DEPARTMENTS
Accessibility
Restoring Independence
Gary Sinise Foundation Honors Marine Vet with a New Smart Home
By Eric Gross
For the past 13 years, U.S. Marine Corps
Corporal Chad Watson (Ret.) has proven the
resiliency and toughness of U.S. service members
by creating a new life for himself after he lost half
of his right leg in a 2006 IED explosion in Iraq. In
recognition of Watson’s sacrifice and
determination throughout his difficult recovery,
the Gary Sinise Foundation’s R.I.S.E. (Restoring
Independence, Supporting Empowerment)
program selected him to receive a new smart
home in Illinois, complete with security,
automation, and entertainment technologies
from Nortek Security & Control LLC.
James Galla, owner of local electronics
integration firm EOC Audio, designed and
installed the home’s digital infrastructure,
providing Watson and his family with
powerfully simple technologies that enhance
16 Residential Tech Today | Jan/Feb 2020
comfort, security, and control over house-wide
systems.
“Any injury that limits mobility introduces
obstacles to common household tasks such as
shutting off lights at night or answering the
door,” Galla said. “With 2GIG security
integrated with the ELAN control system, the
Watsons have peace of mind, plus comfort and
convenience. It really is an intelligent home.”
Watson can now more quickly and easily see
live video of who is at the door, unlock the
electronic door lock, or turn off every light in
the house at once. Nearly all of the home’s
electronic subsystems are integrated into the
simple-to-use interface, so adjusting the heat,
closing the window shades, or watching a movie
can be as easy as a few taps in the app, or
speaking a few phrases.
The home’s technologies benefit nearly every
daily activity. This includes providing ultimate
peace of mind no matter where the family is,
thanks to the 2GIG GC3e eSeries security
system with encrypted sensors that is
controllable from almost anywhere. Remote
accessibility also offers new possibilities, such
as letting a service provider into the home
when nobody is there. Watson or his wife
can more easily see who is at the front door
through the doorbell camera, then unlock
a Quickset electronic lock and disable the
security system.
“Watson’s life changed forever on that
November day in 2006,” Galla said. “This new
home is changing his family’s life again, with the
goal of providing independence and control
over their environment.”
Each of the home’s three TVs is equipped
with an ELAN HR30 TV remote that functions
just like a normal TV remote, but also has a
2.4-inch touchscreen offering control of every
connected subsystem in the home. Propertywide
Vantage lighting and motorized QMotion
window shades are just a touch away, while six
zones of audio offer music in multiple rooms,
including the outdoor patio, through ceilingmounted
SpeakerCraft AIM Series 2 speakers.
Even the home’s climate is mobile-controlled,
with two ELAN thermostats covering distinct
HVAC zones that can be adjusted or preprogrammed
for daily schedules.
Audio and video distribution is managed
through an ELAN Multi-Room AV Controller,
which delivers content to any TV or audio zone,
three DirecTV boxes, an Apple TV, and all of
today’s most popular music streaming services.
With daily home life relying so heavily on
technology integration, EOC Audio made sure
to protect the rack full of expensive equipment
with Panamax power protection solutions.
“Having a working system, regardless of power
fluctuations or surges, is essential,” Galla said,
“and that’s why we backed up our system with
power protection.” x
In recognition of Chad Watson’s sacrifice in Iraq, the Gary Sinise Foundation’s R.I.S.E. (Restoring
Independence, Supporting Empowerment) program selected him to receive a new smart home in Illinois.