People often ask us "Can you hook up our home electronics so we can operate it from our iPad?"  The easy answer is "Absolutely!"  While you're at it, what you really need to do is envision how your 21st century dream home or corporate office would function and, as a custom A/V integrator, let us help you make that a reality.  With that in mind I thought I'd bring you an EXTREME example to demonstrate what custom integrators can do!

GE, a global leader in energy research and technology, opened its new $40 million, 200,000 square foot Markham, Ontario Grid IQ™ Global Innovation Center dedicated to promoting its next-generation energy management grid. To help bring the new center to life in the most engaging, customer-friendly way possible, GE partnered with Advanced, Canada’s leading A/V integrator, to envision, design and install an integrated audio-video and IT solution that encompasses 55 rooms including a Customer Experience Center that features a jaw-dropping 58-foot Prysm LPD video wall.

Advanced utilized Prysm's video wall technology along with several wall-mounted touchscreens to enable customers to explore GE’s energy technologies firsthand and provide them with ways to discover solutions to improve and enhance their energy grids.

In fact, it's the world’s largest curved Prysm video wall, measuring 58 feet wide by 7 feet tall using 175 individual tiles with the thinnest seams currently possible.  Video processing is provided by the latest Extron Quantum™ Elite processor and a professional grade multi-zone audio system was installed to complete the media experience. The entire Customer Experience Center features Crestron automation and can be controlled through an iPad.

Acadian Home Theater is a Crestron dealer and we have automated many area homes with Crestron products and innovation.  Crestron has long been a leader in the "touchscreen control" of complex systems.  So a home can be programmed to have the HVAC system begin warming the bathroom 15 minutes before you normally awake, have the lights slowly fade brighter so your eyes can adjust and the flatscreen in your exercise room turn on and tuned to your favorite morning news program.

And, yes, if you want to override your regular settings, you can always operate it with your iPad!

by Bryan Naquin.  Follow Bryan on Twitter @ACIexperts.  And you can always contact him at 225.906.2589 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Bryan Naquin is president of Acadian Home Theater and Automation based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  CEPro Magazine has ranked Acadian in the top 100 consumer electronic companies in the U.S. for the third year in a row.