Sharing space with strangers is becoming an increasingly popular option for a new breed of professionals looking for housing that combines private living space with shared communal facilities.

And with many new co-living developments offering shared spaces like wellness studios, gyms, and gardens or terraces for BBQs and entertaining, it’s becoming easier than ever for residents to get to know their neighbours.

Rising rents and an increase of young professionals looking for living spaces in urban areas is one of the factors driving the trend, but there is a deeper motive for the development towards multi-occupancy constructions.

While the modern version of co-living is a little different to the hippy communes that began to spring up in the Sixties, or the artist communities prevalent in places such as Germany and Denmark, the concept is based on the same ethos: to create a lifestyle based on sharing and community.

People need connection in the physical world as well as online

In an age where much day to day contact is online, and with loneliness a widespread issue, a sense of ‘real’ connection is increasingly welcome.

The growth of the sharing economy and the rise of co-working and other partnerships suggests there is an appetite for greater sharing and social engagement, says architect Manisha Patel, who specializes in urban design and planning for practice PRP.

In the recent RSA report ‘Co-living and the common good’ Patel writes of the balance between privacy and social interaction that co-living manages to address – and points out that humans are the most social of mammals.

“Our communication skills set us apart; social interaction and the search for a sense of wellbeing is hardwired into all of us,” she says. “The desire for communal interaction is balanced with the need for each individual to choose their degree of separation.”

While physical connection is important, so too is the technology that allows people to connect with each other. As you might expect, ‘Generation rent’ is looking for far more than the bare essentials in their new home: the burgeoning use of smart phones, smart TVs and a plethora of connected home devices mean fast, immediate access to broadband and WiFi connectivity is today as essential as running water. Technological progress has enabled large new developments to improve significantly by providing a seamless connection to their facilities.

Curve IT is strategically placed in the PRS internet services sector

Curve IT has been working with a number of BTR and PRS operators over the last few years, notably Essential Living with whom we worked on with the flagship new builds Dressage Court, Vantage Point and Creekside Wharf (opening mid to late 2018).

Residents received high-speed internet access with broad WiFi coverage and a high quality branded portal page, both in their apartment and throughout the building, from the day they moved in.

With hundreds of residents living in close proximity using multiple devices, often at the same time, providing Wifi connectivity to support a multi-dwelling unit (MDU) requires a deep understanding of the fundamentals of WiFi technology, and this is where Curve IT’s experience comes to the fore.

We are passionate about delivering PRS internet services through robust, scalable WiFi networks for multi-occupant buildings, and have a specialist team which designs, creates and delivers an intelligent, futureproof IT infrastructure.

Curve IT are involved from RIBA stage 1-3  onwards, and early site visits enables our IT team to translate ideas into a high tech spec which can be incorporated before construction even begins.

As Patel puts it so succinctly: “These technologies have the potential to allow co-living residents to share resources more efficiently; to make opportunities for social interaction more visible or likely; and to connect residents to services and civic opportunities within the wider area in which they live.”

And as Essential Living says in its recent blog about the benefits of co-living, “It helps to build friendships in the physical world rather than the digital, and being part of a thriving community is perhaps the oldest and most effective way to make those connections.”

Co-living offers more connection – both on and offline.

To talk to one of our expert IT consultants regarding our WiFi design practice Contact the team at Curve IT on contact@curveit.com or call 01273 806220.

The post Why co-living is the future for Generation Z but only with robust PRS internet services appeared first on Curve IT.

Tenants in the PRS are increasingly seeking high-spec apartments incorporating state-of-the-art technology: MDUs are becoming luxurious living spaces where lighting, heating, and access can be controlled easily and intuitively – with instant connectivity available for tenants on a growing number of devices.

(A recent tech survey showed residents of MDUs had an average of 17 devices with internet connection per apartment.)

Meeting high technological expectations

• Smart phones and smart TVs, WiFi-enabled lighting, heating and security will soon be jostling for bandwidth space with smart fridges, smart clothing and other wireless tech.
• The rise of voice-activated home hubs such as Amazon Echo and Google Home is driving opportunities for seamless shopping and marketing without a laptop or tablet in sight.

Around 21 billion devices will be connected to the Internet of Things (IoT) by 2020.    

The best in-house technology

• By deploying a building-wide WiFi platform a PRS developer can engage with residents on many different levels.
• Guest engagement through portal options ensures residents feel part of a modern, connected network, which benefits them in many different ways.
• Curve IT provide full reporting and analytics to the operator.
• Resident portals serve multiple functions: tenants can communicate with one another and alert building management teams about urgent matters. Residents can also use a portal to receive notifications or upgrade their accommodation or connectivity.
• Flexible business models can deliver a revenue stream to operators.
• A great product and service gives the operator a competitive advantage over other PRS operators.
• Internet access is included in the rent, and Curve IT can create an infrastructure where residents can easily upgrade for a managed monthly payment with the client.
• Carefully designed placement of WiFi access points means residents have superb access throughout the entire building, whilst minimising the number of points needed, so saving money for the build.
• The Curve IT Personal Area Network means that residents have access to their own network, wherever they are in the building, such as the gym or lobby, creating a seamless experience for the resident.
• We are approaching an age in which a wide range of consumer products will be routinely connected to internet-enabled interfaces.
• Curve IT can also provide ongoing 24/7 IT support if required, for both the operator and residents, including warranty management.

Contact the team at Curve IT to see how we can deliver your PRS IT services and solutions.

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“Although I’ve had plenty of experience in wireless deployments, it’s important that as a Ruckus Big Dog partner, Curve IT holds the official certification for  Zone Director deployments,” says Mark.  “It’s always good practice to update your knowledge around the latest Ruckus products and interesting to learn about system developments.”

Ruckus WiSE Certification Test

WiSE is Ruckus’ top-level certification. It ensures that certificate holders have the necessary skills to design, deploy, manage, and support robust wireless networks consisting of a range of Ruckus smart WiFi products, including ZoneDirector controllers and Access Points.

Key aspects of the course covered:

• Describe the ZoneFlex WLAN system
• Compare the ZoneDirector and ZoneFlex AP hardware models
• Install a ZoneDirector controller
• Configure a ZoneFlex WLAN system to support
• WLAN service options
• User authentication options
• System administration options
• WLAN security options
• Captive portal services
• Wireless mesh networking
• Redundancy options for the ZoneDirector controllers
• Describe the network topology options for the ZoneFlex WLAN system
• Troubleshoot WLAN connectivity and performance issue

The post Ruckus WiSE certification for Mark Adams appeared first on Curve IT.

The Brighton Centre is one of the largest purpose-built events venues on the South Coast providing top class conference facilities to organisers and delegates alike.  A typical year in the Brighton Centre calendar will include a political party conference, multiple trade union conferences, sporting championships, medical conventions, trade fairs, exhibitions, graduation ceremonies, concerts and live entertainment.

In 2011, the Brighton Centre led the way in its technology offering for events.   It was the first UK conference venue to offer free delegate WiFi to all events knowing that improving the ease of communication for delegates would further enhance any visitor’s experience of the venue.

Curve IT has been providing the WiFi connectivity at the Brighton Centre since 2011.  We played an integral role in the initial upgrade installation of the fibre optic networks and the Ruckus Wireless Access Points to facilitate the free WiFi throughout the building.  Curve IT’s Managing Director, Simon O’Hare, worked closely with the team at the Brighton Centre to achieve fast and reliable connectivity and a future-proofed, fully flexible system. Future-proofing the system has allowed us to conduct continual internal upgrades with minimal disruption to business operations over the last six years.  The flexibility built into the system has ensured that the Brighton Centre can accommodate the  technology objectives that the clients have for their conferences and events.

Of course, now in 2017 free WiFi is the norm at events venues.  As the content delivery requirements of events have evolved with technology advancements, the connectivity also needs to be fit for purpose. There is nothing more frustrating for an event organiser, or the delegates, than a poor WiFi service disrupting the flow of an event.

Curve IT assist the Brighton Centre and their clients with scoping the IT required to deliver the objectives of a particular event. The scale of the conferences and conventions at the Brighton Centre can result in thousands of delegates all trying to connect multiple devices at the same time.  The regular WiFi connectivity at The Brighton Centre provides business class upload and download speeds throughout the venue which is suitable for most of its events.  However, some events require advanced connectivity, for which we’ll implement various options including hardwiring and increased up/download speeds.  For example, the ESPID conference held at the Brighton Centre in 2016 required uplifted connectivity to facilitate high-speed download of the ESPID conference app, live voting and live engagement with speakers.

To discuss WiFi and networks at your venue or event, call our consultants on 01273 806220 or email us.

The post WiFi Connectivity at The Brighton Centre supports the Labour Party Conference 2017 appeared first on Curve IT.