It’s that time! School is in session once again, and we have picked our favorite gadgets for students this year. From grade school to college, we have got students covered with the latest products to help them with their studies.

Elementary:

The Nitro Notebook is an awesome way for your child to get busy learning. The notebook has 80 jam packed activities that teach English, Spanish, Math, Reading, Language Skills, Social Studies, Music and much more.

They will even get a whole set of cool utilities. With additional cartridges, cool graphics, and a hightech keyboard and mouse, they will be ready to take the learning world by storm.

Middle School:

 The restaurant business can be very competitive and challenging. Not only are restaurants relying on their good food or happy hour specials, but they rely heavily on a great atmosphere for their guests as well as maintaining a sufficient staff.

As a restaurant owner, you want to wow your guests by having the most up-to-date T.V.’s and audio systems along with nice ambient lighting. Just imagine creating a fantastic atmosphere with one button. You could “Open” the restaurant by having this one button turn on all the T.V.’s to the selected channels you want, the temperature control would adjust for guests arriving, and the lighting and shades could adjust to the time of day you are opening up.

You could easily open your restaurant by one button and yet control everything on one simple and easy to use interface. This interface will help you manage your restaurant and be a little less stressful in those rush hour times. You can even be energy-saving mindful by having your restaurant automated.

What can easily be opened can also be easily “Closed”. As an owner, you can close the restaurant down by one button as well. Powering off all video, audio, and lights can be a breeze for you or your employees allowing them to focus more on the cleanliness and organization of the establishment.

Also as a restaurant owner, guests are always number one, but secondly you want your staff enjoying themselves and being satisfactory in their positon as well. Technology and automation can help them run their shift more smoothly. Not only just pressing one button to open or close, but quite a few restaurants are now incorporating touch pads for automating the floor plans and server’s shifts for guest sitting.

When you hear 'home security' what comes to mind? Security systems designed just for the interior of a home? While a security system can do a lot to keep intruders out, the right outdoor lighting can do a lot to keep problems from arising in the first place.

Lighting is a homeowner’s best friend when it comes to protecting home and property. Burglars love the darkness and feed on creeping around in the shadows. A poorly lit home reads like an invitation for them to commit a robbery. There is no such thing as having too much lighting inside and outside your home.

Strategically placing outdoor lights can deter potential intruders. Criminals do not want to be identified which is why they target property that offers them the most protection from neighbors and passersby.

Here are 5 tips to consider when securing your exterior:

1. Install motion sensors

A question that is always in the back of our minds is, are our children safe when they are not with us? Since one of the most tragic events involving an elementary school happened in December 2012, many school districts and even daycares are making a proactive statement against these acts of violence by trying their best efforts to prevent them. 

Between added security features, “crisis plans”, and local law enforcement cooperation they are being able to provide peace of mind and security to faculty, parents, and most importantly students. Quite a few school districts have upgraded their security systems to include more cameras, key card entry system for the teachers and employees, and even having a full-time police officer on the premises. 

One school district in Ohio has gone further to ensure the safety of their children by teachers being able to send alerts from their phones if a lock down ever occurred. Teachers can silently communicate to the outside world without sound or vibrations, so they do not pique the interest of the intruder if they are near the classroom.

Also, a school district in Texas has included a “secure vestibule”, a bulletproof glass room. They can literally hold a visitor inside this room until they are fully cleared within the school’s system as being a non-threat or if they were a threat; their local law enforcement comes to the aid.

Lastly, daycares have taken extra pre-caution as well. Some have updated their security systems with adequate cameras and alarms as well as adding panic buttons to each room. Some daycares even provide video streaming for parents so they can check in on their child’s classroom.

Have you ever thought that your own kitchen could alert you if the refrigerator door was left open? Or have your motorized shades or blinds be automated with the seasons? Have movie ambience with one push of a button? There are so many possibilities that home automation systems can do for you, which have not been fully recognized until now!

Summer is finally here and at iSS we would like to take a moment to give you a few ideas for some good summer fun activities.

A few fun activities around here in East Tennessee would be:

We have always heard the saying, “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity!” Well it is actually both, and since this past Saturday, June 21st was the day that Summer truly began- here at iSS we just want to take a moment to talk about some safety tips to beat the heat this year.

First safety tip is to think about you. Sometimes the best and simplest tip if it is too hot outside is to stay cool inside. Spending time in an air conditioned space for a couple of  hours can significantly reduce the risk of heat-related illness. Just remember electric fans do not cool, they just blow hot air around. If you are going to be outside, remember to dress for the heat. Wear loose-fitting, light-weight, light colored clothing can reflect heat and sunlight and help maintain body temperature.

Always wear sunscreen and try to protect your face  and head by wearing a hat. Also, drink for the heat and not drink in the heat. I know the BBQ’s and pool parties are going on during this time of the year, but by drinking plenty of water even if you do not feel thirsty can help your body retain some of your body fluids. By drinking in the heat, alcohol and caffeinated beverages can further dehydrate the body. Lastly, the best times for outdoor activities are during the early morning and late evening hours.

Second safety tip is to think about others. Of course this is a no-brainer, but please do not leave children in a closed vehicle even for a few minutes. Temperatures inside a closed vehicle can reach up to 190 degrees! When outdoors, protect children as much as possible from the sun. Their skin is more sensitive than ours. Also, protect your pets from the heat. It ‘feels’ as hot for them as it does for you. Be sure your animals have access to shade a few bowls of ice cold water.

Third safety tip is to think about your environment. Protecting windows by hanging shades, awnings, draperies, etc. that receives morning or afternoon sun can reduce heat entering the house by as much as 80%. Also try to keep lights off and the air conditioning to one cool temperature. This helps to not constantly turn the A/C unit up and down or completely off causing it to freeze up on you.

 The Secured Home, The Green Home, and The Connected Home are three packages we are introducing to homeowners as well as builders. Each option is designed to each client’s specific needs and budgets.

Have you ever wondered if it would be easier to get rid of all those remote controls that are on the coffee table? I know with me, half the time I cannot figure out which remote goes to what device or if one remote is controlling everything. It is such a cluster sometimes just to turn on the t.v. WITH the sound. Well one dealer, Leon Shaw, sees for himself if he could eliminate all remotes and use only the apps that go with his entertainment system.

Have you been to the mall lately and noticed the directory has been replaced by a new interactive digital display or gone in your kids school to find reminders scrolling by on digital signs in common areas? Digital signage is becoming not only popular, but the new standard in the industry. In fact, they are becoming so common that it's almost odd when businesses still use basic posters or signs. The types of businesses that can benefit from this technology are endless and the time digital signage can save employees and management is worth its weight in gold. They truly are the quickest way to display information and in today's fast paced society, every second counts. They can be used in many different locations, but here are just a few:

This week's featured product is Pioneer’s Elite SC79 A/V receiver. The highpoint of performance and style of this receiver is the simply stunning audio surround sound that makes your movies, games, and music sound as life like as possible. With the best audio processing that is available today, the Elite SC79 receiver will give you an audio experience that will go above and beyond your expectations.

Mass marketing security only provides the homeowner with a very basic and ineffective alarm system. Security companies like ADT will provide you with “peace of mind” but never security.

 Have you ever wondered what it would be like for your home to become a work of art? Or more importantly ever forget to turn off the kitchen light after you just laid down for the night? I know I have. Lighting control can help you with creating scenes to display your home the way you want or turning that light off you left on in the kitchen.

 It’s finally warming up and if you’re anything like me you are beyond ready. After being stuck inside the last several months, I can’t wait to spend some time outdoors with friends and family. If you’re also anything like me, you probably have a little work to do before you’re ready to host that first BBQ of the year. Aside from the usual post-hibernation yard duties, I’ll bet your outdoor living space could use some other upgrades. If you like to stay up-to-date with new technology, then you’ve probably noticed there are tons of great products for outdoor living. From landscape speakers to projection screens, there are plenty of options to create an outdoor space that will give your indoor living area a run for its money. Even if you just want a new portable music streaming device to put out on the deck, the options are truly endless.

A company's boardroom is a crucial component in any office. It gives clients a first impression of your establishment and serves as a common area for ideas and innovation to flow. If a company has an outdated boardroom, their capabilities become seriously limited. Every office deserves a great boardroom and our most recent client was no exception.

Spring has sprung and we couldn't be more excited for warmer temperatures and longer days. For many homeowners, the changing season means spring cleaning time. Just like your kitchen and closet could use a good scrub down, your security system could use some attention as well. Here are some tips to keep your system functioning at its best:

LED, plasma, 4K, and curved are all features of TVs currently on the market. With so many different types of TVs and new technology coming out constantly, it can be a daunting task to pick out a new TV. I know when I bought my most recent Samsung, I was completely overwhelmed during the search. There were so many to choose from it was unreal. How do you know if it's the right size? What about brands? What's this 4K TV and why does it cost more than my car? Buying a new TV should be exciting and not overwhelming. If you're in the market for a new TV it's important to consider several options.

DIY projects are everywhere these days. Maybe you're even planning your own project this weekend. There is nothing wrong with repainting the kitchen or starting that vegetable garden you've always dreamed of. Go get 'em weekend warriors!

Some projects, however, should be left to the professionals...

With the new year in full swing and winter beginning to melt away (finally), we are getting a better view of the top design trends on the horizon. Let's take a look at the list!

With temps hitting record lows, it's as important as ever to prevent your home from frozen pipes. When water freezes in pipes, it expands causing the pipe to bust. Then you have a major situation on your hands as the water thaws and flows freely into your home. Because we don't want you to have to go chasing waterfalls in your living room, we came up with 5 quick tips to help prevent frozen pipes.

1. Check where your pipes are. You want to make sure they aren't exposed to cold air and if they are, they need to be insulated. Pipe sleeves provide much needed insulation for pipes in drafty areas.
2. Leave a steady stream of water dripping in a kitchen or bathroom sink. It doesn't have to be a ton of water, but just enough to keep things moving. The cost of leaving a sink dripping is far less than the mess of a flooded house.
3. Leave cabinet doors open to allow warm inside air to circulate around pipes. Keep garage doors closed to ensure pipes aren't exposed to freezing temperatures.
4. Don't drastically adjust your thermostat throughout the day and night. By maintaining a steady temperature, you reduce your chances of a frozen pipe.
5. Know where your water cut off valves are located. If you don't have one inside your house, then make sure you know where the water main is outside. If you have a leak, your #1 priority is shutting off the water.