Qualified Remodeler Magazine

AUG 2013

Qualified Remodeler helps independent remodeling firms to survive, become more professional and more profitable by providing must-have business information, namely best business practices, new product information and timely design ideas.

Issue link: https://qualifiedremodeler.epubxp.com/i/149260

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 65 of 67

IDEAS? OPINIONS? Join the conversation HOT SPOT / DISCUSSIONS FROM FORRESIDENTIALPROS.COM AND QUALIFIED REMODELER'S SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES On our sister publication Residential Design + Build's Linked LinkedIn page, member Art Maher, from the Toronto area, started a discussion about the advancement of technology and how it applies to the design field. He asked: "Laptops are now common among us. What took them so long to be available to the public? Are there some other inventions already made, but could take 20 more years to be available?" T echnology exists now, but it is still in its infancy, as with the laptops of many years ago. But VR (Virtual Reality) systems are most probably the next step in architectural design. Imagine being able to put on special 3-D glasses that place you inside a virtual design environment, whereby you can build a model while you're standing within and around it just by using hand gestures. You would be able to experience your design by virtually standing within it! I would love to be able to experience such a design program." —Spiros Lambrinidis, Darwin area, Australia F or building designers, I tend to think the electronic 'junk' needs more user interface development. Maybe an electronic drafting table? The big screen TV took about a decade to get affordable, maybe another decade to get smaller." —Mike Swayze, Raleigh-Durham, N.C., area A nother invention that I would like to see improved on is 'virtual model homes.' I am currently connected on LinkedIn with a gentleman that has been creating them since 1989. And there is usually beautiful music incorporated with his virtual model homes. He can also change the sounds to include running water into a large spa tub, children playing in the backyard, birds singing, etc. But wouldn't it be exciting for clients to walk through the kitchen of a virtual model home and smell chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven or walk through the outdoor kitchen of a virtual model home and smell food grilling? So, I would love to have olfactory elements added to virtual model home technology." —Karen Walkin, Fargo, N. D., area I think that [Karen's idea] would be a great idea — more than relevant to sharing our vision with the client. We designers are already doing the '3-D walkthrough' in our heads while designing with a fat black pencil and butter paper; creating the model and generating the renderings so we can show others is the portion that takes the most time and effort. Five to 10 minutes designing, followed by 40 hours of detailing." —David Little, Sydney area Read more comments or share your own response by joining our LinkedIn group, Facebook On the ForResidentialPros.com Facebook page, we shared a National Kitchen & Bath Association photo with the question of which trends in materials, appliances and design details are common today when it comes to kitchen design. Facebook follower Susan Denise Drake commented, "Clean, crisp, transitional … getting some off-whites … finally talking some into engineered counters." 'Like' us to see what other updates and comments are happening on our Facebook pages for Qualified Remodeler and ForResidentialPros.com. Make sure to check out our blogs on ForResidentialPro.com for regular updates from our editorial teams and other contributors. Have a topic you'd like to read about? Let us know on any of our social media. 66 August 2013 QR ForResidentialPros.com magazine. Remodelers' Community Service Efforts Highlighted on ForResidentialPros.com So many of you are doing great things in your communities that we are recognizing your efforts each month on our website. Check it out.

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Qualified Remodeler Magazine - AUG 2013