market.

So if you’re a technophobe, we dare you to embrace smart technology and visit our new interactive showroom to test out the latest innovations within the home automation industry! For more information please visit http://www.smartatechnology.co.uk

Western Mail announces Smarta Technology as Local Business Accelerator Winner.

Home Automation specialists Smarta Technology has been revealed as the Western Mail Local Business Accelerators competition winner.

Formed in 2009 by civil engineer Mark Wray, the Cardiff based home automation installer offer domestic and commercial customers a high quality electrician service that empowered homeowners to use digital technology to control functions around the home – from electronic equipment and home entertainment to heating and lighting systems.

The Cardiff based electrical engineers are a licensed installer of Control4 home automation technology. An accredited ‘Gold Dealer’ installer of Control4 systems, Smarta Technology use Control4 to enable homeowners control devices around the home remotely using smartphone and mobile devices.  The US automation supplier has grown significantly in the UK over the past four years stimulated by the growth in digital technology.

The business was one of three finalists in the Western Mail LBA competition: the others being MudTrek Mountain Bike Breaks and Yolk Recruitment.

The three finalists were chosen by the Western Mail’s LBA business mentoring team of chief executive of business services group MSS, Bill Mayne, managing director and founder of Effective Communication Alastair Milburn and associate director with professional advisory firm Grant Thornton, Chris Burgess.

As well as mentoring from the trio, all the businesses are being provided with advertising campaigns with a value of £25,000 with the Western Mail and website Walesonline.co.uk

Mr Wray said: “When we entered the competition it came as a complete shock when we made the final three, so it is fantastic that we have won and are now hoping we can go even further in the competition.”

“The publicity around being a finalist really helped in terms of our brand awareness.”

The home automation business, which is currently recruiting, has a UK wide reach with contracts from residential homes to commercial offices. It is currently in discussions with a view to installing its technology in a number of new luxury housing developments across Wales and the West Country.

Mr Wray also praised the support provided by the competition’s mentors, who were also tasked with selecting the overall winner.

Mr Wray said: “All three mentors have been fantastically supportive and offered fresh ways to take the business forward. It was also invaluable to hear of their own experiences in businesses.”

Mr Wray’s company also provides other remote energy controlling technologies.

“We are very busy at the moment and are looking to recruit a further two engineers.

“We are striving to make the £1m turnover mark for our current financial year which ends in July.”

The UK-wide LBA competition is being organised by the Newspaper Society. The competition will progress over coming months where Smarta Technology will now be entered into the LBA Welsh final. The winner of the Welsh Final will then compete in the UK grand final.

The overall winner  of the UK grand final will receive a package of prizes, including £10,000 from the Business Growth Fund and a year’s mentoring from Dragon’s Den panelist and serial entrepreneur Debra Meaden.

For further information about Smarta Technology please visit http://www.smartatechnology.co.uk

It’s summer! The time of year when you can guarantee two things, alot of rain and a series of high budget action packed summer blockbuster movies! Here is our breakdown of the must see movie blockbusters this summer.

MAY

• Iron Man 3
• The Great Gatsby
• Star Trek Into Darkness
• Hangover Part 3
• The Fast and The Furious 6

JUNE

• After Earth
• Man Of Steel
• World War Z
• White House Down

JULY

• Lone Ranger
• Pacific Rim
• The wolverine

AUGUST

• Elysium
• Kick Ass 2
• Worlds End

I hope you like our list of the must see movies to watch this summer. If your looking for more information about home cinema please visit our website on http://www.smartatechnology.co.uk

Smarta Technology are often asked about the benefits of underfloor heating in a home. Here are some core reasons how underfloor heating can benefit your home:

• Underfloor heating provides ultimate comfort levels as it is largely radiant. Radiant energy from the heating flooring is absorbed by others surfaces in the room i.e tables, chairs, door and as a result these become secondary radiant emitters thus making the room warmer.
• Unlike radiators there are no floor drafts with underfloor heating. Floor drafts occur in a room which uses radiators as a method of heating as radiators use the air in the room as the mode of transport to move hear around the room. The hottest point in a room that has radiators is at ceiling level and the coolest point is floor level causing floor drafts. Underfloor heating eliminates this discomfort as heat is distributed evenly around the room maintaining a consistent temperature.
• Underfloor heating is energy efficient, according to The Energy Trust a typical gas-heated three-bedroom semi could expect a saving of around £20 a year on its energy bills.
• Underfloor heating provides extra space around the home as there is no need to install large and bulky radiators which instantly makes a room more appealing from a design perspective.
• Underfloor heating is extremely versatile and can be applied underneath a multitude of flooring meaning that flooring which is typically cold to stand on (tiles, stone) can be heated to a cosy temperature.

Summary Of Benefits Of Heating Control

Overall underfloor heating provides its users flexibility and evenly distributed room temperature using the latest in heating technology.
Smarta Technology specialise in the supply, installation and maintenance of heating control systems to both public and private customers across the UK. Smarta are able to provide a custom heating control system all of which can be controlled from a click of button on a control panel in the home or smart phone.

Smarta Technology are licensed installers of Heatmiser Systems. These can be controlled using Control4 Home Automation Software.
For more information please visit http://www.smartatechnology.co.uk

Our customers often ask us ‘what makes a good home cinema system?’ – this month we have put together a descriptive blog analysis the two core features of a home cinema system, Picture and Sound.

Why Picture Makes Perfect For Home Cinema

Sound is the key to creating atmosphere but picture size and quality is the essential component to creating the perfect home cinema.

When deciding how you want your cinema to look, It’s important to consider the space you have available. Evaluate if you looking to go down the route of the complete cinema experience by installing a large screen or the popular option of a projector.

When selecting a television its important to pick one which fits the dimensions of your room. Position the television no higher than 15 degrees from eye height (1.1m when sitting) for comfortable viewing. You should also be aiming for 1080p as a minimum standard to get top quality picture. This will ensure you can enjoy HD sport and the latest blurays in the utmost quality.

When creating a home cinema before considering what type of system you would like to install it is important to evaluate the area in which you plan to create your new home cinema. Fundamental factors such as room size & shape, flooring, television size & positioning and even movie player all dramatically affect the viewing and audio quality of your home cinema.

Make the right noises to create the perfect atmosphere.

When it comes to sound, a good home cinema should boast superb surround sound with at least 5.1 surround sound, 5.1 surround sound consists of 3 front speakers (left, centre, right), 2 surround speakers (back left, back right) and a top quality sub-woofer which provides a richer listening experience. Smarta’s dedicated home installation teams have experience in installing a comprehensive range of sound systems which includes 2.1, 5.1 and 7.1 channel sound systems.

Most believe that to get good sound quality speakers need to be large however; this is not the case as five small satellites of the same size or tactically placed ceiling speakers offer the perfect surround sound experience for any sized home cinema theater. Multi room audio systems can also help share sound around your home.

In addition to captivating surround sound, dialogue should be clear and crisp accompanied by realistic sound effects that allow the viewer to become completely immersed in the film. To maximise sound quality install your home cinema in a room which does not have hardwood or laminate flooring or any naked windows as these all bounce sound, to prevent flooring and windows from bouncing sound install carpet (or opt for a thick large rug) and purchase thick curtains for the windows.

Time to create your very own Home Cinema?

This blog was created by home automation specialists Smarta Technology. A market leader in the home automation industry, Smarta Technology can offer clients a range of bespoke home cinema installations using the latest HD and 3D Technology.
For further information please visit http://www.smartatechnology.co.uk

Smarta Technology have collaborated this 30 second video to provide you with a brief insight into the range of Home Automation services we can offer.

Enjoy!

[youtube url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=915Gee88WyM" autohide="0" autoplay="1"]

For further information, please contact us directly on 02920 006588.

Home Automation specialists Smarta Technology has today opened its new head office at Cardiff’s Pacific Business Park as it strives to surpass a £1m turnover this financial year.

The home automation company, which specialises in the installation of lighting control, heating control and smart home systems, has seen sales increase by over 320 % to £800,00 in its second year of trading, aided by the successful launch of new franchises in Ipswich, Manchester and Beaconsfield.

To sustain further growth, Smarta Technology has recruited 6 new full time staff and invested a substantial £100,000 into specialist plant used to create “greener” homes for the future.

Mark Wray, Managing Director of Smarta Technology said “This is an important period for Smarta Technology as we look to expand the business to new areas of the UK and recruit additional franchise partners”

“The opening of our new head office in Cardiff will manage the majority of our operation in Wales, while additional demonstration facilities at Cardiff’s Space Fitting Furniture store and Wynndel Properties Severn Quay development in Chepstow will enable customers to participate in live demonstrations of our bespoke home automation systems.”

A licensed installer of leading American home automation software Control4, Smarta Technology provides smart automation systems for both private and commercial customers. The custom designed systems are designed to automate lighting, heating, multi room audio, and CCTV security around the home or workplace which can be controlled remotely using fashionable mobile communications devices like the iPad and iPhone.

Mark Wray said, “Despite difficult economic times, there has been a consistent growth within the home automation industry. House builders have began installing home automation systems in an effort to gain a unique selling point within the competitive property sales industry.”

A qualified civil engineer, Mark Wray started the business from home in 2009 when he identified a gap in the marketplace for a national home automation installer. Mr Wray is pleased with the substantial progress made over a short period of time and has a clear vision for future growth.

He said, “It’s always been my ambition to start up my own business and develop a nationally recognised brand. We have made significant investments this year to make this vision a reality and we are confident of surpassing a £1m turnover target this year through opening additional showrooms in Bristol, Swansea and Cheltenham.”

Smarta Technology is one of the few licensed Control4 installers in the UK and has aspirations to become the UK’s largest home automation

installer by 2015.

Review of iPhone5: What’s New?

It’s little surprise that the iPhone5 has already sold out in most major high street phone retailers. The sixth version of the ground-breaking iPhone series features several key upgrades from previous generations while maintaining Apples core values of style and quality.

The standout changes on the latest iPhone5 include a larger screen, housed in a thinner shell, with a faster processor, improved camera optics and better connectivity using high-speed 4G cellular data.

Apple says the new A6 processor is up to twice as fast as the iPhone 4S. In several independent tests its difficult to disagree with results showing speeds of over 2.6 times faster than the iPhone4s. This makes the iPhone5 the fastest smartphone ever created giving users the power to process data at speeds you would expect from a desktop PC or laptop device.

Other useful improvements include the development of the front camera, which can now capture HD video. The improved front camera enables users to make FaceTime calls over cellular 3G or 4G connections.

Review of iPhone 5: A Home Automation Perspective

The evolution of mobile phones is enlightening. What was once a must have device to simply dial and receive telephone calls has now evolved into a powerful mobile communications device which enables users to do pretty much anything that a desktop computer can offer.

But what does this mean for home automation users? Well, the iPhone 5s new A6 processor enables faster data processing providing customers with a more efficient way of accessing a Control4 music library or browsing the latest apps.

Apple has satisfied customer requirements for a larger screen similar to the HTC and Samsung devices. The larger 2.5 inch screen makes it easier to scroll through icons in the Control4 menu and with its HD screen users can watch HD movies wirelessly from a variety of sources on the web.

If you have a home automation system that enables remote access to CCTV Security Cameras then the iPhone5s larger screen gives you a clearer video feed directly from your security cameras around your home. Which with the launch of the 4G network will maintain a consistent real time feed.

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Review of iPhone5: Conclusion

The iPhone 5 is simply the world’s greatest Smartphone. Its larger screen makes it easier to navigate through apps and stream videos while we like the new iOS 6 panorama picture mode where users can sweep the phone round a room to create a panoramic photo.

The HD screen enables unrivalled video performance while the upgraded A6 processor provides users with an efficient way of scrolling and controlling devices around your home.

Many would argue that the major problem with the iPhone 5 is the restrictions of only being able to downloading apps from the iTunes store with no open source content available to users. Also the new charger cable has been created to assist with the phones smaller frame, this means your old iPhone, iPad or iPod charges simply will not work on this device.

The growth of Smart TV’s will be the next big step for Apple as they look to integrate apps to control home automation and home cinema functions. We are excited to see how this progresses in 2013.  But in the meantime if you’re looking for the best mobile phone to assist with home automation control its difficult to look further than the iPhone5.

iPhone5 Review Score: 5/5

For more information about Home Automation or how you can use Control4 on your iPhone5 to automate your home please visit Smarta Technology http://www.smartatechnology.co.uk

Home Automation specialists Smarta Technology has today opened its first interactive showroom on Colchester Avenue in Cardiff.

The new showroom has been created by Smarta Technology’s electrical engineers to provide customers with an opportunity to interact with the latest innovations within the home automation industry.

The purpose built £15,000 facility is equipped with a range of smart home automation features including home entertainment, lighting, heating and an energy management system to showcase the way of life provided by a next generation home.

Mark Wray Managing Director of Smarta Technology said  “The showroom enables customers to use switches, smart phones and tablets to interact with the latest products available within the home automation industry.  We have invested in this showroom to bring the smart home experience to a wider marketplace.”

“ The facility has been designed to provide customers with a hands on experience of what home automation can offer. Some customers may require a single installation of a home cinema system while others may require a more advanced installation giving complete control of features within their home. The facility is designed to assist in this decision making process. “

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The showroom forms part of an exciting marketing agreement between Smarta Technology and bespoke kitchen designer Space Fitting Furniture as both businesses seek new ways to add value to their existing product offering.

Steve Bloom Managing Director of Space Fitting Furniture said, “Our agreement with Smarta Technology provides a unique way for us to add value to our existing product offering.  With all our kitchens designed to meet individual customer specifications, we can work with Smarta to provide lighting, heating and room comfort systems to enhance our product offering.”

The first showroom of its kind in South Wales, Smarta Technology are committed to developing further demonstration facilities as the business strives to become Wales’s largest independent home automation installer by 2015.

For more information on Home Automation, Home Cinema or Lighting Control please visit http://www.smartatechnology.co.uk

Ends

When browsing the web last week we stumbled across this truly brilliant custom home theater installation in the USA which we think any fan of the Dark Knight Trilogy would appreciate in their home.

The images below are of a $2,000,000 custom designed home cinema system that replicates the infamous Batcave from the Dark Knight Rises movie trilogy.

Details of the multi million pound home theater construction were released by a seating installation business called Elite Home Theatre Seating earlier this month whom assisted in both the design and development of the project at Greenwhich, Connecticut.

A detailed study of the 12,000 square foot private Greenwich home demonstrates a theme that resembles the underground secret batcave but with the comfort of Wayne Manor.

The extraordinary home cinema design features a variety of bat memorabilia resembling the box office smash hit The Dark Knight Rises. Stand out features including a Batmobile, Batsuit, 180 degree film screen, winged gargoyles, private cylindrical stainless steel elevator with glowing bat symbol, mock secret tunnel, bat screens and a replica race car inspired by the Batman Begins movie.

The Home Theatre has a replica Batman Suit and is flanked by bookshelves upon which sits a bust of William Shakespeare – and with a clockwise turn of the writer’s head – the Grandfather clock swings open to reveal the elevator doors. A real fingerprint scan is required to gain access to the elevator!

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Stepping into the cylindrical stainless steel elevator a glowing Bat symbol pulsates at the bottom of the button panel. To the left of the symbol, is the letter “B” that stands for BATCAVE. After pressing the iconic glowing bat symbol, the elevator descends and the floor-to-ceiling mirrors on either side of the elevator come alive by displaying various body scanning graphics. Once the elevator occupants have been properly “identified”, a robotic female voice states over the intercom system, “Security Clearance Granted”. The elevator doors slide open with a hydraulic hum.

Entering the subterranean batcave home theater, the first noticeable detail is the backlit, highly detailed, life-size Batsuit standing at attention across the room. With a total of six Batsuits placed throughout the cavernous lair, the custom home theater almost resembles a secret underground, medieval armory.

On the left of the custom home theater is an enormous 180 degree film screen with Batsuits on each side. There are also Art Deco-inspired architecture and an assortment of gothic pieces such as large, winged gargoyles tie-in the Gotham City theme to create the perfect underground atmosphere. Walking towards the screen are bookcases that look similar to the study bookshelves upstairs, but with the pull of a secret book, these bookshelves slide open to reveal a life-size replica of the Batmobile Tumbler that is 15 feet long and nearly 10 feet wide.

At the rear of the secret room hides a mock, secret tunnel exit is approximately 30 feet long and ends as it turns a corner. To remain comfortable in this cold atmosphere there stands a large gas fireplace with “Batcomputer” stations on either side. Various “techie” graphics are displayed on the large screens as well as images of some of Batman’s arch enemies. To enjoy a movie in this special environment there are sleek and comfortable custom theater chairs made by Elite Home Theater Seating.

Other examples of Elite Home Theater Seating

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VERDICT

Whether you are a fan of the Dark Knight Trilogy or not, I’m sure you would agree that this is something simply spectacular that would be a stunning feature in anyone’s home.

For more information about the chairs used in this installation please visit:

http://www.elitehometheaterseating.com/

Home Cinema Installations

Smarta Technology are a licensed installer of Control4 home automation systems and have the capacity to create bespoke home cinema systems to meet any requirements.

For more information about creating your very own Home Cinema please don’t hesitate to contact us here http://www.smartatechnology.co.uk