Outdoors

1.       Watering systems: Use smart watering so you don’t have to deal with finding someone to water your plants when you’re away and don’t have to sacrifice not having a garden if you don’t have time to care for it.


2.       Robotic lawn mowers: How amazing would it be to wake up on your day off and not have to mow the lawn? You can! Like most smart home appliances, robotic mowers can be controlled by a mobile app that monitors all actions straight from your phone.


3.       Sprinkler Controller: Yeah, a controller for your sprinklers. Also used from the comfort of your palm on a smart phone but can connect to other smart devices like Amazon’s Alexa to be controlled by voice commands.


4.       Robotic Pool Cleaners: This was already a thing, but we’re closer to the days of pool boys coming to an end with this one. Why pay someone to clean your pool every week when you could make a one-time purchase for a lifetime pool cleaner?


Indoors


5.       Smart Mattress: Smart beds have sensors to help you fall asleep faster and more comfortably. Learn about your sleep schedule alongside your bed, now able to adjust and follow sleep patterns so you get the absolute best out of your nights rest.


6.       Smart Robots for Cleaning the floors: The nifty vacuuming robot has been around for a while, which we all know as “Roomba” but what about a mopping robot? They’re a thing these days. Never have to worry about cleaning the floors again.


7.       Smart Kitchen Appliances:
a.       Perfect Bake Pro: if you’re a baker, this would be your best friend for all measuring. Even non-bakers would want to have a smart baking scale.
b.       Smart Coffee Makers: Have coffee made and waiting for you in the morning. Skip the hassle of not having time to make your coffee and stopping at a drive through all together.
c.       Wifi Crockpots: Control the temperature and time of your slow cooker from your smart phone.
d.       Smart Microwave: Did you ever put something in the microwave for too long or not long enough? Start it up again. Talk to your microwave via voice command after connecting it to Amazon’s Alexa.
e.       Precision Cooker: an appliance such as this actually allows you to monitor and cook food without you having to be there. Connected to WiFi, an app lets you monitor the process.
f.        Smart Conventional Oven: Conventional ovens have been replacing microwaves everywhere as a healthier alternative. One smart conventional oven called “The June Oven” also has an air fryer, dehydrator, slow cooker, broiler, toaster, and warming drawer and on top of all that you can control it from your phone! I predict these will be the next big thing in kitchen appliances.
g.       Smart Refrigerator: Along with touchscreen memo boards, recipes, access to grocery lists, built in coffee makers, nutritional facts, and more, they also have built in cameras that allow you to look inside your fridge from the grocery store.

8.       Thermostats: A smart thermostat can be easily controlled from outside of your home as well as indoors. It’s a hot day, want to keep the house cool for when you return? Adjust your temperature before you get home to ensure you walk into a comfortable space.

9.       Smart Lighting: connect all your lights to smart devices like your phone or an Amazon Alexa speaker so they can be accessed via voice command or text. Opting for LED lights are the best option for your wallet and the environment.

10.   Smart Switches: If you’re someone whose not crazy about having an Amazon Alexa speaker out on the counter at all times, or don’t want your toddlers grabbing at it, maybe you’d be better off with a smart switch. Ecobee is a company that integrated Amazon Alexa into a light switch and does everything Alexa does and more.

11.   Control Panels: Much like a control switch, control panels are touchscreen tablets mounted on walls (or wherever you want) and used to control all smart devices in the home, any lighting, heat/cooling, and even checking your security cameras all from a single panel.

12.   Smart Remotes: If you’re not into voice commands or don’t want to fiddle with a smart phone, and don’t want to get up to check a mounted tablet on a wall-- what about a universal remote? It’s not just for your television, but also for your speakers, your lights, or any other Bluetooth appliance you own.

Indoors and Outdoors

13.   Security Systems: Having smart security appliances are the best way to keep you and your family safe. Intruders are a rising issue in our world but so are natural impositions like flooding, leaks, and fires. Stack your options with smart locks, a home security system, surveillance cameras, sensors, and more.

When it comes to smart home devices, there are plenty of options to go around. Whether you choose to use any one of these appliances in the near future or all, you’ll have a great experience. Majority of the things listed don’t require installations but be sure to call We Are More for any system installments or products. We’d love to help!
​

There are three main types of lighting;
​
1.      Ambient lighting creates lighting that’s as natural as can be. It isn’t overpowering or straining to the eyes and covers the whole space with natural lighting.

2.      Accent lighting puts attention on it’s subject. Lighting like this is usually for displaying items such as sculptures, showcased collections, or bookstands.

3.      Task lighting is for none other than doing tasks. When you cook, read, or knit, task lighting shines light on what you’re doing with concentration lighting to help you do your tasks.

Then there’s different forms of lighting within each type category. Whether it’s lighting for weddings, parties, concerts, bedrooms, churches, dining rooms, offices, kitchen, or theater lighting, the following are some types that you can use to your personal preference.

4.      Pin spot lighting is a form of Accent lighting, highlights certain features such as a center piece, or certain plants outdoors.

5.      String lights, to hang around the venue either vertically or horizontally would be ambient lighting. Weddings typically display this type of lighting but in homes, this decoration is often found in bedrooms as a recreation of stars indoors.

6.      Color wash lighting changes the tone of any landscape or room with colors. Lighting with different colors is a fun way to express different moods and play around with different hues and vibes.

7.      Another fun way to do lighting is by putting stencils over the lights to create designs on backdrops, this is called gobos lighting. Fun for children’s rooms or having pretty patterns on stages or at weddings.

For any of these options it’s best to use LED lights. LED means “light-emitting diode.” They don’t heat up as much as regular lightbulbs and they don’t take up as much energy making them cost effective. They’re used as smart bulbs because they can be linked to WIFI and synced with smart home devices to turn off and on with voice commands or through certain apps.

No matter what type of lighting you use or need, there’s a form for you and all your lighting needs. Call We Are More for any lighting installations or set ups at events, theaters, weddings etc. We can make your dreams come true!

“Influential” is a title given to something or someone who has an impact on the actions of another person or thing. We all know, whether it’s good or bad, celebrities are influential people. How about their homes? These are a few of the most influential smart homes owned by celebrities. Houses like the one pictured will make people re-think using a control system in their own home or business. These mansions are tailored to wealthy homeowners, but any building can be turned into a smart home, even for those with a budget.

The beautiful home above is in Colorado and owned by none other than Oprah Winfrey. It features an in-home theater, a jacuzzi room, a guest house and more. The billionaire also has smart home automation set up with remote-controlled systems throughout her household, such as being able to water her plants while she’s away. Not to mention her “smart” driveway, with a heated ground during the colder months to keep it clear of ice and snow buildup, as well as notification sensors that tell her when people arrive at her home even when she’s on vacation.

Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, uses the luxury of having a smart home to a different extent. He has an electronic butler installation within his house. The voice automation is named “Jarvis,” after Iron Man’s own AI butler. He’s run through an app wired to listen and respond to typescript or speech. Unlike Siri and Alexa, “Jarvis” is used to control everything in the home from locks, lighting, entries, sound systems, temperature, and he’s even able to perform meal preparation.

A mansion like Bill Gates’ can’t go unnoticed in this category. Even his pool is equipped with an underwater sound system. There’s nothing like being able to listen to music under water, right? Touch screen tablets in every room allow his guests to control music, lights, and temperature in their own space. However, his home automation goes even farther, guests are given devices that connect them to all smart home controls throughout the entire mansion.

Actress Sofia Vergara knew exactly what she wanted out of her Smart Home and got it. She’s able to relax and enjoy as her automation systems manage all security, appliances, and any entertainment within her home. She’s also planning on moving up the scale by adding an in-home robot much like Zuckerberg’s J.A.R.V.I.S. to do things around the house. By the looks of it, she’ll have that installation done as well.
​
Feeling influenced? Everyone deserves to stay connected, safe, and valued. Whether it’s a sound system, security, lighting, temperature control, all the above or more, look into smart home installation and see what you would want out of it. How could it help you? If money is an issue, remember that depending on what or how much you want done, you don't have to be a billionaire to put some smarts into a structure. We Are More specializes in automation installments and would be happy to assist any home or business with an interest in this leading technology.

In the average home theater, there are usually no more than seven speakers and no less than four. Along with those speakers, every booming sound system has a subwoofer. Each speaker has a separate task, which I’ll explain below. aside from the subwoofer, there is a center channel speaker, a speaker to the left and one to the right, these would be your front speakers, then you have the surround speakers.

The subwoofer is a loudspeaker component designed to reproduce very low bass frequencies. It's what makes vibrations during the intense scenes in a movie. Whenever there is an explosion, an earthquake, or something of the sort in any film, a subwoofer is the reason you can feel the room shaking.  The low rumbling you hear and feel is a result of the sub. It’s not only the bass in the room but also the base for the rest of the sound system.

Front left and right speakers are used to get a sound that travels the width of an amount of space. If you were sitting in a home theater, these are the speakers that would normally be facing the audience on opposite sides of the room (hence one on the left and one on the right). These speakers move sounds from one side of the room to the other by accommodating the center channel speaker to put you in the action on your screen.

No one likes watching a movie where the sound is lagging behind the lips moving on a movie. Yet, you know exactly what I’m talking about. A center channel speaker is important-- aren’t they all? -- because they’re the reason that what you see on screen matches the sound you hear. It’s the speaker that spills all dialogue and gives out majority of special effect sounds throughout films.

Surround sound speakers do exactly what their name says. They give you surround sound. These speakers have different placement based off personal desires but typically they are behind the audience; either placed on the ground, up on a table/desk of some kind, or up on a wall. Surround sound speakers are like the toppings on your favorite ice cream sundae. They complete the set up. These speakers give off the sound that submerges the audience in whatever is on their screen. They lock everything in place.
​
You don’t need to have an actual theater in your home to have a home theater system set up. These speakers come in many sizes and can be adjusted to make any sized room feel and sound like an actual theater room. systems like this are great to set up just for listening to music as well. Just as an extra tip, if you’re one of the few who don’t know, you will also need a surround sound Receiver aka an AV Receiver. A receiver is the heart of a home theater system. The way a human heart pumps blood in and out of itself and then throughout the human body, a receiver pumps input and output frequencies of sound throughout the speakers. So go try it out!

​Call We Are More if you need help with installations or if you need to purchase any of the speakers; fair warning though-- we will only offer you the best of the best. (;​

Shockingly, there are a lot of people who don’t know how detrimental power plant emissions are. Smart Homes and Smart Businesses play a big part in helping to reduce that waste. According to encyclopedia.com, power plant emissions are from the “combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, gas, and oil. These emissions include sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter, and hazardous air pollutants,” which are all harmful to the environment.

What happens when the release of burned coal, damaging oils, and fossil fuels enter the atmosphere? Simply put, air pollution. Since air pollution is made up of chemicals, it damages the earth. National Geographic lets us know that these chemicals are deteriorative to the human body, harmful to animals as well as plants and can even damage buildings. Reducing these chemicals protects the air and decreases unnatural heat in the atmosphere.

How do we reduce these chemicals? Reduce energy use. When people think of smart buildings, they may also think that those buildings are using more energy than a regular building, but that’s not true. On top of smart buildings having the capability of controlling exactly how much energy they use, they can also use eco friendly building materials, LED lighting, solar panels, household water conversion, wind turbines, harness geothermal energy, sustainable insulation, energy efficient appliances, water re-use, rainwater harvesting to enhance the savings. In result, these buildings are recognized for reducing the use of power plants.

The bigger the building the more energy being used, and the more critical it is for building to switch over to smart technology. As an example, when hotels become “smart-hotels” they help save the earth in a bigger way because they usually take up more energy than a single bedroom home. In hotels, guests can partake in environmental resolutions too. There is always a “one touch green button” that guests can press to engage with the hotel’s ecological goals.

We Are More uses a control system called Control4 Automation to regulate energy use for their installation of smart buildings. Just being able to “set thermostats accordingly” reduces energy waste. Business buildings with automated lights, TVs, sound systems, etc. can also make “closing time” quick and easy by shutting down everything at once. Improved energy management should be a “must” for everyone.
​
Efficient energy use not only benefits your wallet but also the Earth. The less energy being used by utilizing better energy control through smart buildings, the less chemicals being released into the air, the healthier our planet will be. Thank you, to anyone who owns, manages, or works in a smart building. You are helping to save the environment with technology whether you know it or not.

According to We Are More's lead electrical contractor, Ola Shaw, there are only three. Triad, Sonos, and Bose-- "those are really the only ones I recommend." Why? They all have the same things in common which are contrary to other speakers; quality, longevity, they're all easy to install, they don't mess up the visual of your theater (hidden easily) and easy to use. When paired with Control4, a home automation system, any of these speakers take home theater to another level. 

Triad speakers have a rich sound and come in a wide range of sizes. They're recognized for giving out the "most beautiful sound you will ever see." Trippy right? Besides their great sound, they also are subject to customization. A quote I took away from the Triad speakers website states, "Beauty is in the eye. The ear. And even the soul. It is sound you don't just hear, but feel. Sound that inspires and moves you. Sound you love." A good motto for all three of these speaker brands.

Along with bold sound, Sonos speakers also have a wide range of sizes. Not to mention the number of wireless options. Specifically for home theater, they cater to users with their different varieties of surround sound sets. If you aren't looking for a set, they sell all pieces separately as well. 

The basis of Bose speakers have always been their values, innovations, and achievements. The three things they continue to hold on to and produce! Bose is continually raising the bar for all their speakers, pushing forward in every way to always make sure their costumes have the best of the best.

When walking around an art museum, people pay attention to detail; colors, materials, and even types of brush strokes. Artists focus on each detail, they need them all to work together for the piece as a whole. The same goes for a home theater. 

Quality speakers are what make home theaters come to life. It's not enough to just have a huge tv in a dim room. What about those crazy action scenes in movies, or that intense music, or angelic walks by the lake, being able to hear every bird chirp, every whisper, crashing wave, and last breath. Hearing those sounds can put viewers in real time with the movie. Top notch surround sound is a must for the full impact of any film. 

Honestly, how many people do you know that are living in a house without smarts and are still enjoying life? I can name a few too many friends of my own. However, when you investigate something as intercut as Home Automation, the question isn’t whether you can do without it or not but how it can benefit you past the mindset of not needing it.
There are a million and one things we don’t need and yet we still have them because they benefit us. Cellphones are a great example. People did just fine writing letters back in the day, but mobile devices have changed an entire aspect of living. With smartphones we have multiple advantages at our fingertips. The same goes for Home Automation.

Here’s some advertisement; what do you have at your fingertips with a smart home? Everything. Lights, security (all locks, surveillance cameras, doors, windows, and alarm systems), temperature (including any other sensors), watering systems, appliances, smoke detectors, garages, and any other type of networking. With a smart home you can be in control of any and everything that makes up your house.

The same goes for business and office buildings. Literally any building can be transformed into a “smart” structure. Able to give control over everything stated above and more. To make things simple, the whole purpose of a smart structure is to give the owner better management. Every and anything is made attainable. You are made into the specialist, so you don’t have to call one.

Safety is a growing concern in today’s world. With a smart home the simplest actions become a game changer. If you’re away from home, you can access your lights from any mobile device and turn them on when you’re out late or even on vacation. This can create the illusion that someone is home and scare off onlookers. Maybe you left the house and forgot to lock your doors? Not a problem, lock them using a smart device. You forgot to lock your doors with the smart device too? That’s okay, if you’re away from home, sensors will alert you of anyone entering your home.

If time is your money a smart home will be your favorite asset. You not only save time without having to go back home to check on things or do actions manually, but you also save money. Imagine being halfway to a destination and realizing you left the heater or air conditioning on. We’ve all done it. The convenience of being able to turn off or turn on anything using your phone is unmatched. Plus, you’re saving gas money, electric bills and reducing stress.
​
Focus on what Home Automation would do for you. How will it support you; how will it make life easier? Everybody needs a little help sometimes, so help yourself and consider the benefits of a smart home installation. If you have any questions or concerns, We Are More is a phone call away. Thanks to telephones!
 

​Something that always has me in disbelief is how far technology has come since the beginning of time. We've been to the moon, discovered planets, we've cloned dogs, we've made 3D metal printers, and created artificial embryos, just to name a few technical advancements. Yet there is still no discovery, invention, or formula to cure cancer. One of the worlds nastiest diseases. 

Our friend Wikipedia says that Digital Health Technology "is the convergence of digital technologies with health, healthcare, living, and society to enhance the efficiency of healthcare delivery and make medicines more personalized and precise." In non-Wikipedia terms, its an effective advancement in healthcare. But what does it do in terms of cancer? Well, it doesn't cure it, and it doesn't help find a cure for it. I know right, what a bummer. However, it is a step in the direction of prolonging life by management of the sickness.

With Digital Health Tech., identifying adequate treatment could become much easier. Precise treatment is the source of longevity for any cancer patient. There are multiple treatments for every type of cancer, and multiple treatments for every stage of cancer. Without Digital Health Tech. options are usually laid out for patients. They're given all the details of physical effects, and later options for when present treatment stops working. Knowing the correct route to take in terms of medicine, would combat anxiety as well as enhance health care.

Most people, given the options, aren't always sure on what to do with all their choices. Digital Health Tech. can relieve overwhelming stress from not knowing what to choose by giving patients less options. Exact treatments would be presented instead of multiple, and those treatments would be more beneficial than others that are usually on the plate. Minister for Business Innovation and Energy, Paul Wheelhous says that funding towards Digital Health Tech. will help with "the next step towards developing new approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of blood, kidney and tissue cancers, using advances in machine learning and automation to deliver better outcomes for patients.”

I'm not a doctor, a nurse, or anyone affiliated with the medical field. That being said, I know how much more important it would be for someone un-educated in oncology to be presented with the absolute best choices instead of a "I highly recommend this but you could do this, or you could do that or that." I would rather hear a doctor say,  "this is exactly what you need for your prognosis, this is the best option for your specific needs, according to your condition and type of cancer."

If you like being tracked and having your personal information spied on by bots and ill-intentioned people, you can stop reading now. Otherwise, keep reading to learn how to spot hackers before they spot you. Based on facts from the McAfee security site, there are a few ways to tell if you’re looking at a fake email, a fake website, or having an encounter with a hacker!

Hackers can use a fake URL that’s slightly different from the actual site to trick you into thinking your information is being put into the correct platform. McAfee recommends some easy ways to double check this. When using a laptop or PC, you can “hover your mouse over the link” to see if the link is identical to the site its supposed to be on. Through a phone, tablet, or other smart device you can preview the link in order to see the URL before going to the targeted site.

On a duplicate website, McAfee says that upon entering a wrong password the fake website will accept it. If you’re ever suspicious that the site might not be real go ahead and test out this method! However, if you’re opposed to checking the links and entering fake passwords every time you want to enter a new site, it’s beneficial to use an imbedded security system (Like McAfee) that checks cites for you.

Have you ever gotten emails or pop ups asking for your private information? NEWS FLASH real inquiries will never ask for social security, PIN, or card numbers through your email or through a website pop up. For emails specifically, always be sure to check the senders address. In their security blog, McAfee uses a Bank as an example. If your bank sends you an email from a public account such as “Hotmail, Gmail, Yahoo!, etc.” Hint, hint-- it isn’t your bank.

A fake Apple email was sent to me by a scammer claiming that my Apple ID had been disabled and that I had to fill out information to fix the problem. The email looked authentic except that the Apple logo was in a box, which I didn't pick up on till later. The website I was directed to also looked exactly like the mobile Apple website. It wasn't until the following page, which asked for my credit card information, that I realized it was a scam. Unfortunately, I had already given them my name, birthday, number, Po Box, and SSN number. Huge bummer.

I called Apple right away, and they had already been getting numerous calls about these scammers and were on the prowl to shut them down. I gave them all the information I could, but that's really all I could do on my end besides hope that the hackers were found and put in jail. The first mistake I made was not checking the senders address which was hidden within the email "Sent From" section under the "Apple ID" name and was a crazy long compilation of letters and numbers. An obvious scammer.

Another mistake I made was not noticing that they didn't address me by my name. Any bank or other legitimate, personable, non-bot company such as Apple will always address you by your name. If the sender doesn’t have your name on an email, they’re either horrible at sending emails or they’re fake! Do not give them your information! If you’re still suspicious and don’t trust me, give them a call and find out if it’s them or not for yourself. Call the actual company, not the number given on the email. Also try logging into your account before clicking on any links to ensure your account is actually fine.

Now that odd email addresses are covered, have you ever had a friend email you with their actual email address asking you specifically for quick cash? The Gaurdian talks about an instance where they had a man email them in dire need of money because of a horrible circumstance he found himself in. Needless to say, someone hacked into his email account and sent multiple almost believable emails asking for money to an employee at this company and all of his Gmail contacts.

One indicator of a hacker who got into a real account is when they reach out to multiple people for speedy help, instead of just their immediate family or personal friends. It’s important to be skeptical towards persistent asks for personal information or cash favors on any platform. Also keep a look out for other mistakes found in spam/hacked emails like misspelled words, odd or out of country phone numbers, and bad quality photos.

By now you must be thinking, “okay but what do I do if I do get these emails? Or enter these websites? How do I stop it?” First of all, if you suspect that you’ve already been hacked, I recommend calling your bank to process any fishy activity on your account. If you feel like your accounts are fine, simply get off the webpage, clear it from your history so it doesn’t pop up if you ever search for the real site again, delete the emails and don’t worry. Viola. ​