FIRM INTEGRATES HOME, ONLINE TECH.Byline: Eugene Tong Staff Writer VALENCIA - As the once-separate realms of television home entertainment, computing and living-room light switches converge around a single handheld remote, three local companies are joining to create a one-stop shop One-Stop Shop A company or a location that offers a multitude of services to a client or a customer. The idea is to provide convenient and efficient service and also to create the opportunity for the company to sell more products to clients and customers. integrating household and online technology. Access Tech Inc. of Valencia was stitched together from CudaElectronics, Crystal Clear Audio and Video and Al-ter Computers, each with expertise in indoor wiring, home audio and video, and information technology, respectively. Brian Cuda, the joint company's president, said building a firm around these related fields makes both marketing and financial sense. His namesake name·sake n. One that is named after another. [From the phrase for the name's sake.] namesake Noun company already installs audio, video, Internet and other wiring for home builders such as Miami-based Lennar Corp., an owner of The Newhall Ranch and Farming Company. Why not provide the gizmos and services that will run on these wires? ``It just seemed like a natural fit to capitalize on Cap´i`tal`ize on` v. t. 1. To turn (an opportunity) to one's advantage; to take advantage of (a situation); to profit from; as, to capitalize on an opponent's mistakes s>. some of the structural wiring,'' said Glenn O'Connell, owner of Crystal Clear and part of the new venture. ``It seemed like a ready customer base.'' It's also where the technology is headed in this culture of iPods and smart refrigerators - of media immersion, infinite customization and total control at your fingertips "Fingertips" is a 1963 number-one hit single recorded live by "Little" Stevie Wonder for Motown's Tamla label. Wonder's first hit single, "Fingertips" was the first live, non-studio recording to reach number-one on the Billboard Pop Singles chart in the United States. . Cuda said the company expects more than $2.5 million in sales in the coming year. ``For example, the universal remote control that we sell with our home theaters An audio/video entertainment center that has a large-screen TV and hi-fi system with three speakers in the front (left, right and center) and left and right speakers in the rear. Starting in the early 1990s, video inputs were added to stereo receivers and preamplifiers. - it requires a laptop to program it,'' he said. ``When we do security camera-type jobs, people want to be able to view those remotely (which requires online networking). ``Home automation systems are now also computer-based. We'll put in lighting controls and thermostat thermostat, automatic device that regulates temperature in an enclosed area by controlling heating or refrigerating systems. It is commonly connected to one of these systems, turning it on or off in order to maintain a predetermined temperature. controls so it's automated, but it's all IT-based. People want to be able to control it from their office.'' In fact, most new homes in the area are pre-wired for surround-sound speakers and indoor networking. For example, a Platinum Collection cluster in Santa Clarita's Robinson Ranch subdivision is built with automation standards such as touch-screen lighting in mind. ``It used to be you have a computer sitting on your desk and your home theater equipment sitting in your family room,'' said Jeremy Houck, the company's operation manager. ``That's all integrated now with your computer so you can view photos and movies and do a lot more home automation.'' It's almost a world as imagined by 1960s futurists, now anchored to reality through technological advances. ``We have the technology now, where computer integrating is allowing for automation,'' Houck said. ``That stuff that was introduced that was an idea 30, 40 years ago is now coming to life.'' That said, the business has become more complex. ``The plasmas - it's not something that you can put on a shelf and go,'' O'Connell said. ``Now there is a lot of installation that's involved.'' But after installation, it's much cleaner. ``The popular thing is to have a plasma TV A flat panel TV that uses the plasma display technology. See flat panel TV, plasma display and LCD vs. plasma. in the room and there is nothing else to go with it. That's how guys convince wives to buy a 50-inch plasma and hang it on the wall - no wires, no equipment, no clutter.'' The founders of the firm all came from humble beginnings Humble Beginnings was an American pop punk band from New Jersey. While never gaining large-scale success, many of the band's members went on to mainstream success with other outfits. . Allan Parrington, who has operated Al-ter Computers for 14 years, started by repairing computers for local grocery stores. O'Connell has dealt in consumer electronics for eight years. ``I started essentially setting clocks on VCRs and installing speakers,'' Cuda said. He entered the wiring business nearly 10 years ago when he met the then-general manager of STI STI systolic time intervals. , Stevenson Ranch's local cable company, which later became part of Time Warner Cable This article or section needs sources or references that appear in reliable, third-party publications. Alone, primary sources and sources affiliated with the subject of this article are not sufficient for an accurate encyclopedia article. . ``We got that whole business from one morning at a networking breakfast at IHOP IHOP International House Of Pancakes (restaurant chain) iHOP Information Hyperlinked Over Proteins IHOP International House of Prayer IHOP International H2O Project IHOP International House of Pain ,'' Cuda said. ``That relationship is worth millions of dollars.'' Visit www.accesstechus.com for more information. Eugene Tong, (661) 257-5253 eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Brian Cuda and Allan Parrington of Access Tech in Valencia have combined three firms to serve consumer electronics needs. David Crane/Staff Photographer |
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