November 2010
Review
AutomatedBuildings.com |
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Every month there is a blizzard of
information contained in the emails and newsletters that cross my desk on their
way to AutomatedBuildings.com. Some of this information is not in the form of
any type of content we can publish but I feel I should share with you these
snippets, blog bits, and url links that are about to fall off my
desktop.
I never particularly liked Pop-Tarts. But I think the brand’s
just-opened pop-up store in Manhattan’s Times Square is a hoot. It also
shows that, with a little creative thinking, how effectively a brand
can engage customers in a physical space.
Wrapped in Pop-Tarts branding and promoted with a six-story billboard, the 3,200-sq.-ft. Pop-Tart World is hard to miss.
Is the next wave of technology embedded in the walls around us?
The smart buildings movement — taking the same technology used to
connect our laptops and cell phones and installing it within the walls
of offices across the globe — is gaining steam.
And why wouldn’t it? With the ability to track and manage resource
usage across a company’s portfolio, it’s a facilities manager’s dream.
And companies famous for their work building the very Internet itself
are diving into the market headfirst.
Cisco is one of them. The company is leveraging its “connected”
heritage in the automated and green buildings space, with the hope to
make lights, air conditioning and electrical systems as easy as
routers, servers and voice over IP.
In July, I spoke with Edmund Richards, director of worldwide
development for Cisco Smart Connected Buildings. What Ed told me from
his Santa Barbara, Calif. office is that more intelligent buildings are
on the way — and the first place consumers may see them is at their
local bank or apparel store.
On
the 20th October 2010 and for the whole day, KNX Association will
provide to all our KNX Partners, KNX Members, KNX National Groups, KNX
Userclubs, KNX Training Centres, KNX Scientific and any other viewer
the opportunity to watch KNX online.
Together with your business partners and friends enjoy any of the
locations where KNX celebrates this event. Join us online for the the
official World Premiere of our ETS4 software, together with other
participants from different countries. Please choose your preferred
connection by just clicking on the link you wish.
INTRODUCTION
Today’s workforce is increasingly mobile. In some instances, mobility
may have simply resulted from evolving work styles and a corporate
culture to “do whatever it takes to serve the customer.” For many
organizations, workplace strategies and structured Web commuting plans
are being developed around mobilizing employees to accomplish two
important objectives: 1) reduce workplace costs and 2) increase
workforce performance.
[an error occurred while processing this directive] These strategies are not about making a
decision to “allow” staff members to work outside of their assigned
workspaces. Employees are already conducting their work in a variety of
places. In fact, Stegmeier Consulting Group’s workplace research has
revealed that the average employee spends 63 percent of his or her
business day working anywhere but their dedicated workspace. The
challenge for the business enterprise is in creating the appropriate
infrastructure—technology,
security, policies, behavioral protocols, performance management, etc.
— to best support the distributed workforce in how where and when they
perform their jobs. It may seem a daunting task, but it is well worth
the effort. With a strong business framework for Web commuting, the
company can benefit from both cost savings and the maximum level of
employee productivity.
For 14 years, Customer Engagement
Technology World (featuring KioskCom & The Digital Signage Show) has
delivered strategic, marketing and technical business solutions for
organizations focused on enhancing their customer engagement programs through
digital media such as kiosks, digital signage, self-service, digital
out-of-home/place based media, mobile and other customer-facing
technologies.
Convergence of access control and building automation systems (BAS) is key to future
Joseph Feuling Updated: 10-10-2010 10:41 am
Integrated access control or RFID systems with BAS create a platform to achieve optimal energy and operational efficiencies.
Article author Joe Feuling heads new business development for
Environmental Systems Inc., with offices in Milwaukee and Chicago.
Access control will remain the largest and fastest growing U.S.
electronic security segment through 2014, according to a recent study
by industry analysts at the Freedonia Group. Oddly enough, this spells
opportunity for some and a threat for others.
Corporate executives responsible for operational and financial
efficiency will expect more from the security industry. In other words,
more C-suite executives will demand access control systems integrate
operationally and systematically to maximize their investments.
More than video and access control
To capture some of the predicted billions of dollars in growth for the
electronic security market, security professionals must move beyond
viewing integration as the mere convergence of systems such as video
surveillance and access control. While the focus and purpose of this
type of integration improves situational awareness and management of a
facility’s security operations, executives now require more return on
investments (ROI). Security providers must help them do more with less
by maximizing building efficiency and reducing overhead.
Our research study “Bottom-Line Sustainability for Business: What’s
Possible–And Profitable–About Intelligent Building Systems,” includes
many industry leaders who agree. They say the greatest impact
associated with the ongoing convergence of information systems and
building automation systems (BAS) is an organization’s ability to
enhance safety and security by better controlling who has access to
critical data and facilities. As systems converge, building operators
can monitor their buildings 24 hours a day, seven days a week, control
access and recognize cost savings with the shutdown of non-necessary
systems.
Digi ConnectPort X3 from Digi International is a low-cost, programmable
cellular gateway for monitoring and tracking remote assets. Featuring flexible
device interfaces, including ZigBee, RS-232 serial, analog and digital
input/output (I/O), and Global Positioning System (GPS), the compact ConnectPort
X3 provides global connectivity to remote devices and device/sensor networks via
GSM GPRS cellular networks.
The new gateway is integrated with the iDigi Platform, a cloud-computing
service that makes it easy to remotely manage devices and integrate device
information into a company’s back-end systems and machine-to-machine (M2M)
applications.
The ConnectPort X3 features an optional embedded XBee ZigBee module that
allows the gateway to connect to a network of ZigBee-enabled wireless devices or
sensors for local data aggregation over a cellular network. The gateway also
features an optional analog I/O, digital I/O or RS-232 serial port for direct
wired connectivity. Optional internal GPS is also available for asset tracking.
Consumer attitudes about the benefits of smart grid technology are
still in a formative stage. Most consumers are not aware of the term,
much less the capabilities smart grid technologies will be bringing in
the next few years. Several conditions are clear: * Consumers are very
interested in learning how they can cut their electricity costs * Most
are willing to pay to save * Some consumers would allow utilities to
control systems in their home, but many are not willing to relinquish
control even if they can override utility commands.
When designing a life safety paging system, be sure the system you
select keeps everyone who visits or works in your facility safe and
informed. You want it to be reliable. You want it to be clear. And just
as importantly, you want it to meet your needs as they change and grow.
What you need is VociaŽ.
To help you learn more, we're offering an in-depth, informational whitepaper — Paging Systems: Solutions for Life Safety.
You'll discover:
The role of the network in advanced paging systems
The importance of no single-point of system failure
The features to consider to meet standards compliance
How to simplify system maintenance and management
The power and potential of new critical paging and mass evacuation
systems have evolved. Learn to build your efficient, reliable and
future-proof system with Vocia.
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