So it is a dark, rainy evening sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas in Central PA. I have just settled in for the night, when I realize that the Christmas lights are still on, so I trudge across my slippery yard, inching my way down the long orange extension cord and pray for good grounding as I unplug the lights. This is me 2016. In 2017, I automated our lighting, so no more cold ventures into the yard … they go off and on automatically.
As an automation enthusiast, I am of course, in awe of what technology can do in commercial spaces, but with the accessibility of smart devices for the home and the ease of use for the everyman, this is never more evident than during the Holidays. You can now create magnificent light shows – complete with coordinated music and animated, inflatable characters – with the touch of a button or a swipe on your phone. Don’t believe me? Just check out an episode of The Great Christmas Light Fight on ABC-TV.
When Leigh and I visit family in Austin TX, we always check out Mozart’s Coffee Roasters lighting display. Touted as “immersive, interactive, incredible … their gift to Austin,” they do not disappoint! You can find out more or see a sample of the show here.
A little closer to home, in Manheim, PA, you can experience a hand-crafted drive-thru light spectacular featuring hundreds of thousands of LEDs. The creators utilize the latest in intelligent lighting solutions including smart pixel technology and intelligent ethernet-based control systems to fully integrate the lighting elements with music for a completely immersive experience. Additionally, a portion of their proceeds benefit Rescue the One, a charitable nonprofit organization that rescues children who are at risk throughout the world. Visit the Christmas Spirit Light Show website for hours and details.
For those of us who just want our houses to shine a little brighter this season, Smart plugs like the TP-Link Smart allow me to control lighting and timing from anywhere and easily integrate with Alexa or Google Assistant. In this season of hope it is encouraging to see how technology is chasing down solutions to both the large and small technology problems that we all face. At Conexus we are honored to be a part of the solution; and we hope that your season is transformed by the low-tech beauty of family, friends and joy!