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HOW many times have you rushed out of the house, only to remember five minutes later that you have forgotten to turn off a light or to open the curtains in a particular room? Or how many times have you tried to settle an argument, as each member of the family wants to listen to, or watch, something different at the same time?
While such scenarios will strike a chord with most busy households, such frustrations can become a thing of the past, says one engineer who has just launched a new business specialising in smart technology.
Having worked in telecoms and home automation for the past 16 years, Ian Lamont has now founded Halo.je, a business designed to support homeowners and developers to “transform their properties by installing seamless smart technology which blends into the background while elevating people’s everyday living”.
“Smart technology has been around for a long time but, until fairly recently, it was only really accessible to the upper end of the market,” said Ian. “Now, though, there are more providers, so these solutions are much more widely available, and are ideal for people juggling hectic lifestyles.”
Indeed, as Ian says, the three brands which he fits – Crestron, Savant and Lutron – enable homeowners to control everything from lighting to entertainment systems from their phone, remote control or touch panel.
“People expect more from their homes now, and are looking for convenience and efficiency,” said Ian. “Smart technology, when fitted and used correctly, makes life simpler and can also reduce your carbon footprint and enhance your home’s security.
“Imagine lighting that adjusts to your routine, Wi-Fi that just works everywhere, entertainment systems that are easy to control and the ability to switch devices on and off from wherever you are in the world. That is the future of living and that is what Halo.je delivers.”
Critically, says Ian, the technology can be controlled from anywhere.
“You can automate your lights to come on at certain times, programme your blinds and curtains to open and close at set times and control the heating, so if you are away, you can still create the illusion that someone is in the property,” he said. “The technology also extends to security cameras and gate entry systems, enabling you to view your property at any time.”
When relaxing at home, Ian says that video and audio can be distributed throughout the house from a central location.
“This means your children can be listening to one music stream in one room, another family member can be listening to something else in another room, and you can have different television channels playing wherever you want them,” he added.
As well as installing the technology, Ian offers training and support.
“I offer a personal approach and look after every project from beginning to end,” he said. “With that focus on customer service, no job is too big or too small, so I do everything from installing a simple Wi-Fi solution or fixing someone’s internet, to updating keypads or designing and implementing a full home-automation system. I will also provide training and walkthroughs to ensure that people are able to get the best out of their new technology once it has been fitted.”
