EHX Fall Unveils Plans for Outdoor Living Spotlight

There will be a dedicated outdoor technology area for the first time at Electronic House Expo (EHX) Fall 2008 in Long Beach, Calif. on Nov. 4-7.

If IDOD Designs, the sponsor and designer of the area, has its way, the Outdoor Living Spotlight will be so authentic it will make EHX attendees feel like they just stumbled outdoors, according to Michael Vetrovec, co-owner, president and CEO of IDOD Designs.

IDOD has designed outdoor technology exhibit displays at landscaping shows, but "EHX will be our first custom integration show," Vetrovec says.

EHX organizers tasked IDOD with designing a 20-foot x 30-foot natural habitat, of sorts, for outdoor products.

"Unfortunately, at most shows, outdoor products have to be displayed out of context of its environment or in a controlled sound environment," explains Jim Wagner, general manager, EH Events.

"To overcome this, we are replicating three unique outdoor settings, each with distinct usage, audio/video and lighting requirements."

Outdoor Living Spotlight

The Outdoor Living Spotlight will demonstrate integrated solutions for an outdoor dining area, a kitchen and a nighttime outdoor theater. Some of the exhibitors include:

• Polk Audio — outdoor speakers
• Lux Entertainment — all-weather TVs
• Universal Remote Control
• Eaton — outdoor intercoms

It's still early in the design process, but Vetrovec shares his design and some ambitious goals for the area.

Nighttime/Daytime Areas
Vetrovec hopes to give attendees the illusion of being outdoors at night, as well as being in sunlight.

"We would use blackout fabric and create a shadow box. There would be fabric walls and ceilings that find their way up to the 'house,'" he says.

"I'd also like to have a 'twinkly' ceiling, but I'm not sure if we'll implement that."

Deck Living
Outdoor speakers will be displayed on or near a deck that Vetrovec hopes to incorporate. He also hopes to include a see-through Plexiglas portion on the deck to let attendees see how the wires are run.

Waterfall
"We'd love to have a waterfall," Vetrovec says. "This would put an exclamation point on the outdoor atmosphere." It's dependent, he says, on whether IDOD can secure a landscape partner.

Grassy Knoll
What's a backyard without a lawn? Vetrovec hopes a landscape partner will provide artificial grass, plants, plant boxes and dirt.

Cool Breeze
To drive home the sensation of being outside, Vetrovec would love to use an air-conditioning device to provide a "cool breeze" as attendees step to the outdoor area.

Outside House Façade
The feeling of being outside is relative and, therefore, requires an inside alternative. Vetrovec expects there will be a house or at least an appearance of the outside of a house.

Why IDOD Designs?

IDOD has a lot invested in outdoor technology. The young company — launched "within the last six months," according to Vetrovec — manufactures housings for outdoor A/V products.

It has a line of trellis-looking products that helps projection screens and speakers look more natural when displayed outdoors. "When the projector isn't on, it's not obvious that it's a projection screen."

IDOD hopes to show additional prototypes at EHX. "There's a center channel stand that we'll have in time for the show that can either be a planter box or a place to sit," Vetrovec says.

"We're most excited about a birdhouse projection box. You can actually put a projector into something that looks like a birdhouse. The photo lens is where the bird would come in and out."

It may seem like IDOD's products are bizarre, but Vetrovec says they address a rising consumer demand. He and co-owner Scott Barca were integrators for several years and had seen an increase in the number of requests for outdoor systems.