Feature
Building Urban Communities with High-Speed Networks
By Mike Whaling, InfiniSys Electronic Architects
Mar 2, 2007, 14:21

Developers can attract urban apartment dwellers with new networked services -- like being able to access their music playlists and DVRs from the fitness center.

Now that the triple play of telephone, video and data services has become a basic amenity, property owners and developers are looking for new services to “wow” apartment and condo dwellers. It’s no longer unusual to see security applications and community facilities delivered to residents over local networks. But developers who are serious about using technology to attract and retain residents have had to shift their mindsets and expand the range of services even further.
 

Achieve Communectivity

Residents of urban condos and apartments live differently from families in single-family homes. When it comes to technology, lifestyle makes all the difference. With their diverse demographics, varying needs and different expectations, urbanites represent a separate, unique market.

Developers who think vertically can find opportunities to connect communities.

Urbanites still belong to communities – it’s just that the communities are vertical rather than horizontal. Developers who think vertically – the way urbanites live – can begin to find opportunities for optimizing community connectivity … communectivity, if you will. Understanding the need for this communectivity is key to serving the urban, high-rise market. When developers address communectivity they can serve their residents better, make their products more appealing and even discover new revenue opportunities.

Understanding the possibilities of a robust vertical network requires a shift in mindset away from the single-family home. For example, Verizon recently introduced a multiroom DVR that lets users access saved shows, as well as music and photos, from any room. For residents of large single-family homes, this new service is exciting. For people living in small apartments, on the other hand, multiroom DVR viewing capabilities don’t seem relevant at first glance.

But when the DVR is used to achieve communectivity, it suddenly becomes desirable for residents of multiple-dwelling units. Residents can access their password-protected personal content from the clubhouse lounge or fitness center. Although the technology infrastructure is already there and the concept seems simple enough, most service providers aren’t thinking in these terms, and content providers don’t want to face this reality … at least not yet.
 

Expanding Services

It’s a fact – the digital lifestyle is here to stay. According to the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the average American owns 26 electronic devices. As residents become increasingly tech-savvy, they expect their homes to be as connected as they are. CEA’s research shows that consumers are willing to pay for this high-tech connectivity, with a typical American expected to spend over $2,000 on home technology this year.

Let’s start with the Internet –  the center of the digital lifestyle revolution. Services that can be “stacked” on the Web include:

• Home control and automation – Residents can modify their home temperature, security and other settings online.
• Music downloads – Developers can partner with subscription-based providers, like Napster or Ruckus Network, to offer residents individual accounts for music downloading.
• News subscriptions – Provide residents with access to subscription-based content from popular news providers, such as the Wall Street Journal Online or New York Times Select.

Pre-installing wireless networks in apartments lets owners limit access; residents consider it an additional amenity.

Beyond the Internet, there are additional opportunities for technology-based amenities. Some forward-thinking developers already offer video intercom services. These systems create a direct connection for property managers to send notifications and messages to residents with just the touch of a button. Robust property networks can already support this service; all that’s needed is the interface for the resident.

By assessing residents’ technology expectations, developers can target services to specific niches -- gaming-related products in student housing, life-safety services connected to video cameras in active adult and senior housing, touch screens to provide access to valet and concierge services in high-end developments.

These amenities -- which provide additional ease and convenience -- appeal to urban, high-rise residents who are increasingly accustomed to “on demand” technology. The “anytime, anywhere” appeal of popular devices like the iPod can now be incorporated into urban, high-rise settings. For instance, fitness center cardio equipment is often equipped with CD players. As portable music players and Internet radio services like Pandora change the way we listen to music, CDs will continue to decline in popularity. Instead of connecting a CD player to every treadmill in the fitness center, developers can give residents access to their own playlists and personal music. Life Fitness recently announced a new line of products that will feature integrated controls for iPods. With just a little creativity and a thoughtfully designed network, this and much more can become reality.

Endless Possibilities

As we look to the future, technology’s continued advancement will spur development of new amenities and services for multifamily communities. Just imagine the possibilities …

Appliances should be able to communicate with the maintenance staff.

Intuitive appliances will communicate with the maintenance staff. For example, the refrigerator or stove could send a warning if it needs maintenance. The result? Cost savings for the owner as late-night emergency calls to fix broken appliances are eliminated. And with appliances reporting deterioration, energy efficiency can be improved as well. 

Keys with radio frequency identifier (RFID) chips will “know” their owner and stay one step ahead. For example, when a resident enters the parking garage, his RFID key can turn on the thermostat in his apartment. Likewise, when he leaves the unit, the RFID key can send a signal to change the thermostat to its “away” setting.

In addition, RFID could change the way residents track their workouts in fitness centers. The entire workout could be recorded on the chip and later synced to allow residents to monitor their progress over time.

Finally, consider the potential of dynamic scheduling. By syncing calendars of nearby businesses, appointment scheduling at the beauty salon or fitness center could become much easier. Residents could view the appointment book at the beauty salon downstairs and schedule haircuts via Blackberry or Treo.

Thinking Outside the Box

We are surrounded today by high-tech devices. From high-speed Internet at work, to flat-screen TVs in stores, to the digital signage that is replacing static advertising, technology is everywhere. It is safe to assume that residents – especially those drawn to vibrant, fast-paced urban centers – expect to have the same connected lifestyle at home. Developers who think outside the box, providing advanced technology-based amenities and robust, high-bandwidth networks, can exceed these expectations and remain one step ahead of residents’ diverse technology needs.

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