Two simple abbreviations, AV and IT, sum up everything perceived as essential for true comfort in today’s yachts and homes. Audiovisual systems and Information Technology, commonly known as the Internet; but also home automation and, more recently, applications of artificial intelligence, are imperative in the design of today’s homes and yachts. So it’s not surprising that owners are increasingly coming to Videoworks to ask how they can import the experience they enjoy on board into their homes, or vice versa, setting up new yachts or refits with all the conveniences they have at home or in the office.
Credits Leonardo Andreoni
With over 25 years of experience, Videoworks is an international leader in the design, construction and installation of innovative audio/video, communication, IT & connectivity systems for the world’s most exclusive customers in yachting, architecture and business. Videoworks has installed over 850 systems in its first 25 years in the business, celebrated last year. The company has more than 120 employees in Italy, the Netherlands, France, the United States and Turkey. Confirming the Italian company’s growth since it developed an AV system for Gianni Agnelli back in the early days. Videoworks has been on the cutting edge of technology ever since, even in this age of intense technological development.
Credits Leonardo Andreoni
Design meets technology
The systems used in the home and on board a yacht may look similar, but they are actually quite different. What they share is a combination of technology and design, with devices that are practically invisible; but beyond this initial similarity, they are two different worlds.
“The first difference is that, on board a yacht, the owner is always sure to have the support of qualified crew members; while installers in the home do not normally provide any advice on AV and IT devices. So while our motto for onboard systems is “keep it simple”, in the home it must be “keep it even simpler than simple”. What’s more, maximum use on a yacht rarely exceeds 60 days a year, whereas people use their in-home systems for two or three hundred days,” explains Videoworks CEO Maurizio Minossi.
On land, 5G internet and landlines ensure a 100% high-speed connection, but the situation is more complicated at sea. One solution allowing yacht owners to eliminate bulky CDs and DVDs is Kaleidescape, a media player that whose storage and playback systems offer ultra-high definition digital content.
Courtesy Videoworks
Another difference is that video projectors are used more frequently in residential projects, whereas on board a yacht it’s important to pay close attention to IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) to ensure the Internet connection is routed via the users’ home country, no matter where they are browsing from, so that they can keep up on the latest news and watch their favourite movies and TV series just as they do at home. In residential projects, the only option for outdoor areas is normally installation of independent speakers, while in indoor areas it’s necessary to control heating and ventilation; on a boat, no heating is normally required, only cooling, but outdoor areas require a plenty of equipment for lighting and providing access to the sea.
Courtesy Videoworks
“We don’t deal in standard solutions, either on a yacht or in a home; every single project has its own unique history, and its success depends on the ability to listen to the customer, be inspired by their needs and support them as best as possible in their requests; but also having the honesty to sometimes say ‘no’ when functions are requested that could jeopardise general stability. Underlying it all is one of the fundamental rules guiding everything Videoworks does: designing and building a system is always exciting, but the real job is to keep that system working perfectly so users can enjoy the experience they expect”, Minossi points out.
Credits Leonardo Andreoni
Videoworks is the ideal partner in the home, too
Demonstrating how needs in the home and on board a yacht can converge, Videoworks ensures that every AV and IT installation on board a vessel, and under more challenging conditions than on land, meets the expectations of the most demanding customers in terms not only of communications, but also of lighting, temperature control, entertainment, assistance, safety and even health monitoring. Without neglecting even the most minor conveniences for the user: guests can access their own Netflix or Spotify account on the system of any yacht without difficulty, even when sailing from one continent to another.
Credits Leonardo Andreoni
Another strength of AV and IT design in today’s yachts is that it can now be almost invisible, as in the home. Videoworks’ goals include limiting the visual impact of technological devices, with the exception of high-end AV brands that add character to interior design. The Italian company also ensures that the installations are future-proof, allowing systems to be updated for 20 years. Online security is an increasingly important concern, and Videoworks takes care of this, too, with specific solutions such as firewalls, antiviruses and web filters for the utmost peace of mind.
Credits Leonardo Andreoni
It’s essential to optimise AV and IT on the basis of positioning. Videoworks helps design systems that create multipurpose spaces, so that offices, beach clubs, spas and gyms can be used for different purposes at different times. This can sometimes be achieved with dynamic lighting systems, turning an elegant dining room into a nightclub in a matter of seconds. All with the utmost ease of use, so that owners can control them from a single device or app.
Courtesy Videoworks
Videoworks and artificial intelligence
And here comes a new challenge: artificial intelligence. Videoworks is already involved in a large-scale AI project at a major Italian construction site.
“With the latest generation of machine learning services, we can optimise energy consumption with home automation and get users accustomed to systems controlling lighting, curtains and temperature, so they can identify their ideal climatic conditions at any time of year,” explains Maurizio Minossi.
