FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

ART AND AUTOMATION NAMED ELECTRONIC HOUSE HOME OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNER
Local Company Earns Silver in “Best Wow Factor” Category

WAILUKU, HI – May 2, 2006 – Art and Automation, a local Maui company specializing in home theater, lighting, and “smart homes”, will be featured in the May issue of Electronic House magazine for its award-winning design work in a Home of the Year. 

The issue, which hits newsstands May 1, spotlights 40 Home of the Year award honorees whose creations exemplify and, in many cases, go above and beyond the types of enhancements an electronic lifestyle can provide homeowners.

Art and Automation was awarded silver in the Best Wow Factor category, and is featured on page 124 in the magazine. An online version can be viewed at http://www.electronichouse.com/article/full_control_from_tvs_to_tiki_torches/C206. 

Although many firms offer “smart home” systems, Art and Automation sets themselves apart by blending their technology seamlessly into the home. Mike Ruger, co-founder of AAI, notes that “by integrating superior technology into the artistic design of the home we create immersive environments that appear to run as if by magic.”

Art and Automation’s founders are not new to creating magic – each are former Walt Disney Imagineers with a background in special effects and theater design who spent years building immersive environments for theme parks around the world before forming the company. They are experts at integrating beauty and functionality, and utilizing technology to its utmost potential.

This personalized, invisible technology is the result of the careful focus and tailoring of a home’s systems to meet AAI clients’ specific needs and passions. “We strive to help tell the story of the home, and enrich the owners’ living experience. What we do is intended to be omnipresent but invisible,” says Paul Bailey, AAI’s CEO.

The concept of the “smart home” is becoming increasingly popular with the advent of a blend between computers and set-top boxes. These are however a far cry from the capabilities of the systems installed by Art and Automation. “Music, movies and photos shared in every room, connected lighting, climate control and security systems as well as great home theaters for any size home are just some of the benefits homeowners enjoy by having an electronic home,” said Cindy Davis, Electronic House Editor-in-chief. 

Electronic House’s editors selected its winners from more than 300 entries by over 100 custom home dealers and electronic systems installation firms. The entries were judged on the benefits that result for the homeowners and how easy each system is to use. 

About Art and Automation, Inc. 
Formed in Maui in 2002, Art and Automation, Inc. is Maui’s premiere home automation, lighting and home theater design company. Working with elite developers both in Hawaii and California, Art and Automation, Inc. specializes in creating “custom designed environments” for discriminating owners luxury custom homes and condominiums. The company is headquartered in Maui and has offices in California. For more information visit www.artandautomation.com

About Electronic House Magazine 
Electronic House is the leading consumer publication that focuses on all aspects of the electronic home. In authoritative feature articles and informative departments, Electronic House covers home theater, multiroom entertainment, home control, wireless communications, energy management, and home networking. Electronic House readers want to have the best technology in their homes, and Electronic House provides easy-to-read information enabling them to make informed buying decisions. Visit www.electronichouse.com.
###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

ART AND AUTOMATION “TECHS UP” HAWAII’S EXTREME HOME MAKEOVER

HONOLULU, HI – SEPTEMBER 30, 2007 – Art and Automation, a local Maui company specializing in high technology systems for private homes, coordinated the audio-visual systems for the season premiere episode of ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’s 5th season. 

The largest build in the show’s five-year history, the Hawaii episode included two separate structures: a five bedroom house and a commercial-class community center. Mentionable technology included in the house are in-wall iPod docks so the family can listen to their music throughout the house; the community center includes a touch-screen system for commanding the board room’s 50” plasma screen.

Art and Automation worked with Oahu based audio-visual companies Blue Print Audio Visual and Innovative Home Electronic Design to pull off the feat. Both structures went up simultaneously, in less than 5 days, requiring well-executed project management, coordination, and scheduling of all participants. Both partner companies provided manpower around the clock to meet the deadline for the build.

Living up to its name, Art and Automation also provided more than just technology – on the fly, the team created the sign that hangs behind the reception desk at the community center. Since the design for the sign evolved during the build, the graphics, design, and coordination were all done from the construction site, while the rest of their installation ensued.

Art and Automation’s founders are not new to creating magic under these tight constraints – each are former Walt Disney Imagineers who spent years integrating art and technology for theme parks around the world before forming the company.

“We were extremely happy to participate” says Mike Ruger, Art and Automation Principal Designer, “the gift of this home is a celebration of this wonderful family”. 

Stepping up to the plate, Art and Automation’s vendors provided much of the technology installed in the structures, including wiring, control systems, distributed audio, and speakers. A full list of the participant vendors is provided with this press release. 
 
Art and Automation has image assets of its work on “Episode 501” available for press use. Examples are included with this press release.

About Art and Automation, Inc. 
Formed in Maui in 2002, Art and Automation, Inc. is Maui’s premiere home automation, lighting and home theater design company. Art and Automation has won accolades for its work, including the 2007 “Electronic House of the Year” award. Working with elite developers both in Hawaii and California, Art and Automation, Inc. specializes in creating “custom designed environments” for discerning owners of luxury custom. The company is headquartered in Maui and has offices in California. For more information visit www.artandautomation.com

About "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" 
"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," which has won back-to-back Emmy Awards as Best Reality Program (non-competitive), is entering its fifth season on ABC. The program is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding. Denise Cramsey is the executive producer and David Goldberg is the president of Endemol, USA.
###
 
Art and Automation’s Contributing Vendors:
ZON Audio Distributed Audio System, Speakers
http://www.zonaudio.com/home/

Parasound Amplifiers,Speakers
http://parasound.com/


Liberty Wire and Cable Structured house wiring
http://www.libertycable.com/


Sonance iPort™ in-wall iPod™ Dock
http://www.iportmusic.com/


AMXTouch-screen control system
http://www.amx.com/


Smart Tech Wholesale Speakers
http://smarttechwholesale.com/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

ART AND AUTOMATION BECOMES COLOR KINETICS’ 
RESIDENTIAL DISTRIBUTOR IN MAUI COUNTY

WAILUKU, HI – May 11, 2007 – Art and Automation, a local Maui company specializing in high technology systems for private homes has just been named Color Kinetics’ Residential Distributor for Maui County. 

Color Kinetics manufactures LED lighting products that deliver four times the efficiency of traditional incandescent and halogen light sources. According to a recent Color Kinetics press statement, performance trends suggest that LEDs have the ability to ultimately leapfrog other efficient light sources, such as fluorescent, given their longer source life, durability, non-toxic materials.

Art and Automation believes Color Kinetics’ products can have a tremendous impact on residential lighting both from an efficiency and reliability standpoint, and is proud to be affiliated with the market leader in this area of lighting.

Art and Automation is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and offers “green” residential energy management systems as part of it’s home automation systems. 

Color Kinetics products are immediately available from Art and Automation, Inc.

About Art and Automation, Inc. 
Formed in Maui in 2002, Art and Automation, Inc. is Maui’s premiere home automation, lighting and home theater design company. Working with elite developers both in Hawaii and California, Art and Automation, Inc. specializes in creating “custom designed environments” for discriminating owners luxury custom homes and condominiums. The company is headquartered in Maui and has offices in California. For more information visit www.artandautomation.com

About Color Kinetics 
Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, Color Kinetics Incorporated (NASDAQ: CLRK) transforms environments through new, dynamic uses of light. Its award-winning lighting systems and technologies apply the benefits of LEDs as a highly efficient, long lasting, environmentally friendly, and inherently digital source of illumination - reinventing light itself as a highly controllable medium. Color Kinetics also enables widespread adoption of LED lighting through OEM and licensing partnerships in diverse markets. The company is headquartered in Boston, MA with offices in the UK and China. More information is available at http://www.colorkinetics.com.
###

Art and Automation's Sound System Helps to Create a Mood at Ferraro's Restaurant Under Tight Schedule

Wailea, Maui, HI, January 1, 2003 - When the Four Seasons resort renovated its exclusive beachfront Ferraro's restaurant, a complete dining experience was the objective. A distributed audio system that blended with the environment, rather than detracting from it was required. Audio vendors Maui Sound Systems called upon partners Art and Automation, Inc. to provide a solution that would work within the environment.
Working under a tight schedule, Art and Automation designed and built a custom integrated audio system in three weeks. The system required multiple audio sources to be switched between different zones of the restaurant while accommodating live musicians. The goals of the design were optimum sound quality, minimal visual intrusion, and ease of use for the restaurant staff. A touchscreen with a user interface designed for Ferraro's was implemented for user friendliness and aesthetics.
Art and Automation designed the system using components from companies such as AMX, Speakercraft, QSC, Autopatch, Marantz, and Alesis. The system allows multiple sources (CD, Digital Music Express, live musicians) to be switched to multiple zones within the restaurant simultaneously. Volume levels are also individually adjustable for each zone. All controls are accessed through a touchscreen interface designed by Art and Automation. All visible parts of the system, from the speakers, to the touchscreen platform, to the interface software, were themed to blend in with the environment created by architects at Island Design Center. Live musicians plug into the system from the stage and use the system's compressor/limiter. The resulting system covers all areas of the restaurant with high-quality sound while keeping visual impact to a minimum.
About Art and Automation, Inc.
With roots in the Theme Park industry, Art and Automation, Inc. is dedicated to bringing theme park technology to homes and resorts. The company designs and builds complete systems to create turn-key environments that meld sound, vision, and automation.