Markets /markets Customer Profiles /markets/customerProfiles/default.asp Highland Park Home /markets/customerProfiles/HighlandParkHome/default.asp Highland Park Home Highland Park, Texas WholeHome /markets/customerProfiles/HighlandParkHome/imgs/image_HighlandParkHome.jpg /markets/customerProfiles/HighlandParkHome/imgs/image_HighlandParkHomeBedroomModero.jpg /markets/customerProfiles/HighlandParkHome/imgs/image_HighlandParkHomeDMSKeypad.jpg /markets/customerProfiles/HighlandParkHome/imgs/image_HighlandParkHomeEnlargedImage.jpg /markets/customerProfiles/HighlandParkHome/imgs/image_HighlandParkHomeModeroAtBedsideNL.jpg /markets/customerProfiles/HighlandParkHome/imgs/image_HighlandParkHomeModeroPanel3.jpg /markets/customerProfiles/HighlandParkHome/imgs/image_HighlandParkHomeModeroPanel5.jpg /markets/customerProfiles/HighlandParkHome/imgs/image_HighlandParkHomeViewPointHomeTheater.jpg /markets/customerProfiles/HighlandParkHome/imgs/image_HighlandParkHomeWithBobCarroll2.jpg /markets/customerProfiles/HighlandParkHome/imgs/image_HighlandParkHomeWithBobCarroll3.jpg /markets/customerProfiles/HighlandParkHome/imgs/image_HighlandParkModeroInMasterBathNL.jpg Before the first piece of automation equipment was carried past the front door, the homeowner did his research. After becoming familiar with the idea of whole home integration, this mechanical engineer had his mind set on one-touch control and that it had to be with the latest AMX technology. To handle the task of connecting all the electronics throughout his 7,000 square-foot residence located in the affluent area of Highland Park, TX, he turned to Paul Labute Inc. (Dallas, TX), a local high-end home systems integrator and AMX Dealer. "(The homeowner) wanted everything that could be done for him to be accomplished with a single button press," said Stephen Steiner, a programmer at Paul Labute Inc. "He didn't want to have to go to multiple places to do one thing. So he took it upon himself to have everything done a certain way." Getting Everything Down On Paper The homeowner presented a PowerPoint spreadsheet identifying the location of each Keypad and panel in every room, plus the names of every on-screen icon, what menus they would jump to on command, and what devices they would operate. The final tally: 12 AMX Dynamic Menu Select (DMS) Keypads, three AMX Modero Touch Panels and one wireless AMX ViewPoint Touch Panel. "From a programming standpoint, he made things easy," Steiner said. "He knew exactly what he wanted." Using The "Controlling" Force The new award-winning Modero Touch Panel offered the perfect blend of simplicity and luxury. One positioned in the kitchen, a second situated in the master bedroom and a third in the master bathroom. All three deliver rich color, vivid graphics and crisp video, as well as a wide viewing angle and effortless SmoothTilt™ operation for maximum convenience. "The Modero panel was something (the homeowner) had always wanted," Steiner explained. "He loves them and they are great for what we are using them for in his home. The whole setup is really cool." Today the homeowner and his wife use the Modero — at bedside, while cooking, or even after a shower — to control security cameras located around the home's perimeter, DVD/CD/VCR players, high definition tuners, satellite receivers and in-wall speakers. To the end user, this is entertainment and convenience rolled into one. "We started out with lighting and audio distribution," Steiner said. "We've branched out, adding more stuff. It's never really quite finished. Once we get one thing going, we'll think of something else and take it a step further." Consider the homeowner's peace of mind. To increase the safety of his wife, pre-school age daughter and their valuables, a special "Panic Button" was programmed on the Modero's user interface. A single touch of this icon sends an immediate signal to the local police department for assistance in the case of a break-in or other emergency. For added security, the homeowner also has complete control of the automated front gate, garage door and pool equipment. "These were big add-ons," Steiner said. Perhaps the grandest was the home's future-proof design, courtesy of the visionaries at Paul Labute. Anticipating the homeowner's passion for integrating the latest and greatest electronic devices, Paul Labute's designers made sure to employ the robust AMX NetLinx Control System, the ideal control solution with plenty of power and flexibility. The NetLinx system sits on the third floor of the home, out of sight and constantly communicating with all networked equipment at a rapid rate. The touch of a button on a Touch Panel or Keypad yields instant results. "We went with NetLinx because we didn't want to limit ourselves," Steiner said. "The homeowner will always be adding equipment, so we needed that expandability." In the major living areas of the home, a NetLinx NXI Controller was installed to accommodate an ever-growing number of devices, from televisions and video game stations to ceiling fans and motorized window treatments. "Depending on what you set up, the NXI can handle quite a bit of equipment," Steiner explained. "Usually for small house audio and video, one NXI will do fine. In this case, we went ahead and put in four." Going From Functional To Fantastic Next project: Upgrading the Modero's user interface. Initially, Steiner created the panel's pages so that they presented the layout of the home with big buttons and large text for easy navigation. Go to a room. Find the right equipment. Take control. Since the homeowner's wife wasn't as tech-savvy, this was an intelligent, user-friendly way to introduce one-touch automation. "(The homeowner's wife) responded very well," Steiner said. "She liked the thermostats and lights the most." However, this was only the tip of the iceberg. The Modero panel employs G4 graphics — the richest colors, animation, transparencies, video and all sorts of button shapes that can morph, spin and fade. After a recent visit to AMX Headquarters, the homeowner wants to enhance the user interface design of all three Moderos in his home. "He's looking to do jazzier things," Steiner added. Indeed, the sky is the limit ... especially when you pay close attention to detail.