The Internet of Things

Back in March I posted about the Internet of Things (or IoT for short).  Since that post I have seen the #IoT in regards to a wide array of topics.  The uses of the IoT are varied with some being downright scary.  Some examples that I have run across in the last few weeks are as follows:

•  Disney has plans to change its experience at theme parks and hotels with its wearable device. From an app or wristband one can get into a park, purchase a souvenir and even sign up for the fast pass on various rides.  All of this can be done from a wristband or phone app.  Learn more here.  No more paper tickets or waiting in lines for rides. 
• Hospitals are using the IoT helping sick children play interactively with shelter pets helping the children forget about their illness for a small time.  
• TheLevis Company is using the IoT to develop clothes that connect to the internet to help people interact more with the real world around them instead of staring at phones. 

Convenience, helpful & scary is how I categorize the above list.

The IOT can help make lots of things more organized (Disney) and helpful (kids in hospitals).  What scares me is there may be a market for wearable clothes that help people be more interactive with the real world. What is that about?

The INTERNET OF THINGS needs to help people be more INTERACTIVE with the REAL WORLD!  People do stare at their phones a lot when out in public.  I am guilty of that myself.  In my house, we had to implement a rule that all cell phones are turned off and put away during family dinner.  Sadly, the rule was put in place for my husband and myself – not my children.  To think that clothes might connect with our cell phones in the near future makes me fear for my grandchildren.  Will we have to change clothes before dinner to continue the tradition of eating as a family and the end of every single day?  Smart phones have changed society in positive and negative ways.  How will Smart Clothes change the next generation?  Do we really need an IoT device (clothes) to help us connect more with reality or should we just be more responsible with the technology we have?  IF the smart clothes catch on – where will this lead us as a society?  Will we start living the science fiction books I grew up reading?  Sounds great in theory but the reality of all of this “connectivity” may be it actually make us less “connected” to real people and the real world around us.

I would love to hear what others think about this Brave New World that is upon us. #IoT #GlobalIndustry #BigData #WearableTech

Metra Home Theater's Smart Service

If you saw our ad in this month’s CEPRO, you saw our own Technical Support and Product Specialist Brent McCall featured as the figurehead for the Smart Support we provide our customers.  In fact, he is one part of an extensive package of smart support we provide.  Our Smart Support includes a designated tech support professional for our Spyclops product, a highly trained sales staff on the latest technology as well as Brent McCall providing Custom Integrator support.

Notice that Brent is described as the “Custom Integrator” tech support, not the Metra Custom Integrator Product support.  This is an important distinction because Metra Home Theater believes in supporting the CI – not just selling our products to the CI.  In other words, he will try to help no matter what the issue.  Brent is available to take your call from 8am-10pm*.  The asterisk is there because Brent will not answer his phone if he is at dinner with his wife or in his convertible Miata for obvious reasons. You can leave him a message and he will return your call promptly. 

Deanna Miller is tech support primarily for our Spyclops product line but provides tech support on all Metra Home Theater products.  She is available to answer any and all of your questions related to either installing or operating a Spyclops system in addition to being another tech resource for all of our products.  Deanna also assists in product development of the Spyclops line with her input coming from feedback she gets from the customers like you who she speaks with every day.  She is available Tuesday thru Friday 9-6:30 pm and Saturday 10-4:00 pm.

Our dedicated sales staff works hard on staying on top of the latest in technology.  Monthly meetings as well as constant access to our product development team keep our sales staff well-informed on all of the technology we offer.   We are very proud of the fact that our staff here at Metra Home Theater Group actually understands how our technology works.  We are not interested in the canned sales pitch telling a customer why our products are better than the competition.  Our staff spend time in the field routinely to meet with customers to stay connected with your technology needs.

Metra Home Theater Group, Brent McCall, Deanna Miller, and many others are here to support you, whether it’s a question on the latest in HDMI to installing a television mount, we’re standing by to help! Metra Home Theater Group remains dedicated to meeting the needs of a wide array of customers -- from Custom Integrators, to the Spyclops customer as well as the many other home theater brands we offer (and then some) which is why our Smart Support stands out from the competition.

What is 4K?

4K ready cables.  4K televisions.  The term “4K” is being thrown around a lot lately and does anyone really know what it means?  I recently tried to explain the importance of 4K and how it will impact everyone’s life one day over dinner with a group of friends.  I was met with “I just don’t get it” comments.  Undeterred, I went to work and started a conversation on what is the best way to educate the consumer on the importance of 4K.  Other co-workers have had similar conversations with their friends and family members. 

“What is this 4K I keep hearing about? Should I care? Is this something that should be important to me?”

“I understand that it is something to do with TVs, but does that mean I have to replace all my other gear to go with it – a new Blu-ray player, a new AV receiver, new Blu-rays, new set top boxes or even new cables?”

“Will I have to upgrade my subscriptions to services like Netflix?”

These are some of the questions that came up in our office during our discussion of how to educate customers on the importance of 4K.  These questions led me to this blog post and what needs to be addressed first.  Metra Home Theater Group needs to define what 4K is for our customers before anyone will understand why it is important.

THE DEFINITION OF 4K – stands for four times the resolution of a high definition 1080p TV picture to newer TVs.  The picture looks stunning, especially with 4K content.  The terms 4K and/ or Ultra High Definition (UHD) can be used interchangeably.  So if you are in the market for a new TV, purchase a 4K TV because 4K is coming and according to statistics released by Strategy Analytics, half of U.S. homes will have Ultra HD/4K TVs by 2020.

Eventually, customers will have to purchase a new Blu-ray player and Blu-ray movies, but they are not available for purchase yet.  Most UHD TVs are Smart TVs which means you can watch UHD/4K content using Netflix or Amazon.  In addition, receivers older than six months may not support the UHD content.  Meaning, if you want to see UHD/4K content on your new TVs, you will need an updated receiver.  As the standard moves toward UHD, cables that support UHD content will have to be used in conjunction with your components.  Investing in UHD/4K ready cables will be necessary at this time.

The best advice that Metra Home Theater Group can give you at this moment is the following:  if purchasing a new TV and you plan on having it for 3 years, get 4K Smart TV and the UHD cables needed.  Start making the investment so you are prepared when 4K/UHD becomes the standard. 

WHAT IS THE INTERNET OF THINGS?

The term "Internet of Things" (or IOT for short) is everywhere.  Do you know what this means?  Do you know how this effects you?  I took some time to read up on the Internet of Things to educate myself because frankly, the phrase annoys me.  It sounds pompous.  This phrase reminds me of rich people saying “money does not solve everything.”  Really?  Money does not solve everything?  I am pretty sure money would have solved my problem of trying to figure out how to pay for books for college.  With that being said, the IOT sounds like it might solve everything.  The IOT is being thrown around in articles about everything from kitchen appliances to smartwatches. Yet no one has explained exactly what the Internet of Things means.  There is a hashtag to following and everything – yet no explanation.

Until last Friday.

I found Dan Sung’s article at Wearable.com and he explained what the internet of things means:

“It's an all-compassing term that refers to the internet changing from a giant network of connected PCs to a mega-network including everything around you. From your kitchen to your car and everything in between, the Internet of Things (IoT) is changing the world”

Read the fully article here. 

It is a wonderful explanation of how this Internet of Things revolution is important, how it could change our lives as we know it and the downside.

Read the article and see if it reassures you on the Internet of Things and how it is set to change everyday life. 

Personally, I have gone from annoyed to a little scared.