What Does We Are More Do?We Are More is a low voltage electrical contracting company located in Hawaii. They specialize in all types of home, business, and marine automation. Low voltage electricians are those who refurbish, update, and sustain electrical systems for commercial and residential structures. We Are More does jobs pertaining to the following and more, (if you ask nicely). Audio/VisualThey install and manage anything having to do with sound. Want speakers installed around your restaurant for background music? Need a surround sound system installed into a home? Do you want an outdoor sound system for those barbeque nights? We Are More installs it all! They also install screens small and wide! Whether it’s a television, or a projector, they’ve got what you need. They even go a step further with “smart entertainment.” Lights get dim as soon as a movie starts to play, your film can automatically pause when someone is at the door, and you have full control of the sound and television with a single remote. TelecommunicationsVoIP telephones are becoming more popular in the business world. It is audio communication that also includes graphics, and live sharing. This is especially helpful for traveling businesspersons; they won’t need to travel because their conference can be done from the comfort of their home. Virtual communication and audio all through an IP Network. If you want a phone system that does more than phone calls, consider VoIP! SecuritySmart locks support keyless entry, as well as alerts when people enter your home. You can lock and unlock your doors no matter where you are and be aware of intruders. No more turning around to go home because you forgot to lock up! We Are More would be happy to help install a quality smart locks for your home and/or office, the same goes for security cameras! Keep an eye on your home no matter where you are through sensors, alarm systems, and visuals. You can find more information on our security website here. LightingWireless lighting seems like magic, but it’s just automatic illumination. We Are More can install wireless lighting to any part of your home or business, or in EVERY part of it if you want; indoors and outdoors alike. You can control lights with your voice and/or a control pad. Motion sensors can also detect when someone enters or leaves an area so it can automatically turn off and on without you having to do a thing. Colored lights would be fun to put in a game room or a home theater, warmer tones go great in a bedroom setting or an outside pool area, or do the opposite, the choice is yours! ThermostatTemperature control is such a great convenience to have. We Are More can incorporate a smart system with your current “HVAC, radiant flooring, forced air, dual fuel and geothermal systems” so you don’t have to worry about the climate of your home or business. After installation you’ll have full control of the temperature through any smart phone or touchscreen. Temperature will also be allowed to change with the season, which is a plus for saving money, a balance of humidity, ventilation, cooling, and heat. Wi-Fi“Do people actually install Wi-Fi? I thought it was just a box I could hook up.” Well, yes—if you don’t like quality. It’s especially important for businesses to have Wi-Fi marketing as part of their establishment. Being able to let customers connect to your Wi-Fi without a hassle by logging in with a specific social network is the key. This allows you (the business owner) to get analytics on user profile data for marketing campaigns. You’ll be able to see the data of clients who access your Wi-Fi, increase sales, capture more customers, collects the emails of your guests to send them a message and survey about reviewing your business, how long people use your Wi-Fi (in other words; how long they spend at your business and what days are busiest), as well as being able to send automated promotions, free gifts, sales and more. It’s a lot to take in, I know, but it’s more than just giving your customers free Wi-Fi. Along with business connection, residential Wi-Fi is also important! In a smart home or not, it’s better to have a high-performing network than a slow one that’s unreliable. We Are More even offers a Free Speed Test that you can use to test the quality of your Wi-Fi network. Check it out! The best part about all We Are More does is that the technical stuff is up to them, but everything else is up to the customer. No more hassle with wiring, no more trying to figure out which button to press, no more technology complication. Installations that fit your style so you can be in control of your home and business. Call We Are More today for a free consultation! No copyright or infringement is intended.
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Emlployment VS TechnologyDo evolving smart businesses mean that there will be less employment opportunity? No. Not unless your company is completely robotic. Even then, businesses that decide they want to let everything be run by computers will be opening employment for IT departments. No computer can run properly without a tech guy, or tech persons. Actual robots being used in the workplace would most likely only be used to help employees do ”dangerous, heavy or repetitive tasks.” That, however, is only if your company is big enough to afford a robot. Industrial robots cost anywhere from $50,000 to $150,000—but I’m not here to talk about them. Let’s talk about facts. The top 50 smartest business, according to Technology Review, consist of names we all know. The third on the list being Amazon. It uses a computer powered online store that connects to all sorts of little gadgets, like Alexa. Shockingly, Amazon has over 600,000 employees. On top of that, they have 30,000 job openings as of September 2019. That’s a whole lot of people working for a store that’s powered by artificial intelligence! Amazon is a good example of how technology doesn’t replace human workers but rather benefits how humans do their work. Their online store and appliances have made them the fifth largest company in America! Amazon is a big example, but smaller companies benefit just as much. We Are More is an electrical contracting company; they specialize in smart technology. The cool thing is that they don’t just sell their products, they use them! Why? Being a smart business isn’t just cool, it helps employees get their jobs done quicker, and finish them more efficiently. Take clocking in to work for example. If you’re a business owner who still uses the old paper and pen spreadsheet to calculate hours—you’re in the stone age my friend. I highly suggest (and I’m sure your employees would too) that you switch to something a little more digital. Let computers do the work for you through online time tracking. We Are More uses the online time tracking method through an app installed on all the employee’s phones. It’s cost effective, time saving, and less of a headache. Whether its something as small as changing the way we clock in to work or buying a robot to do difficult tasks, technology is here to help! No copyright or infringement is intended. The amount of sleep people get rejuvenate them for the day, and getting the right amount is crucial for overall good health! According to the National Sleep Foundation, there are a certain number of hours needed for sleep depending on age group— for adults, ages 18 to 64, they need anywhere between seven to nine hours of sleep to function properly throughout the day. So, make sure your using those smart watches, and clocks and whatever else not just to wake you up but have them set reminders for when you should head to bed!
What does that have to do with dream technology? Nothing, except that most people dream when they sleep. Dreams have always been a phenomenon. Did you know, you dream even when you don’t? That’s right! If you wake up and don’t remember your dream, it doesn’t mean you didn’t dream. The human mind is constantly awake. Don’t believe me? That’s okay, I found this article to explain it for you; click here to read more. Wouldn’t it be cool to see what goes on in your mind while you sleep? I think so. A new technology called the “Sleep Cap” might be able to make some dreams watchable. “The sleep cap will record imagery "using technologies derived from either magnetic resonance or near-infrared spectroscopy. All the data will be processed and streamed as a dream movie to your computer, DVR or Facebook, so all your friends can view and share your dream."” In an article posted by CNN, Antonio Zadra, a psychology professor at the Université de Montréal says that “dreams are designed to be forgotten.” If that’s so, then why are scientists even bothering to create the “Sleep Cap” to begin with? Dreams are a valuable part of life and deserve to be remembered. Of course, this goes back to personal belief, but if you think back to a dream that really meant something to you, just because it wasn’t reality doesn’t mean it wasn’t significant in some way. Do you agree? There are several reasons why people have dreams, just none that anyone (expert or not) can agree on. That’s partly why so fascinating! Go to this link to read more on what scientists are trying to accomplish for the sake of watching dreams! 9 Smart Appliances You Shouldn't Waste Money OnBefore getting started, I’d just like to say that although these are my personal opinions, keep in mind that I work for an electrical contracting company that depends on smart innovation to keep the business alive. There are better “smart” systems to integrate in your home and business than the ones I’ve listed below. That being said, I hope you never waste money on these products, even if we’d be happy to tell you about them. 1. simplehuman Sensor Mirror Pro Get this, it’s a vanity mirror, with lighting… and you don’t need magnification -- I’m not done yet -- it also has a wide view with adjustable color, wait for it… one charge lasts up to three weeks (that’s actually pretty cool) AND it can connect to WiFi! The best part is that it’s a cheap price of only $530 on Amazon! PLUS FREE SHIPPING. How exciting and cool is that?! It’s not. If you buy a regular vanity mirror you will save hundreds of dollars and a few laughs. Just trust me, regular mirrors are still cool. 2. BeOn Home Protection System Lightbulbs Basically, these turn off and on when you enter and leave a room. Which isn’t a bad thing, but they also automatically turn on when there is a blackout. That’s not to bad either I guess, except that they only have a max of 5 hours before they run out of battery during a blackout. What if the blackout is longer than that? I would have to buy multiple sets of these lights, or I could use regular light bulbs integrated into my smart home and save a bunch of cash. Oh, you also need an iPhone to use the app that controls the lights. I’m all about saving money, so I wouldn’t mind using candles during a blackout. Update: Just found out this company is actually no longer in business so you can only use these as regular bulbs because the app is no longer running, but after reading a number of one star reviews I’d still advise you not to buy them (considering you find them on eBay or something). 3. SONOS PLAY:1 Smart Speaker I don’t like to pin brands against each other, BUT if you’re going to buy a smart speaker, just buy an Amazon Alexa. SONOS is a great brand but I wouldn’t spend money on this speaker when compared to my Alexa. The catch with this speaker is that it streams all your favorite tunes and connects to WiFi. Sound familiar? That’s right, Alexa speakers can do the same thing and a whole lot more for around the same price. We Are More always promotes quality, they’re both great speakers, but in this circumstance, I’m also measuring quantity! 4. Kuna Smart Home Security Light and Security Camera This light/camera is advertised as being great for disguising a security camera as a light that also doubles as an actual light! Yeah it is cool, except that you could just get a full smart home security system. It might have some cool features, like being compatible with Alexa and being easy to install, but why spend your money on a lamp camera (or two) when you could put your money towards a much better security system? Maybe it’s just me. 5. Chamberlain MyQ-Garage A remote control for your garage—which allows you to open and close your garage from anywhere in the world. FINALLY. Now I can travel and open and close my garage when I don’t even need to open and close my garage. It’s a dream come true! I hope you understand how unnecessary this appliance is. No one, literally not a soul, needs this. Just use a regular garage remote, please I’m begging you. 6. Ooma Telo Home Phone Service “Telo, who is this?” “It’s me, Ooma!” “Ooma who?” “Ooma need you to not buy this product.” Sorry, couldn’t help myself with that one. I’d say, unless you’re a businessperson who makes international calls almost every day—don’t waste your money on this. It’s the same as a regular phone that just allows you to make cheaper international calls, but even a regular phone can be set up with a plan that does the same thing. 7. iDevices Kitchen Thermometer A rechargeable smart thermometer that gives you the temperature of your food faster than a regular thermometer! Ladies and bros, if you can’t wait a few more seconds while using a regular thermometer to get the temperature of your dinner, I’d advise you to go speak to a counselor and figure out how to work on your patience. Good news is it’s only about $25 so you won’t break the bank if you decide to go on and buy it, but personally I’d rather spend that money on my dinner than something to check if it’s cooked or not. 8. Smart Piggy Bank I get that it’s a cute and fun way to save your coins in a piggy bank and have it track your savings but unless you’re a child—why not just open a bank account? If your kid really wants to have fun, have them make a piggy bank, or buy one that’s not automated. Then they can count the money themselves and learn important math skills at the same time! Just a thought. 9. Smart Egg Tray If you don’t eat eggs often, you’re probably someone like me who only buys them when they’re absolutely needed for a recipe or for house guests. Even in that case, you don’t NEED this product. It’s an egg tray that tells you the freshness of your eggs. Maybe someone who doesn’t eat their eggs in time could use this but it just doesn’t cut my list for things I need, and I’m silently hoping you agree. That’s it folks! I’m sure this list could be even longer, but these are my top for “smart appliances you shouldn’t spend your money on.” If you want to see smart technology that's worth your time and money, read "Smart Living: The Latest Smart Home Tech to Add to Your Home" from our friends at Redfin. How To Filter Blue Light On TelevisionsDue to the fact that people can spend up to five hours a day on their phones, and an average of another five hours a day watching television, blue light blocking options have been increasing. These 10 hours a day don’t include the amount of time spent on laptops and other PCs. Fortunately, blue light glasses have become widely popular.
People who spend long hours in front of a computer usually opt in to buying themselves a pair of these glasses to reduce eye strain and increase the amount of melatonin the human body produces. This decreases blurry vision, headaches, and helps people to get a better night’s rest. Most smartphones already have a blue light blocking ability that allows the tone of the screen to change at desired hours or the natural surrounding light. That way people don’t have to wear blue light glasses while using their phones. Something most people don’t know however is that newer televisions have a blue light filter listed in the settings menu under the display options. Most people would say that watching TV before bed isn’t a good habit, but there’s something about putting on a show after a long day that makes people continue to do it. So, making sure to change blue light settings on your television at night will make the habit less concerning. Don’t worry though, if you’re someone with an older television there are blue light filter stickers that can adapt your TV light to a yellow tint or block blue light all together. People who don’t like to wear glasses, or don’t want to fuss with blue light blocking on a TV, have ditched watching shows on a television and use projectors instead. Projector screens are a great alternative, especially for theater and office rooms. They give off less harmful light because the blue light bounces off the walls instead of being shot directly at your eyes like on a TV. Protecting your eyes are important! No matter what option suits you best, remember that you can contact We Are More for installations of any TV or projector screen. They also set up and sell amazing surround sound systems for home theaters, show rooms, and meeting spaces of any kind. No copyright or infringement is intended. Hawaii Had Electricity Before MostYes, you read that title correctly. If you didn’t know—now you know! Hawaii even had electricity before the white house did. King David Kalakaua was fascinated with technology and was the first to implement the use of electricity in Hawaii by updating Honolulu's kerosene street lamps to electric lamps, which made their way into houses. Eventually he had generators put into plantation homes as well. By 1890, more than 700 Oahu homes had electricity when a majority of Europe and the U.S. didn’t.
Hawaii was ahead of the times when it came to technology. Today, that fact has shifted drastically. According to a study taken by Tech Republic for 2018, you might be surprised that Hawaii is now listed as the eighth LEAST innovated state in America. Meanwhile the top three most innovative states are Massachusetts, Maryland, and Washington. Why is Hawaii so behind when it comes to innovation? The highest rated reason comes from a lack of fast internet. Which has lead to little promotion of innovation in Hawaii. We Are More tries to change that statistic daily. Sadly, the education on technology innovation is low, leading to little importance when expressed as an issue. Why does Hawaii need innovation? Aside from the fact that an economy can flourish with advanced innovation, (find the 4 important benefits of innovation in business here) it also enhances life as a whole with profitable revolutions in technology that impact society. If Hawaii climbed it’s way back up the list of leading states in innovation we’d also have improved productivity and reduced costs, better quality of products and services to meet customer needs, a larger product range for higher sales and profit, better handled legal and environmental issues, added value for businesses, more staff retention for businesses as well. All this from better internet? Yes! The country would develop as a whole, economically, if all 50 states could play a lead role in innovation. Most critical problems are resolved by new innovations. The first and smallest step Hawaii could take in the right direction is ditching companies that offer slow internet. Like King David Kalakaua, Hawaii needs to start small and think big. No copyright infringement is intended. 4 Types Of Important Technology For Any BusinessA main goal of anyone starting a business is to make something out of nothing. Right? Majority of business owners never had things given to them. They know what it means to work hard and be diligent. Without even a pat on the back, they’ve accomplished things most people look at and say, “how did you do that?” They’ll spill stories of challenges, victories, and dead-end pursuits, but the number one thing they all have in common is that they’re still striving for success. Someone with no experience in business could look at a business owner and think “they’ve made it.” Maybe they’ve made it a lot farther than most, but success is an ongoing process for everyone. Whether it’s a new business, or a business that’s been around for years, smart business technology plays a huge role in continuing success. Even for those who don’t realize how much they depend on it every day – that is why smart technology is important for business. If you want to keep reading, I’ll be sharing what kind of technology would benefit a business below. Tip: When looking into smart business technology, be sure to end up with things that would cater to your business. If you work in a large office building, a VoIP telephone system is worth looking into. 1. VoIP systems (Voice Over Internet Protocol) VoIP phone systems allow businesses to use their internet as a form of transmission as opposed to circuit transmissions. This means that the calls are made over the internet and “do not incur a surcharge beyond what the user is paying for Internet access, much in the same way that the user doesn't pay for sending individual emails over the Internet.” 2. Internet/Wifi Please treat your business to high speed internet/WiFi. Slow internet is probably one of the largest inconveniences to put your business through. It can result in a large number of problems including being on the clock but hardly getting any work done, resulting in an 8-hour lunch break. Downtime is not a friend to your wallet, especially when a bad connection results in no sales. Save your time and money by getting high speed internet. 3. Professionalized Emails Emails are part of technology and professionalized emails are smart. Allowing your business to stand out and create a brand for itself is important. When emailing anyone for a business matter, you don’t want them to know you as “jayjaykitty37” (it’s a joke). Instead, you and your team should have professionalized emails. A clean tag showcasing your name and your business is a lot more practical. (Ex. samara@wearemore.solutions) 4. IT (Information Technology) Finding a great IT service to help your business keep stability is crucial. There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes of all great businesses, if there isn’t, it could be doing a lot better if it had one. An IT department handles communication, governance, office infrastructure, securing the environment, and data management. All things that help businesses move forward every day. No copyright infringement is intended. What Is IOT?Simply put, IoT is the abbreviation for “Internet of Things,” but to answer the question I searched it up on Wikipedia for you; IoT “is a system of interrelated computing devices, mechanical and digital machines, objects, animals or people that are provided with unique identifiers and the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction.” Still not sure what that means? Read below! Pretty much anything with the label “smart” on it has to do with IoT. Smart phones, smart homes, smart controls, smart lighting, smart businesses, smart speakers, smart locks, smart cameras, smart appliances, smart fixtures, yada yada yada. IoT is represented by things that can be connected to the internet. Wikipedia also tells us that IoT was basically created and defined by 2009 when the number of objects connected to the internet was higher than the number of people connected to the internet. Let’s think about this. Out of 7.5 billion people on the planet, with only 15 leading countries in technology, and only 50 top electronic distributers, starting in 2008 there have been more devices connected to the internet than humans. How? When an object is able to connect to another device or the internet without the help of a human, it’s in the category of IoT. Anything that doesn’t need human direction to preform a task connected to the internet has its own network. It can function properly on its own. Simply using your smartphone or turning on your laptop doesn’t disregard this process. You have a say in what is sent and received on your end, but your devices don’t rely on you to make them compatible with sharing information across the internet or being able to connect to other networks. You don’t have to manually carry a text message, or an alert signal, or an email. Appliances do it for you. IoT isn’t a bad thing (if that thought crossed your mind). Technology has been created for one thing, to make every day more convenient. IoT is proof that technology has been working hard to do things, so humans don’t have to. IoT is a favor. We Are More loves working with the internet of things to give people more convenience and better quality with the human thought put into which devices can help you best
No copyright infringement is intended. Favorites are powerful. Think about five favorite physical things (that aren't food or people). Do any of those things include technology? Don’t lie.
Imagine a world where life could still be fully functional without technology. I bet you can't. Even though “they” did just fine back in the day without it, people today can’t think of a time without that convenience. From outlets, to lightbulbs, internet communications, refrigerators — Making life a separate entity from technology is kind of pointless. Why regress when we’ve come so far. Right? Do we “need” technology? No. However, if the world went dark tomorrow, people would either scramble and provoke chaos or die. Literally. Doctors rely, heavily, on technology. They know a lot more than I do, but have you ever met a physician that can tell you exactly what’s wrong with you just by giving them your symptoms without taking a scan or blood test? No, but google can. (That was a joke Jimmy, you don’t have a ruptured spleen.) Technology gives us perspective, maybe a little narrow, maybe a little too wide, depending on who you are and how you think. Does it control your life? Does it give you more control? Does it help you work harder? Or make you lazy? There are pros and cons all around. The bottom line is, technology is what you make it. As a business who promotes all kinds of leading technologies, We Are More makes it a point to bring human knowledge to the table. They stick with you on every project, they pick up every call, they talk you through and fix every issue because technology doesn’t always tell you what’s wrong. When technology is abused it can lead to more than a few cons, but using it efficiently helps everyone. We Are More is there to make sure that technology is used to your benefit instead of your downfall. No copyright infringement is intended. Top 4 PROS and CONS for Traditional and Smart LocksWe all love the old nob and key, but smart locks are becoming the new crush of modern-day. Or are they? Let's take a look at the pros and cons of both, and you can decide for yourself. (Before continuing below, you can find an in-depth description for both types of locks here.) Traditional Locks: Pros 1. PRICE. You can't beat the price of a traditional lock. You can find them as cheap as $9 at Walmart, maybe even cheaper elsewhere. 2. INSTALLATION. It's pretty easy as long as you know how to use a screwdriver, or know how to read directions. 3. No technical difficulties. As soon as your lock is in place it's ready to be used, issue free! 4. Only a certain shaped key has access to the lock. No other key is designed to fit the lock. Unless you've made multiple keys, only those with the key have access. Traditional Locks: Cons 1. The downside of having a traditional lock and key is that you need a key. Don't lose it, or you might have to crawl in through a window! 2. It's easy for these locks to be removed from your door by intruders leaving them with easy access into your home if they're good with a screwdriver too. Easy come easy go. 3. House guests and new roommates need the key for entry, which is an inconvenience if you can't be two places at once or don't want to make a replica. 4. Traditional locks are good for picking. Literally, since there's a keyhole someone could pick the lock, if they're into that. Smart Locks: Pros 1. CONVENIENCE! All you need is a secure access code, no keys necessary. Smart locks are also compatible with smartphones through an app where you can lock and unlock your door no matter where you are. No worrying about needing an extra key for guests or trying to remember if you locked the door or not, just check/use the app. 2. ALERT SYSTEM. It's not as easy for a smart lock to be removed from a door by an intruder because most smart locks have a built-in siren or alarm system to let you know about any suspicious activity. 3. No one can pick your lock if you have a keyless entry. 4. Bluetooth camera connectivity. Some smart locks (there is a variety) can connect to your security camera system or come with a camera built-in which is compatible with smart lock apps and can be hooked up via Bluetooth so you can view any camera activity directly from your phone. Smart Locks: Cons 1. "Dolla dolla bill ya'll." These things can get pretty pricey. I've seen smart locks that range up to $800, but I'd pay a lot for safety too so no judgment here. 2. Technical issues. Some smart locks require a network connection, they can also run out of battery life. While other malfunctions could mean you need an upgraded lock. 3. Code hacking! If someone has the time, or your code is simple to crack-- they can certainly hack it. Make sure not to use a birth date just to be safe. 4. Instead of depending on a key you have to depend on a smartphone or a code. Just keep your smartphone charged and/or don't forget your lock code! There are far more pros and cons to both locks, but after this little list which one do you like more? We Are More specializes in smart locks, so if you have any more questions about those or need help installing multiple for your home or business (including alarm systems or any security control) let us know. No copyright infringement is intended. |
Our AuthorSamara Towers does We Are More's PR & Marketing which includes writing our blogs! She was born and raised in Hawaii and graduated from Corban University with a Bachelors Degree in Creative Writing. She produces content to give our audience more insight and opinions on technical solutions big and small. Archives
January 2023
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