Checkolite and Arkados Merge Whole-House Audio and Lighting into a New Line of iHome Products
The companies team to create lighting products with speakers that define a new whole-house music platform
Checkolite International, a world-leading supplier of fashion forward lighting designs, and Arkados(R), a leading supplier of system-on-chip solutions for powerline networking, are bringing easy-to-use multiroom audio and lighting control to the home.
At this year’s International Consumer Electronics Show, the companies have teamed to demonstrate Checkolite’s new lighting and sound system to be released under the leading brand name iHome. This collection of innovative products combines controllable lighting with built-in speakers, offering a system for both whole-house digital music and a lighting control system. There is no requirement for special wiring or complicated and expensive installation.
The Checkolite products are embedded with Arkados’ chip-and-software solutions that employ HomePlug(R) technology to deliver music and lighting control for multiple rooms throughout the house, with remote control functions from a touchpad controller. The system allows users to select from a variety music sources such as an iPod(R), AM/FM radio, satellite and internet radio, CD Players, etc.
“We see this as a series of truly revolutionary products that will change the landscape of the home,” said Lawrence Bibi, President of Checkolite. “The solutions from Arkados allowed Checkolite to create a new ecosystem of easy-to-install and easy-to-use products for existing homes. The system offers features previously available in only high-end professionally installed systems.”
The system is planned to include a family of lighting and sound products, including a floor lamp, a flush mount fixture, a recessed can, a track lighting system, outdoor flood lights, and wall sconces — all with incorporated high-fidelity speakers. Each will be able work independently or become components of a complete system that will include a plug-in transmitter that docks an iPod(R). The electrical wiring in the home will be used to transmit the digital audio signals between components allowing easy installation for retrofitting existing homes. The end user will be able to plug these devices into any one of the existing home’s electrical outlets, or hard wire them for wall and ceiling mounted products.
“Arkados chips and software are specifically designed with the innovative products, such as those Checkolite will be bringing to market, in mind,” said Oleg Logvinov, president and CEO of Arkados. “These products will take full advantage of new methods to distribute digital content and to control electrical appliances. The products will bring the dream of a fully connected digital home to fruition.”
Included Mac/PC software will also allow homeowners to control the lighting and sound produced by each device, as well as to arrange themes for each room that can be triggered by the in-wall touchpad or organized to follow a schedule. The software controls multiple audio signals throughout the house from a number of existing music sources that may be available on a computer (such as iTunes(R), Rhapsody(R), etc.) and other internet radio and music sources.
The Checkolite exhibit is in booth #26808 during CES 2009.
Source: Arkados Inc.
