The Gift of Pokemon This Christmas

If you are a 90s baby you will remember the absolute craze that went on back then over Pokemon. In 2016, the craze is back, and Pokemon have made big moves to both stir nostalgia in old players, and bring new ones into the fold. They have released a new set of Pokemon games for their Nintendo DS gaming system, as well as a new movie, and trading cards (for those who really like to keep it classic). On top of this, they partnered with app developer Niantic to create Pokemon Go, an app that smashed all expectations and set records for downloads within the first week of launch. So what does this mean for Christmas? Well, it means Pokemon gifts are absolutely booming, and we are going to discuss a few great options if you know someone who would love one!

How to Find the Best Pokemon Gifts

There are a number of resources available when you are looking for gifts, the primary three are Gifts.com, Amazon.com, and Epicgifts.net – Gift Ideas. These sites have a plethora to choose from and offer various means of finding what you are looking for. Amazon is of course great for finding out what other people are buying, as well as for getting great deals. Gifts.com lets you filter based on interests and likes, and Epicgifts has an entire list of gift ideas just for that particular category. To find out what goes into choosing the right item, we spoke to an spokesperson from Epicgifts who said the following:

To come up with our list, we scoured the net to find out what people were buying, as well as what kinds of people were buying what. For example, someone who is into the backstories and immersion of Pokemon may want a Snorlax plush for their desk or bed, whereas someone who is into competitive DS play may want skins or stickers for the DS. It all varies based on the personality and underlying interest in the genre of the person you are buying for.

– Courtesy of http://epicgifts.net

Clearly there is more to selecting a gift than simply knowing someone likes a specific genre, and the team at EG appears to have dug deep into that to give you a truly custom list of ideas.

With this in mind, we recommend that if you are searching for some Pokemon themed gift ideas, you check out the resources below (and the ones mentioned in the post) to give you a good idea of what to go for. Hopefully it helps, and happy holidays from the EMTAErie team!

Resources:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/gift-finder

https://www.walmart.com/c/gifts/unique-gifts

http://www.target.com/c/gift-finder/-/N-5o5g7

How is Home Automation Used in Transit

Home Automation Technology Used on Metros?

What is Home Automation?

Home automation gives homeowners access to control devices in their homes using a mobile device from a remote location. From a home security perspective, home automation includes alarm systems, surveillance cameras, smoke detectors and other sensors that link to it. Until recently, the automated central control of building-wide systems was found mainly in larger commercial buildings as well as expensive homes. Typically involving lighting, heating and cooling systems, automation rarely provided more than basic control, scheduling functions and monitoring. Additionally, it was accessible only from specific control points within the building.

However, home automation has undergone great improvements and everything has an assigned IP address. It can also be accessed and monitored remotely through smart devices and appliances that can be connected to a local area network through Ethernet and Wi-Fi. Remote control and access mean homeowners can connect to their home networks while away through their tablets and smartphones. Below is a brief overview of top three high end home automation systems. Events can be programmed and scheduled for the on the network, which may include time-related commands such as scheduling lights to be turned on and off at specific times. Non-scheduled events include turning on all the lights when the security system is triggered.

Types of Systems

HomeSeer HS3 is relatively easy to use although it takes some time to master. It is highly compatible with several home-control technologies. HomeSeer gives homeowners a wide range of software compatibility. It supports media management applications such as iTunes, Windows Media Player as well as Windows Media Center. It is also compatible with HVAC systems. HomeSeer provides remote access, allowing you to control your home from an Internet browser or even your smartphone. HomeSeer’s modules can receive signals either wirelessly or from the home automation controller through the wiring in your house. HomeSeer’s software allows you to make customization based on your preferences and the programs can be activated manually, automatically or using voice control.

Crestron is one of the undisputed leaders when it comes to automation in homes, schools and businesses. It is compatible with media players such as Windows Media Center and iTunes. Its main strength lies within the home theater, a feature that makes it one of the few home automation systems to do so. It is also compatible with multiple home automation peripherals, most of them designed to work with Crestron hardware controllers. Crestron also supports different operating systems, including Windows, Mac OS X, Android and iOS. In terms of functionality, Crestron is easy to use and has Cretsron mobile apps that allows you remote access to your home. Additionally, you can configure Crestron to work well with different preset programs that can perform basic and complex home tasks. In case you can’t find your remote, Crestron also supports voice controls.
Control4 is designed to work with Control4 devices that use ZigBee, Z-Wave and Wi-Fi communication technology. It is compatible with Nest Learning Thermostat and requires professional installation. It allows you to customize the settings based on your preferences and needs. It offers every peripheral type you might need in a smart home system. You can control every enabled device within the house from a standard desktop computer, Control4 touchpad, a smartphone or iPad provided you have internet connection. You can also program events to take place automatically via basic triggers and random actions.

How has it effected transit?

Massive changes have been taking place across the world when it comes to transportation technology. Most notably, the new London Underground system has been revealed. Here is a sneak peak: