When Savant first introduced its TrueImage interface for lighting control back in 2009, it was quite unique. Instead of a template screen with buttons or icons for users to push on a touchpanel or their smart phone, TrueImage is a photographic image of the client’s room.
If you want to turn on the lamp, you actually press the lamp photo to turn it on. Not only does the actual lamp illuminate in the room, but the fixture in the photographic image also lights up.
But while the interface was super cool, the practicality of it was somewhat complicated.
The integrator had to get a photographer to take photos of the room with the lights on, lights off, shades up, shades down, TV on, TV off, etc. You needed different sized photos for the tablet and the phone.
Also, what happens when the homeowner redecorated? The interface would immediately no longer represent the room. You get the picture (pun intended) of the problems.
“It was too complicated,” admits Tim McInerney, product marketing manager at Savant. Just in time for CEDIA 2017, Savant is reintroducing TrueImage specifically for lighting control only with a much simpler fashion by creating a “simulated reality” of the illumination in the room.
New Savant TruImage Has New Benefits
Available for iOS and Android mobile devices, as well as Savant touchscreens and the Savant Pro Remote, TrueImage leverages the consumer’s own mobile device to quickly and simply take photographs of a room or light fixture.
Once a photo has been taken and stored, all user interfaces in the system update automatically, including the Savant App for iOS and Android, touchscreens and remotes, saving valuable time for the integrator.
So CE pros no longer have to hire a photographer to build a TrueImage interface, but simply take a photo using the client’s own smartphone or tablet.
Then, with the simulated reality software, users are able to see, touch, control and dim the light using the photographic image, updating the color and dimness setting of the light on the interface screen in real time.
Instead of interacting with confusing icons, TrueImage allows users to touch the actual light for full control. Not only does the light in the room turn on/off or dim, it also illuminates on the control device simultaneously, confirming each commanded action including color change.
Using the interface, users can turn lighting loads on/off and adjust color temperature of the lights.
The updated TrueImage will be available in October 2017.
If you enjoyed this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our digital newsletters!
