JEDDAH: A Saudi startup is aiming to shed new light on food production using the latest laser technology.

Oaesis was established by entrepreneurs Vasiliki Kordopati and Robert Werfelmann to help solve the global problem of food scarcity by harnessing light to grow items sustainably.

The companys laser-based artificial lighting system has proved to be a major boon to the horticulture industry since its introduction. We utilize laser technology within the visible light spectrum, and we grow plants in a more efficient way, Kordopati told Arab News.

We noticed that most plants and salads we have (in the Kingdom) are imported, traveling long distances so we asked ourselves: Why not have indoor farms here in the region and in Saudi Arabia, where people can have fresh local produce with no pesticides or chemicals?

Oaesis is thought to be the worlds first provider of laser-based energy efficient grow lights for indoor farming, enabling growers to produce fresh, healthy, year-round vegetables and fruits.

We utilize the laser technology providing artificial light with lower energy consumption and better efficiency, Kordopati said. This technology is capable of growing any kind of indoor farming plants (such as microgreens, lettuces, herbs and berries) on a commercial scale, maximizing yields effortlessly.

She added that using light with less heat emissions was better for plants, with Oaesis system providing up to 4.5 times more light to plants with almost 80 percent less heat emissions compared to current technologies. Our system is competitive with the cost of current technologies and has shown a 35 percent reduction of total operating costs for an indoor farm.

Kordopati pointed out that the population of Saudi Arabia was expected to reach 39.5 million by 2030, raising the need for food production by 35 percent. One of the best potential sustainable ways of growing food locally was through the use of indoor/vertical farms, as opposed to traditional agricultural methods which used vast quantities of water and space.

Saudi Arabias Vision 2030 tackles this problem by adapting more sustainable, productive and efficient ways to produce local food, she said.

Oaesis mission was aligned with the Saudi Vision 2030 reform plan. Our mission is to help more companies, locally and globally, to improve their farms and provide better, fresh and nutritious produce with less energy demands, Kordopati added.

Also, Oaesis will hopefully inspire new local and global indoor farms to enter the market in Saudi Arabia.

In addition, the startup will help toward achieving the Vision 2030 goal of reducing waste and providing better food using sustainable and efficient resources. We wish to see a future where energy is used as efficiently as possible.

On the companys name, Kordopati said: Were in Saudi Arabia, and when we think about plants in a desert, an oasis comes to mind Were making an imaginary oasis in the Kingdom, and we want to be unique in what were doing.

Read this article:
Startup of the Week: Saudi business venture offers bright future for sustainable food production - Arabnews

If you're one of those people who is always cold (no matter if the heat is on or not), a space heater might be your new best friend.

With chillier temperatures on the horizon (hello, winter coats and snow boots), a space heater would be a welcome addition to any home.

To learn more about space heaters and get recommendations for the best models for every home we turned to Lou Manfredini, TODAY contributor and host of HouseSmarts, and Randy Light and Chad Hyland, portable heating merchants at Home Depot.

"A space heater is an appliance used for heating an enclosed place. There are many styles and types of portable space heaters to choose from including floor heaters, personal space heaters, baseboard heaters and wall heaters," Hyland told TODAY.

These are the 7 best space heaters we found, according to guidance from our experts.

At a base level, all space heaters heat the space they are placed in. However, each type will help heat the space in a different way, Hyland said. He broke down the four different types and how they work.

Hyland shared that "a space heater can save you money and energy, because it heats only the room or the space that is being used."

Now that you know all about what space heaters are and what they do, how do you pick a safe yet powerful space heater? Manfredini, Light and Hyland outlined a few of the most important things to look for when picking a space heater.

Stuff We Love

Get a daily roundup of items that will make your life easier, healthier and more stylish.

Here are a few of the best indoor and outdoor space heaters, according to the experts.

With self-regulating thermostat controls, three settings (high heat, low heat and fan) and safety features such as automatic overheat protection, Light and Hyland suggested this nine-inch-tall heater for small rooms or a desk area.

Electric baseboard heaters are great supplemental units that can be placed under windows where the heat loss is the highest, Manfredini said.

Although most propane heaters are made to be used outside, this is one of the only gas heaters that is safe to use indoors, Hyland and Light said.

It doesn't require electricity because it runs on a one-pound propane tank, so it's ideal for someone who has an indoor area to heat that doesn't have electricity. It can also serve as personal heating during outdoor fall and winter activities.

I actually have (this heater) in my master bedroom. I think its the best-looking heater that we carry, Hyland said. Not only is this heater stylish, it also oscillates to evenly distribute heat throughout the room.

Crane Fireplace Heater offers electric space heat but with the realistic look of a small fireplace. The best of both worlds and can take the chill out of a living room, bedroom or family room, Manfredini said.

Oil-filled space heaters offer residual heat and can actually cost less to run. They use the same wattage as most other heaters, but once the oil heats up and the temperature is reached, the unit shuts down but the heater oil in the unit continues to give off heat, Manfredini said.

This tower heater may not look as pretty as some others, but it easily heats medium-to-large rooms for a fraction of the cost, Light and Hyland said.

For more winter recommendations, check out:

To discover more deals, shopping tips and budget-friendly product recommendations, download the new TODAY app and subscribe to our Stuff We Love newsletter!

Read this article:
The 7 best space heaters of 2020 - TODAY

Los Alamos photographer Samantha DAnna in her favorite place the outdoors. Courtesy photo

The Reeves Family traveled to Las Conchas for their photo shoot. Photo by Samantha DAnna Photography

Photographer Samantha DAnna and her client Paige chose Abiquiu Lake and its beautiful views for senior photos. Photo by Samantha DAnna Photography

Samantha DAnnas combined love of photography and the outdoors is leading her to a whole new way of running her business. Photo by Maire ONeill/losalamosreporter.com

BY MAIRE ONEILLmaire@losalamosreporter.com

Incorporating her love of natural light portrait photography with her love of the outdoors is local photographer Samantha DAnnas passion.

Since she opened her Los Alamos studio two years ago, she has actually found herself doing less and less inside work and shooting more and more outdoors.

Im a goofy, fun, real, adventurous, outdoor photographer, DAnna told the Los Alamos Reporter over a cup of coffee. Creating moments and laughter and capturing priceless memories excites me and makes me happy.

She said she learned from some wise people not to wait to follow her passion. During the last two years she realized that many of her clients chose her as their photographer because of how she incorporates the surrounding landscape into her photos and uses the natural light of the great outdoors.

I learned that Im not really a studio-based photographer which is why I have decided to give up my studio space. While I have been grateful for the opportunity to do studio work, I have been paying for a great studio space that I hardly ever use, DAnna said, adding that operating the studio space allowed her to learn more about the business side of her photography.

So, for 2020, she will be focusing on outdoor portraits mostly of couples.

My passion is couples, whether its their engagement photos, or perhaps an elopement or an intimate wedding, I believe couples are what I was meant to photograph. I also love photographing families and doing high school senior photos, DAnna said.

Closing her studio does not mean that she will no longer shoot indoor portraits.

If you want a lifestyle session inside your home, I love doing natural light indoor portraits, she said.

DAnna has already booked several out-of-state and in-state weddings and elopements for this year and says she cant wait to book more.

I want to spend my time outside with my clients having fun, playing in a river and goofing off. This is me, and this is my business, and I cant wait to see what this year brings, she said.

If youre wondering how to get a hold of Samantha DAnna Photography after Feb. 1, just go to her web page http://www.samanthadannaphotography.com/. Or you can email her at sdannaphotography@gmail.com or call her at (505) 257-0577.

Like Loading...

Related

Excerpt from:
Passion For The Outdoors Moves Local Photographer In A New Direction - Los Alamos Reporter

Ring has just announced a few new smart light bulbs and solar power products at CES 2020 in Las Vegas.

Last year, Ring started this expansion into smart lighting. But now, it has a number of new products that really makes this a true expansion. Joining its outdoor light fixtures announced last year, Ring also has some new smart bulbs that can be used in existing fixtures. Ring has also announced solar-powered versions of its popular Floodlight, Steplight and Pathlight products.

Ring says that the new bulbs and solar lights will be available later this year. With no real date set.

So, A19 is the size bulb that just about every lighting fixture uses. There are a few that use something like a BR30, which is a floodlight, and then the smaller candle-like bulbs for some lamps. But the A19 is the most common light bulb out there.

Ring is selling both A19 and floodlight bulbs in this new product range. It says that these new bulbs are designed for "outdoor first" and will still work when the temperature drops as low as -4 degrees Fahrenheit. All the way up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. If you want to use these indoors, that should be no problem though, as they'll always work.

These bulbs are going to work like the early Philips Hue bulbs, and that means it needs a hub. The bulbs will need the Ring Smart Lighting Bridge for connectivity. These bulbs, as you might expect, are in a single color of white. They are not tuneable either. But that should be fine. Seeing as these sell for just $14.99, with the floodlight being $24.99. That's much cheaper than the other smart bulbs out there.

This should come as no surprise really, but Ring says that there is no difference between the solar and the battery-powered products that were announced today. So the Solar Steplight, Pathight and Floodlight will all be the same, but now you don't need to charge them if you get enough sunlight.

Ring did release prices for these. The Solar Steplight is going to be $29.99, the Solar Pathlight is $39.99 and the Solar Floodlight is $89.99. Again, these will be available later this year, with Ring not penciling in a time-frame for these products. But given the wording in the press release, it's safe to say that these won't be available until the second half of the year.

See the article here:
Ring Just Announced Its First Smart Light Bulbs At CES 2020 - Android Headlines

Terrence Malick has one of the most intriguing and influential approaches to cinematic storytelling of any director working today. His process is also one that has evolved over the years. In the 38 years prior to The Tree of Life, he has made only four feature films. In the eight years since 2011, the 76-year old director has released four more features, along with a documentary, Voyage of Time.

And since Malick doesnt do interviews, his close collaborators are tasked with explaining his process. IndieWire recently sat down with the two lead actors on his most recent film A Hidden Life, Valerie Pachner and August Diehl, and the films cinematographer Jrg Widmer. While this was the first Malick project for Widmer as cinematographer, he was the steadicam operator and second unit cinematographer under Emmanuel Lubezki on all of Malicks films dating back to 2005s The New World.

Malick cast Pachner early on, but spent a year after that trying to find the man who would play her husband, Franz Jgersttter (Diehl), the Austrian farmer who refused to fight alongside the Nazis in World War II. The following observations, excerpted from separate interviews with Widmer and the films stars, have been condensed and edited.

Reiner Bajo

Pachner: Once Terry found and cast August, then that was it we saw each other again during the shoot. There was no rehearsing. You just really had to jump into it. What helped was you have all these outer things like the farm, the actual farm work, you have the kids.

Diehl: It was a huge, long preparation, most of which was learning these tools that farmers dont use anymore. Looking back it was very much like living on a farm, working all day, doing real farm work, and being filmed.

Pachner: That was really such an important part of the film the physicality of it, which was intense. The scenes just happen in between. Milking the cow and youre talking. It was really hard work, but it also helped. It made you forget about acting. You really were like, Okay, I have to get this thing done, and whats the cow doing?

Diehl: There was a script. We knew the whole narrative, it was written down. It was nicely written, I remember, but it was also thin. It was helpful to have it at the beginning, but later on we didnt use it so much anymore. It was more the guideline. We put it away after a few weeks, because we were not shooting scene 106B, or whatever. It was more moments.

Widmer: This film follows a storyline, but its about exploring this humanity. You have many different options of how to capture that, and the way Terry does it is by letting the scene flow.

Pachner: Its more like you sort of walk through the storyline. It was not like, Oh, this is now that specific aspect of the story.

Diehl: Most of the time it was more or less clear which phase of the story we were filming.

Pachner: A few scenes were scripted and were used in the film. In the morning, Terry sometimes would send actors new lines. Then there were moments where we could come up with our own lines. Just things happened, some dialogue scenes happened.

August Diehl in A Hidden Life

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Widmer: They say their lines, but the moments between the lines are important its this whole feeling that happens and its really magic how it happens. Its an interesting experience.

It didnt really matter if the best takes had the actors lines or not, they were added in voiceover. It was just to find good expressions, good emotions, to find also right movements, for example the hands touching, and create emotions.

Diehl: Terry has a certain thing: He likes when people are moving. I remember we were never standing still.

Pachner: You keep moving, never stop. That was the rule.

Widmer: If they move, I can move. There are hardly any shots that are static maybe, sometimes a landscape, because nature stays where it is. Whatever happens on Earth, nature doesnt care too much. [laughs]

Diehl: The movement was something that Valerie and I found together, that came very much from us. Terry encouraged you to be completely leading the camera and take over.

Valerie Pachner and August Diehl A Hidden Life

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Pachner: They are dairy farmers, theyre people of not many words, and that really helped us also to find this very strong nonverbal connection.

When Widmer worked with Malick and Lubezki on The Tree of Life, they relied on only two or three wide lenses. (Widmer joked that they sent their longest lens, a 35mm, home the first week of production on The Tree of Life.) Yet early in shooting A Hidden Life, the cinematographer and director settled on going even wider relying heavily on a 12mm lens, and never going longer than a 16mm lens.

Widmer: We got closer to the actors because of the focal length. The wider lens gives you the chance to have close-ups even if they are six inches away. Then you can quickly pull back, just a little bit, and you have an over-the-shoulder shot, which if youre on a long lens [that same type of transition between shots] would require an enormous amount movement. But with the wider lens, you can get to new positions and compositions easily.

When actors move their hands and touch each other, you can follow the hand, and then you come back to a close-up, so if its all in the movement it looks so natural. Its like the flow of water. Its really a very immediate way of telling a story. So you can totally react to whatever they do.

Pachner: Terry would interrupt while youre doing the scene. Its just him whispering something, which sometimes could be surprising.

Widmer: The good thing about the short lenses is I was always close to the actor, so I hear what Terrys saying, which gave me the opportunity to react. So if he said, There are townspeople coming who are mad at you, then I made sure to see their faces as they react when people spit at them, or things like this.

Pachner: There was a constant change within a single take. The takes were often 20 minutes or longer.

Widmer: Song to Song and Knight of Cups [Malicks last two films] were shot on film, and when it came to nighttime scenes, we changed to digital. This one was entirely digital for the first time. When we shot some tests Terry was quite convinced digital would work and for good reason, it looked good.

It helped him extend the length of the scenes and this is really an exciting experience, because the actors would usually stop after two to four minutes, and the scene is done. They could go again and keep experiencing, explore what they wanted to do. Its about harvesting, its about interacting with the kids, its about interacting with the people and also in the prison scenes the scene could go on forever as you wait for the moment when it happens. Its just like magic that you see that something is different and you just try to catch these moments, which are so important for this movie.

Pachner: [Malick] has a certain texture of the film in mind. And then hes just looking to get all those elements, as many parts of it as he can. He would always say, Its like catching fish. So he was like, You could pick the right moments where something special happened.

So you have this freedom to explore, and Jrg really follows you. But there are also very clear visual rules that Terry has, like always keep moving, but also not to be on the same plane. You should have depth. Terry has his visual style that you have to follow as an actor, too. And you know if you dont follow it, this take is not going to end up in the movie.

The Tree of Life

Snap Stills/Shutterstock

Widmer: On Tree of Life, there were the dogma that Chivo [Lubezki] and Terry established, which they set up for the camera movements, but also for the lighting. The rule was to stay in the so-called z-axis, so you have movement which is always towards the sun, or away from the sun, and the actors move on this path, and theres some restrictions for them. This was still a little bit the case on A Hidden Life because it gives you such a flow in the camera movement, but this time we moved more freely. If something happens and you have to pan, then this is now an option.

In Texas [where Tree of Life, and Song to Song shot], you have sunlight every day and predictable sunlight. You could say, In the morning, we shoot east, because the light is coming in the parlor window, and at lunch we shoot south, and in the evening we shoot the kitchen because the light would come in there.

In Europe, we had to deal with clouds and bad weather, which you should embrace if you do a movie like this, but with Terry, its very easy because hes so technically interested and artistically involved that you can find positions where you can handle this. We had to change the rules a little bit because nothing is as predictable as the Texas sun, so you had to find solutions, including, when absolutely necessary, adding a little bit of lighting.

Pachner: In a way, we had to do the lighting on our own. There was no artificial lighting, so especially when we were shooting inside, he would always say, Search the light. So we had to be aware of where the light from the window was coming, and you know if you dont get that right, its not going to end up in the movie. So you had to be acting, and at the same time also sort of think about the light.

Widmer: When there was a chance to get the sunlight in the windows, we were always in the right position, and if not, we tried to play the scene close to the windows or to embrace what we had, or enhance the contrast by making the camera side darker, giving the image a bit of depth.

We prepared for a scenes to move between the outdoors and indoors. We had a very small crew of people following with white boards, or with black duvetyne. Even if we went into a building while we played the scene, we were able to handle these situations by brightening, or darkening, but we had to be flexible because we were moving a lot and with the wide lenses you see everything.

And because we are in the digital world, instead of changing film stock, we changed cameras. We had one prepared for high light and we had one prepared for low light. The high light [camera] gives you more latitude in the skies and the low light [camera] gives you more definition in the dark. It was also important we could go from slider to steadicam to handheld in just a fraction of a minute, so we prepared for everything.

Pachner: Everyone on set was working in the same sort of mindset that Terry has, or that his work needs.

Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.

See the original post:
Working with Malick: Inside the Dance Between Camera, Actor, and Light in A Hidden Life - IndieWire

From asking Alexa or Google to turn on your lights with the best smart bulbs to asking Apples Siri to turn off your TV with our favorite smart plug, smart home products can make life so much easier.

As you think about your resolutions for 2020, simplifying your life with the help of our favorite smart home products should be at the top of your list. Because, in addition to smart assistants, you can control the best smart home products from the gadgets companion app on your compatible smartphone or tablet wherever you are. (Yes, its really that easy.)

Weve put these products through the wringertesting the ins and outs of how they work. So, you can rest assured that these are the 15 very best smart products to make 2020 your easiest year yet.

Credit: Reviewed / Jonathan Chan

During our cleaning tests, the Eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 30C picked up, on average, over 10 grams of dirt.

The Eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 30C is the best smart robot vacuum you can get for the money. Its got great suction that is on par with a light cleaning from a regular vacuum, and it works with Amazons Alexa and Google Assistant. Plus, its one less chore you have to worry about.

Get the Eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 30C on Amazon for $291.99

Credit: Reviewed / Nick Schmiedicker

The only downside is that unlike some other smart bulbs, the Hue bulbs do require a hub in order to work.

New to smart bulbs? The Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance Starter Kit are the best smart light bulbs you can buy and theyre great for beginners. These bulbs are easy to set up, come with a robust suite of features, and integrate with an intuitive app all while playing nice with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri. Once you throw in the additional rainbow of possible light colors (up to 16 million), these are without a doubt the best smart bulbs to make your life easier.

Get the Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance Starter Kit (generation 3) on Amazon for $196.22

Credit: Reviewed / Sarah Kovac

We love that we could see at a glance whether both outlets are turned on thanks to prominent indicator lights.

An outdoor smart plug might seem excessive, but if youve got string lights on your patio or any other sort of outdoor set up that requires power, then youll appreciate that our favorite outdoor smart plug can be controlled via an app, so you dont have to worry about plugging anything in. It stands up to the outdoor elements, and its easy to use with two separate plugs that can be controlled independently.

Get the Meross MSS620 Smart Outdoor Plug on Amazon for $21.99

Credit: Reviewed / Daniel Wroclawski

These dimmers fade on and off, instead of immediately turning on and off like regular light switches.

One of the coolest features about our favorite in-wall smart dimmer, the Lutron Casta Wireless Smart Lighting Starter Kit, is that the lights automatically adjust as the seasons change, meaning you won't come home to a dark house after work.

And, unlike every other smart dimmer we tested, Lutron also offers the only dimmer that doesn't require a neutral power line, something that isn't common in the electrical wiring of older homes. This switch is compatible with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant.

Get the Lutron Casta Wireless Smart Lighting Starter Kit on Amazon for $99.95

Credit: Amazon

The third-generation Echo is the perfect blend of affordability and versatility.

Start the year off right with our favorite Echo speaker, the Echo (third-generation). The Alexa-enabled device can help you keep track of your schedule, check the weather, get commute times, read headlines, play music, and more.

Get the Echo (third-generation) on Amazon for $89.99

Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar

A leak detector should be reliable, easy-to-use, and able to do its job despite being completely submerged in water; the Honeywell Lyric easily ticks all of these boxes.

Leaky pipes can cause major headaches for homeowners. Do yourself a favor to avoid frozen or cracked pipes before it becomes a problem with our favorite smart water leak detector, the Honeywell Lyric WiFi Water Leak and Freeze Detector. The detector works over WiFi for easy setup, doesn't need a hub, and should last up to three years on AA batteries.

Get the Honeywell Lyric WiFi Water Leak and Freeze Detector at Home Depot for $58.69

Credit: Reviewed / Ben Keough

The video itself is the highest quality you can get from a smart security camera, with 1080p recording and excellent night vision.

From long workdays to family vacations, our favorite outdoor smart security camera, Google Nest Cam, can help you see whats happening at home when youre away. When coupled with a Nest Aware subscription, the camera can differentiate between people and pets, create clips that you can share, and can store video to the cloud.

Get the Google Nest Outdoor Cam at Walmart for $199

Credit: Logitech

Logitech continues to dominate the indoor camera market.

Wonder what your dog does all day while youre away? You can check in on your four-legged best friend with our favorite indoor smart security camera, the Logitech Circle 2. We love the Logitech Circle 2 for its easy setup, wire-free convenience, free 24-hour cloud storage, and well-designed app with its clever Daily Brief feature that creates a montage of the days events. It works with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant.

Get the Logitech Circle 2 at Lowes for $44.99

Credit: Reviewed / Daniel Wroclawski

The switch is responsive, works with Alexa and Google Assistant, and offers three-way switch compatibility.

Much like smart bulbs and smart dimmers, you can control your lights at home remotely using our favorite smart in-wall switch. This set works with Google and Alexa. A smart switch is also a good idea if you want to give the appearance that youre at home (like turning the lights on and off at certain times), even when youre not there.

Get the Leviton Decora Smart WiFi Switch on Amazon for $44.85

Credit: Reviewed / Ben Keough

The plug tracks energy usage and will even help estimate how much the device youve got plugged in will add to your electricity bill, but it doesnt provide real-time monitoring, like some of the fancier models we tested.

Sometimes its hard to remember to turn off the TV or unplug hot hair tools like a curling iron when youre in a rush. However, you probably dont want to leave these gadgets running when youre not at home. With our best value smart plug by Eufy, you can shut off whatever is plugged in from anywhere using the EufyHome app. This plug also offers energy monitoring, scheduling routines, and seamless integration with Alexa and Google Assistant.

Get the Eufy Smart Plug on Amazon for $13.79 with on-page coupon

Credit: Sensi

We tested the Sensi Touch with Siri, Google Assistant, and Amazon Alexa, and each one instantly updated both the app and the thermostat itself.

Sometimes its the little things that make the biggest difference, like being able to turn on the heat on a cold winter morning or adjusting the air conditioning while youre on vacation. You can do just that with our favorite smart thermostat, the Emerson Sensi Touch WiFi Thermostat. Nest and Honeywell may be better known smart thermostat brands, but the Emerson Sensi Touch WiFi Thermostat had the least stressful installation process, a helpful app, and functionality across multiple smart assistants.

Get the Emerson Sensi Touch WiFi Thermostat on Amazon for $120.98

Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

It takes about five minutes to set up the Nest Protect, and the process is impressively thorough, asking you for the detector location, as well as your self-testing and night light preferences.

The new year is a good time to check in on your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and replace them with the best smart smoke and carbon monoxide detector on the market: the Nest Protect Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm. It sends push notifications when it senses smoke or carbon monoxide and offers voice alerts, which are helpful in the event of an emergency because the detector can give you specific alerts like, Theres smoke detected in the hallway.

Get the Nest Protect Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm on Amazon for $119

Credit: Reviewed / Sarah Kovac

The Schlage Encode is a solid, easy-to-use smart lock.

Tired of carrying around a heavy set of keys in your pocket or purse? You need the best smart lock, so you can ditch your keys, and avoid getting locked out of the house. The Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt can store and remember up to 100 permanent, temporary, or recurring passcodes for everyone to use. And, it works with Alexa and Google Assistant.

Get the Schlage Encode Smart WiFi Deadbolt on Amazon for $205.88

Credit: Reviewed / Flo Ion

The second-generation Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller is currently topping our list because it offers a ton of easy to use options and isn't intimidating to install.

The second-generation Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller is currently our favorite smart sprinkler controller because it offers a ton of easy to use options and isn't intimidating to install. The sprinkler gives you the ability to set a watering schedule, and comes with a Weather Intelligence feature that enables the sprinkler system to automatically skip a session if rain or excessive wind is underway. It works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apples Siri.

Get the Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller on Amazon for $229

Credit: Google

The Google Nest Hello is an easy-to-use doorbell that can recognize familiar faces, sends immediate alerts over data and WiFi, and never lost its connection during our tests.

Our top pick for smart doorbells is the Google Nest Hello Smart WiFi Video Doorbell. It excels at delivering alerts right away from over WiFi when youre at home or cellular data when youre out and about. This doorbell also offers the best video and audio quality of any doorbell we tested, facial recognition alerts for familiar faces, package delivery notifications, and more useful features that will make you feel secure.

Get the Google Nest Hello at Walmart for $229

The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest deals, product reviews, and more.

Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

See the article here:
The 15 best smart home gadgets of 2020 - Reviewed

While many questions remain around exactly what role vertical farming will play in the future of agriculture, there are a few things we can count on with certainty. These indoor farms will become more and more automated over time, as well as modular. They will also be more user-friendly to the average consumer or small business, something evident by the number of indoor farming offerings at CES 2020 this week.

Among those offerings is the Planty Cube, a smart hydroponic indoor farm made by a Seoul, South Korea-based IoT company called n.thing. The grow system is modular enough to work in a number of different settings, from an apartment to a cafeteria, and automated enough that pretty much anyone can operate it.

Like other vertical farms out there, the Planty Cube environment contains rows and shelves of planters stacked inside a shipping container. Plants rely not on soil and human hands cultivating them, but instead on a computerized system that delivers the right recipe of nutrients, water, and light from LEDs to help photosynthesis. Humans have little involvement with the actual plants during the grow process. Most of the work on the farm, such as adjusting the LEDs, controlling temperature and humidity, and monitoring plant health, is done by the Planty Cube system, which uses sensors to collect data on the plants and can be controlled remotely by a smartphone.

Leo Kim, n.things CEO, came up with the idea for the farm after creating an IoT-enabled smart pot called Planty. From there, the company developed the Planty Square, a modular system made up of multiple capsules called Pickcells, each roughly two inches in width, length, and depth, that contain the seeds of each plant. Users can connect multiple Squares (like a Lego block, says Kim) to grow larger crops, and enough of these put together make up the Planty Cube farm.

The Planty Cube system relies heavily on data from farming logs, which are fed back into a database known as the CUBE Cloud and analyzed with AI to help farmers determine optimal growing conditions for each crop. As the user adds more Squares to the farm with new and different crops, this real time, cloud-based system makes it easier for the user to manage the overall farm, even remotely.

While a number of companies now operate automated vertical farms that grow leafy greens, most of these (Kalera, Plenty, Intelligent Growth Systems) are better suited to large warehouse settings that produce millions of heads of lettuce. Planty Cubes modular and user-friendly nature make it a more apt candidate for places like schools, hospital cafeterias, and university dining halls all locations that would benefit from having freshly harvested greens onsite.

Planty Cube nabbed a Best of Innovation award for CES this year. If youre currently milling about the show floor in Vegas, drop by n.things booth to see the Planty Cube in action.

Related

Continued here:
CES 2020: The Planty Cube Aims to Make Vertical Farming More Modular and Automated - The Spoon

Indoor recreational facilities and offices could soon move into Red Deers Riverside Light Industrial Park, which was made into a multi-use district by city council Monday.

Council was told Riverside Light Industrial Parks smaller sized lots work well for various uses, beyond light industries, and some landowners wanted to see some land use flexibility in this area.

New uses approved Monday include offices for small-scale or start-up businesses, an indoor recreational facility, an industrial/training facility, a microbrewery, and some retail sales of products produced or packaged on site.

Planning services director Tara Lodewyk said other municipalities, including Red Deer County, have mixed-use areas, so the change would allow Red Deer to become more competitive.

Not everyone has happy with the mixed-use proposal, with some Riverside business owners writing about their concerns that noise and traffic from existing industries might become issues for new office-type businesses.

But others felt the city wasnt going far enough.

At Mondays public hearing, council heard from property owner Dwayne Janzen, who wanted C-4 zoning for this area. This would allow him to lease to a private kindergarten to Grade 5 school.

However, Lodewyk said C-4 contains many uses not contemplated for this area by city staff. Janzen was told he could instead still seek the schools approval as a discretionary use.

Lodewyk added that going from I-1 to C-4 would mean many existing light industries would not be allowed to expand or rebuild. These existing businesses would effectively become legal non-conforming which would not be fair to these companies.

Red Deer Co-ops director of finance Mark Music favoured the change, saying his home and garden centre needs to expand its office area and hoped to do this in Riverside Industrial Park rather than going elsewhere.

Making the industrial park a mixed-use district was approved by most of council. Only Coun. Frank Wong was opposed out of concern about the effect of the transition on a very popular light industrial park. (Coun. Lawrence Lee was absent).

Individual properties will not automatically be rezoned. Council was told the next step will be meeting with property owners and discussing what new uses they are open to.

Coun. Dianne Wyntjes supported being more flexible and accommodating. Existing businesses dont want to be squeezed out, by others move in, so somewhere we have to find that sweet spot, she added.

lmichelin@reddeeradvocate.comLike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter

Continued here:
Red Deer's Riverside Light Industrial Park will become a mixed-use area - Red Deer Advocate

Most of my indoor plants are in the dumps. Leaf color is fading and leaves are dropping at an alarming rate. Is there anything I can do to perk them up?

The main problem with indoor plant deterioration this time of year is lack of light. Not only are the days short, but the suns rays come at a very low angle, which reduces light intensity to a fraction of summer time. We also have a lot of cloudy weather this time of year, which further reduces light energy.

Plants respond by reducing their growth rate and dropping older leaves that use more energy than they produce. Older leaves turn yellow because their nitrogen is transferred to new leaves. You can partially reduce old leaf drop by regular fertilization. Most liquid indoor plant fertilizers recommend application with every irrigation. If you used a timed-release fertilizer some time ago, it may have already been used up.

Over-watering can also cause plant deterioration. Make sure soil is dry on top before watering. When soil remains saturated with water, there is less room for air. Air contains the vital oxygen needed for root growth. If roots deteriorate due to lack of oxygen, they cannot support as many leaves.

The most important thing you can do is increase the amount of light that indoor plants receive. Move as many plants as possible close to windows. South-facing windows receive the most direct light. I place plants in a seldom-used room with a south-facing window. Make sure that curtains are open during daylight hours.

Artificial light can add to a plants needs, especially if the plant is close to the light source, such as under a table lamp. Sometimes a spotlight can be redirected to shine directly on plants. Lights placed for plant lighting can be left on at night so they receive additional hours of light energy.

Dust on plant leaves also reduces the amount of light that they receive. Leaves can be wiped with a cloth dipped in dish wash solution. Leaf shine products are available that clean leaves as well as adding shine. Fuzzy leaf plants such as African violet do not like to be wet. Test unfamiliar leaf cleaning and shining products on a few leaves before treating an entire plant.

Some indoor plants can survive at lower light levels. As you replace your indoor plants, select those that tolerate lower light conditions. Some of the best plants for low-light tolerance include: Spathiphyllum or Peace Lily, Aglaonema or Chinese Evergreen, Aspidistra or Cast Iron Plant, Epipremnum or Devils Ivy, Sanseveria or Snake Plant, and Dracaena. You can find additional choices in indoor-plant books or searce the internet for low-light indoor plants.

More here:
Gardening With Allen: Light is critical for indoor plants in winter - The Columbian

Latest Study on Industrial Growth of indoor LED lighting 2026 By-Data Bridge Market Research

With the clear understanding of customer requirement, one method or combination of many have been used to construct the most excellent Indoor Led Lighting market research report. The report endows you with complete market analysis and forecasting, market definition, market drivers and market restraints, market share, market segmentation and analysis of key players in the market. While preparing report, markets on the local, regional and global level have been explored.

Download indoor LED lighting Research Report in PDF Brochure@ (Note: Kindly use your business/corporate email id to get priority):https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/request-a-sample/?dbmr=global-indoor-led-lighting-market&utm_source=news&utm_medium=news&utm_campaign=sneha

Global indoor LED lighting market is expected to register a healthy CAGR of 10.5% in the forecast period of 2019 to 2026.

Research strategies and tools used of Indoor LED lighting Market:

This Indoor LED lighting market research report helps the readers to know about the overall market scenario, strategy to further decide on this market project. It utilizes SWOT analysis, Porters Five Forces Analysis and PEST analysis.

Details Key Players of Indoor LED lighting Market -:

The report incorporates key player profiles along with the information of the strategies they are adopting to remain ahead in the competition.

List of few players are-:Signify Holding, General Electric, OSRAM GmBH, Cree, INC., Eaton , Hubbell, Dialight, Zumbotel., Syska, NEPTUN LIGHT, INC, delviro energy, iGuzzini, SmartRay Inc, Bamford Lighting, Contrac Lighting, interLED, Dextra Group Plc, Astute Lighting Ltd, Sondia Lighting, Ecoled Ltd, among others.

Drivers & Restraints of Indoor LED lighting Market-:

Several market drivers, market restraints, along with opportunities and challenges are taken into consideration under market overview which gives valuable insights to businesses for taking right actions. Businesses can surely rely upon this first-class market report to accomplish an utter success.

Breakdown of Indoor LED lighting Market-:

The Indoor LED lighting market report performs segmentation which is done on the basis of type, end-user, and manufacturers and applications to fully and deeply research and reveal market profile and prospects.

Global Indoor LED Lighting Market By Offering (Hardware, Software, Services), Installation Type (New Installation, Retrofit Installation), Wattage Type (Less Than 50 W, 50 W-150 W, More Than 150 W), Application (Commercial, Residential, Automotive)

Regional Insights-

Regional analysis helps the market players to take an exhaustive assessment of the Indoor LED lighting market region wise so that it becomes easy for them to distinguish and investigate the developing pattern and hidden opportunities all over the world.

Regional Coverage of the Market

South America

North America

Middle east and Africa

Asia and Pacific region

Europe

Table of Contents Major Key Points

Part 01: Indoor LED lighting Market OverviewPart 02: Manufacturers ProfilesPart 03: Global Indoor LED lighting Market Competition, by PlayersPart 04: Global Indoor LED lighting Market Size by RegionsPart 05: North America Indoor LED lighting Revenue by CountriesPart 06: Europe Indoor LED lighting Revenue by CountriesPart 07: Asia-Pacific Indoor LED lighting Revenue by CountriesPart 08: South America Indoor LED lighting Revenue by CountriesPart 09: Middle East and Africa Revenue Indoor LED lighting by Countries

Continued.

New Business Strategies, Challenges & Policies are mentioned in Table of Content, Request DetailedTOC@https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/toc/?dbmr=global-indoor-led-lighting-market&utm_source=news&utm_medium=news&utm_campaign=sneha

Report synopsis

To analyze the market size of the market and infer the key trends from it.

Industry Chain Suppliers of Indoor LED lighting market with Contact Information

Historical, current and projected market size in terms of volume and value

In-depth market segmentation

Comprehensive quantitative analysis of the industry is provided for the period of 2018-2025 to assist stakeholders to capitalize on the prevailing market opportunities.

BuyReport@https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/checkout/buy/enterprise/global-indoor-led-lighting-market?utm_source=news&utm_medium=news&utm_campaign=sneha

Yes, Report can be customized to meet the clients requirements. Please connect with us (Corporatesales@databridgemarketresearch.com), we will ensure that you get a report that suits your needs.

About Data Bridge Market Research:

An absolute way to forecast what future holds is to comprehend the trend today!Data Bridge set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market.

Contact:

US: +1 888 387 2818

UK: +44 208 089 1725

Hong Kong: +852 8192 7475

Corporatesales@databridgemarketresearch.com

Visit link:
Indoor LED Lighting Market Trends and Forecast to 2026 Analysis By Product Type, Technology, Application, End User - Filmi Baba