Tag Archives: technology

The capabilities of the World Wide Web could create a seemingly endless list that is constantly being added to with new possibilities for all areas of technology.
Now internet is accessible using, not only a desktop PC or laptop, but many more devices; from plug-in and handheld game consoles, to other portable devices including mobile phones, PDAs and tablets. This makes connectivity all the more convenient since it is available at any time, from almost anywhere you would happen to be.

This means that, wherever you are, it is possible to read or send emails; media, clothes, or a set of luxurious Controliss electric window blinds are but a few examples of items that you can get delivered to your doorstep, purely through an online customer interface; or you may wish to search for information, or other people's views, regarding a particular subject.

For those with very little spare time to sit down in front their computer, mobile internet access can be greatly beneficial in helping to get things done. Another great feature of the World Wide Web for people who struggle to get any spare hours out of the the day, is the online training course.

Online training courses allow people to learn about a chosen subject whenever they find time for it, and even gain certifications for that subject, using applications and resources created by or in collaboration with professionals and teachers.

One such website that offers the opportunity to develop technical skills through virtual education, whether the intention is to improve commercial productivity or for the simple reason of satisfying personal interest, is Bedrock Learning.

If you have a great interest in digitalising your home to enable you to gain greater control over electronics such as your lighting, entertainment systems, window blinds, etc., Bedrock Learning's online courses can provide you with the fundamentals. From their course packages, you can learn a lot more about the capabilities of digital home control and how to get interaction between your devices.

The courses vary in price, but all have an optional detailed course guide, they are accessible at any time of the day and if the training is being given to numerous staff members, a Web-based Learning Management System can be used by company administrators to control and track each user's progress on the course.

With the ever-reducing number of limitations of the World Wide Web, companies - including Controliss Blinds - can endeavour to improve the range and quality of the services that they are able to deliver, and maximise convenience for their customers.

As resident Interior Designer here at Controliss Blinds, I dutifully volunteered to attend the UK's premier Interior design Show a couple of weeks ago!  Obviously I would rather have stayed in the office, but somebody needed to go to Decorex 2011, held at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea from 25-28th September, to take in all of the exciting new trends for the coming season!

Decorex  is an exclusive interior design show for professionals and hails the annual pilgrimage for Retail Buyers, Interior Designers and Contractors alike.

The Shows foyer was designed by renowned Interior designer Nicky Haslam; the theme was based around a mythological theatre set, and what a spectacular it was!  It was like a fantastical dreamland that merely alluded to the delights within!!

There was such a broad spectrum of both inspirational and aspirational products being exhibited, but I was particularly taken with the lighting displays. One Company that particularly stood out for me was Serip, a Portugese company.  Their display of contemporary chandeliers was so dramatic, visitors were stopping to take photographs.

Another stand that was particularly eye-catching was the Peneplope Batly Jewellery collection of lighting; giant, oversized illuminated pieces of jewellery, I felt like Alice in Wonderland, or was that just the champagne!!

When I finally dragged myself out of Martin Hulberts Champagne Bar, (I was only there for research purposes!) I found my way in to the realms of Home Automation.  Now there is a topic at the forefront of design and technology.  I won't pretend to know all about it, but I do know that it is the way forward for all of us!  I think it will become as accessible and natural to us as the iPod is!

Currently, many high-end projects incorporate Smart Home Technology; where a single 'operating system' such as Control 4, Lutron, Crestron, Rako and KNX controls multi media systems, lighting schemes, security and of course motorised blinds and curtain track operation.  It is an ongoing race to keep up to speed with this kind of technology, I am fortunate in that the Technical Support Team at Controliss can decipher all the jargon for me.

At Controliss we have had remote control blinds for some time, both battery operated and 240V mains powered.  If you aren't aware already, we supply many different types of Remote Control options, from the simple Air 1 which is single channel remote control that can be programmed to control a number of roller blinds simultaneously as a group while for the ultimate in wireless control, with the benefit of advanced security features, we offer a programmable 7 day digital timer to operate individual, or groups of blinds at your chosen times of day, entirely automatically. The invaluable timer feature provides peace of mind, as it re-creates the illusion of occupancy in a vacant property.

Our Controliss Technicians are now able to offer tailor-made solutions to ensure total integration of our motorised blinds and curtain tracks into any of the major home automation companies, which as a Designer is brilliant for me.  The more streamlined and automated, the various systems within a property have the potential to be,  the more our clients strive to incorporate them within their property, the possibilities are endless!

Having extolled the virtues of technology, discretely integrating these wonderful systems and appliances can be trying to say the least!  My goodness, how much 'hardware' do we now have to accommodate, whilst still attempting to retain 'the look' within any given scheme! It is a constant challenge as an Interior Designer to conceal, sub-woofers, sky boxes, speakers and the like, but getting back to the Decorex Show, I came across an exhibitor presenting invisible speakers. Eureka!  I have seen them advertised, but have always doubted their sound quality and consequently dismissed them.  The Company exhibiting these revolutionary speakers was Kensington Home Technology, I have to say that I was impressed with their sound quality almost as much as their discretion, well worth considering!

In terms of concealing the mechanism of our Controliss motorised blinds, there are several options worth mentioning.  There is no need to worry about where to install the motor, as the whisper quiet motors are already integrated within the blinds core tube. If you have the facility to introduce remote control blinds, it is even more impressive if the source is hidden, and the blind simply appears from a decorative pelmet which co-ordinates with the room scheme.  Even more impressive is if the ceiling is lowered or a stud wall cavity is created, the blind cassette then becomes totally invisible!

Basically, we need not be intimidated by technology; as it is inherent in our lives today, whether we embrace it or not.  I suggest we trust in technology and enjoy the benefits and convenience of all that we can achieve with it. We should be mindful of the overall aesthetics of what we are creating, if it detracts from the 'wow' that is created by remote controlled devices, then it can't also be called beautiful!!

The evolution of the latest home automation 'mod-cons', that start out as a gimmicky gadget and then often become a common home appliance, is driven by our desire for added functionality and convenience. Many appliances can now fully automate - or lessen the effort required for - everyday tasks in all areas of the home. Our own remote control blinds can be fully automated to operate at certain times of the day, offering the highest in convenience for window blind operation.

The kitchen is a major area for ever-improving functionality in appliances. Predictions for the kitchen of the future involve devices that utilise modern technology and materials to reduce the amount of hard work necessary to get what you want from your kitchen.

Examples of the appliances that could be coming into the home kitchen include a remote controlled cooker that will switch itself on to be ready as soon as the user returns home, a smart fridge that incorporates a display to show information such as your nutritional needs, and the captivating idea of a 3D food fabricating printer.

The sales of 3D printers has been rising since 2003 and, consequently, the costs have decreased. The 3D food printer is currently only at the design and development stage, but has the potential to transform the way we obtain certain foods by offering a choice of foods that can be fabricated, in the home, from liquids, gels or pastes that are loaded into the 'printer' in the form of cartridges.

Another interesting development in kitchen technology, that is closer to becoming domestically available, is Philips Green Cuisine Concept. The Green Cuisine features a large centre island tabletop that will sense everything you set down on it and can cook or cool food and beverages wherever they are placed. In accordance with the increasing eco-friendly nature of home appliances, beneath the tabletop is a composter that could allow you to reuse much of your waste.

Smart appliances can even be obtained today that are unlikely to look out of place once the kitchen is filled with future hi-tech conveniences. In particular, the stylish, yet practical, design of the Samsung RFG299 French Door Refrigerator shows a lot of consideration with regards to maximising the product's storage space. It uses urethane insulation, that allows the wall thickness to be reduced while remaining just as efficient with regards to power demand. This refrigerator also features a 7-inch LCD touch screen that allows control of the temperature and the water filter and provides access to calendars, schedules, nutritional facts and unit conversions, as well as the ability to showcase photos.

Thanks to the continuing improvements in home appliance technology, the next time you are doing a tedious task at home and think: 'I wish there was an appliance that could help me with this', it is possible that someone somewhere could already be working on the appliance you need.

Whenever we receive a phone call or email, here at Controliss blinds, we are happy to provide answers to any questions you have about our our range of remote control electric window blinds. Many businesses receiving a large volume of calls now use interactive voice recognition (IVR) technology in order to help improve the service provided to their customers. However, the process of following instructions of pushing keypad buttons and speaking to the system, only to be directed to a meagre voice recording or to be put on hold until a real person is able to take the call, rarely feels effortless or satisfying on the customer's part.

Imagine talking to a machine that shows a human-like understanding of what you are saying and responds with an answer that suggests a level of knowledge and reasoning, as opposed to responding with the same answer for different questions. American technology and consulting giants, IBM, have developed an artificial intelligence computer system that is capable of responding to questions posed to it in more natural human terms, much more effectively than other IVR systems.

IBM's question answering computing system, named Watson, produces it's answers by running over one hundred simultaneous algorithms which filter through the two hundred million pages of structured and unstructured content it has access to, in just seconds.

In order to test the capabilities of Watson, it's developers arranged to have it compete on the quiz show, Jeopardy!, against the show's two greatest players. The main objective in Jeopardy!, is to respond to clues given in the form of answers, with the questions that will fit those answers. The test was a success as Watson defeated both contenders and won the first prize $1 million dollars, which IBM divided and donated to two charities.

Watson shows great potential in the future of areas that could really utilise it's abilities, such as the practise of medicine, where it may be used as a clinical decision support system to assist health professionals with the diagnosis and treatment of patients. Although, given the fact that Watson is made up of a cluster of ninety IBM Power 750 servers along with other hardware, it is unlikely that businesses will be appointing it to answer their customer phone calls any time soon.

When most people hear the phrase: 'Just another day at the office', the mind will generate images of a smartly dressed individual; sitting at a desk, typing away or filling in forms, rarely showing any signs of happiness, enjoyment or content. But with all the wondrous technology available today, surely the office need no longer be given such a humdrum stereotype. Well there are designers and engineers out there making it their goal to inspirit the area where so many, spend so much uneventful time.

The workplace is, more often than not, deprived of the latest technological developments. But such an update can not only improve the occupants' quality of life but can also increase energy efficiency. In an 'Intelligent Workplace', heating bills can be reduced using solar thermal energy and recaptured heat from generators. Steps may be taken reduce electricity use as well. Sensors can be installed that  will measure daylight levels and detect occupancy to avoid the use of lighting when it is not needed.

Office workers may prefer to be given the power to control the office themselves. This is easily obtainable, as their work station can be set up to provide a great amount of control over amenities such as air temperature and flow, and lighting levels and directions. For example, with Controliss electric blinds installed on the office windows, a Controliss blinds wireless remote control will give the user control over the natural lighting levels in the office and, as the remote controls operate on a radio frequency, direct line of sight is not required.

The inactive nature of working in an office often makes obesity an associated issue. However, solutions have been made available to confront this too. For instance, Utilia produce a piece of furniture, the ScooterDesk, that is designed to stimulated you to gently move and change position often, training your ligaments and muscles, and stimulating your circulation and metabolic processes. Experts have even developed and tested a treadmill desk, that will allow you to walk while you work, to burn more calories.

Increasing portability of office technology means workers are no longer confined to sit at their desks. In response to the growing popularity of this scenario, we are presented with the Globus workstation designed by Michiel van der Kley. This is a compact mobile workstation, with a rotating chair and pull out table top, that can be moved wherever it is needed, opened and then used as a normal desk.

So let's all look forward to the day when 'Just another day at the office'; fills our minds with excitement, surrounds us with delightful technology and helps us maintain a healthy waistline.

Smart phones can do some pretty amazing things these days, people queue up to buy the latest mobile device whether it's the latest iPhone or Android based phone. The increasing functionality of these smart phones allow us can conduct business, surf the net, see where the nearest cinema is, the list is endless. Now Android@Home team at Google are creating functionality that will allow you save energy and achieve a wireless mesh home automation network that can be controlled with your favorite Android phone.

Google's Android@Home is new technology that will allow you to remotely control appliances in your home from your phone. Their first project will be a remote controlled smart LED light bulb by Lighting Science and whilst some companies already do this kind of thing from phones and touch screens, sky-high pricing can make it extremely prohibitive.  Some might say it’s the lazy man’s dream but it has energy saving properties also. If you’ve left the house for work and forgotten to turn something off, you can just quickly do that from your phone.

This exciting new discovery will be named Project Tungsten and it seeks to make appliances communicate with each other (like they have a life of their own? Sometimes the washing machine does) and you will eventually be able to control the dishwasher, washing machine and a whole array of products.

This technology will be available on certain android phones and all you’ll have to do is download an app from the Android Market. Sounds pretty special doesn’t it.

So if you would rather sit on the couch and switch the light on without having to move, or stream your music collection throughout the house from your mobile phone, the new Android@Home technology could be the answer, but what happens when someone asks you to put the washing machine on and your mum has just called? You can’t really have the excuse of “Sorry I’m on the phone”.

So, you have your slinky contemporary bachelor pad decorated in light, modern tones accompanied with clean glass and stainless steel surfaces throughout.  This is all well and good; however, the central focal point of any dream abode for any gentleman is of course the latest technology.

Here at Controliss we believe that the king of all technology for any bachelors home is of course the television, followed naturally by remote control blinds. At the higher end of flat screen TV bliss are the famous and aspirational Danish company Bang & Olufsen. Their incredibly slim BeoVision 10 Television is simply stunning. Using the latest LED technology, advanced features, superior image and clear sound as well as being stunningly streamline and easy on the eye. The television comes in 3 sizes up to 46" (113.8cm x 103.4cm) and is available in 6 frame finishes including silver and black but don't forget to check out our favourite feature, the optional motorised floor stand.

So you have invested in a large LCD or Plasma TV and your home is oozing with the latest appliances featuring state of the art technology and you're the ultimate bachelor of modern technology right?

Wrong, there appears to be something missing from your bachelor pad, something that really will define you as the ultimate bachelor of technology and help shield nasty sunlight glare from effecting your viewing experience. The item in question is the ultra modern, ultra cool and flat screen TV friendly remote control blind.

The Controliss collection of motorised blackout blinds with one touch remote operation are an absolute breeze to install and our contemporary collection of roller blinds in blackout fabrics really do add to the viewing experience of any TV. Our blackout roller blinds are controlled with a handset that will automatically raise and lower the blind at the touch off a button and wireless programmable timer is also available so the blinds will automatically operate at specific times of the day and week.

Being in the window blinds business, we here at Controliss have always been fascinated with the latest innovations in window technology. On the horizon are windows that can be incorporated into air conditioning, heating, and energy systems within the home. What's keeping us excited are the smart window technology that we’re seeing more and more of, such as that of electrochromic glass technology.

Although they're not yet commercialised, electrochromic glass technology can pave the way to smart windows. The theory is that a pane of glass will be able to change its opacity from transparent to translucent through a remote control. The translucent window will completely block out the sunlight whenever you prefer it. Electrochromic glass will change how it transmits light as a response to the voltage and electricity that will be applied to it. In this way, light and heat that passes through the glass will be controlled.

This kind of technology will need all windows to be wired electrically so that windows can be opened and closed for security and ventilation purposes. When this kind of technology is mass-marketed, having windows control light and heat will be commonplace. Imagine the possibilities that this kind of technology can do to our society. At this very moment, solar powered windows are being developed to generate electricity although this electricity might only be used to power the windows itself.

Although these developments in window technology very exciting, we know that these kind of smart windows sold to the general public are extremely expensive and out of reach for most people. The closest things to smart windows are smart window blinds, such as electric window blinds. Controliss electric blinds do not need any professional installation in order to work and are powered by standard  AA and AAA batteries that you can commonly find anywhere. Choose from our extensive range of wooden blinds, venetian blinds, vertical blinds, and roller blinds. We’re sure that we’ll have the perfect window blind to fit your personal preferences.