Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

The MAS-A100 Delivers Hands-free and Hassle-free Lectures and Presentations with Acoustic Feedback Prevention

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --Sony Electronics Inc. today announced the U.S. launch of its new beamforming1 microphone, MAS-A100, providing enterprises an advanced audio solution to enable flexible and creative "hands-free" lectures and presentations.

Designed for a range of meeting, lecture and presentation environments, the ceiling-mount microphone offers advanced clear audio for both speech reinforcement and recording with a unique combination of beamforming technology and Intelligent Feedback Reducer function. The microphone has a dual-channel output for simultaneous recording that captures the speaker and student's/participants' voices.Together with the support for Dante2 and Power Over Ethernet (PoE) for easy installation, the MAS-A100will significantly improve the audio experience in education and corporate organizations.

Hands-free presentation with speech reinforcement The MAS-A100 achieves hands-free speech reinforcement without requiring hand-held or body-worn microphones and subsequent batteries or device management. This is enabled by a unique combination of beamforming technology and an original feature called Intelligent Feedback Reducer, which canextract speech soundwhile suppressing unwanted feedback with Sony high-performance digital signal processing. After capturing voice, the microphone's Automatic Gain Control function automatically adjusts the output volume to be consistent regardless of the presenter's location, making lectures and presentations easier to hear.

Wide-area recording with clear low-noise sound qualityThe beamforming microphone has dual-channel output that enables simultaneous speech reinforcement and recording. It covers a wide range and can record not only the speaker's voice, but also the students and participants. The microphone also has auto-noise reduction capabilities to minimize background sound from air conditioners and projectors, which makes it ideal for lecture capture and meeting recording.

Simple installation and management The microphone can be easily integrated into existing A/V setups and used with a wide range of products thanks to support of Dante, the digital audio-over-IP networking standard. The model also supports PoE, enabling installation and power management with a single network cable. The MAS-A100's unique Automatic Calibration function automatically optimizes the parameters of the audio processing for speech reinforcement by generating and capturing the test signal during the installation process. Sony's free-of-charge Microphone Array System Manager software (MASM-1) can help centralize configuration and management of multiple microphones in various rooms via an IP connection.

"Lectures, speeches, and corporate meetings can contain priceless wisdom. Yet, recording them has too often been mired by unintuitive, ineffective recording technology," said Theresa Alesso, Pro division president, Sony Electronics. "At Sony, we work in close cooperation with our customers and partners to address the real-life challenges they face every day. With the MAS-A100, we're offering our customers a powerful yet cost-effective solution that completely transforms the style of lecture and presentation. With its advanced speech reinforcement and clear audio recording features, we're setting a new benchmark for what organizations can expect from microphones."

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Derek Rabuck, IT Consultant and Project Manager at Rice University, is eager to test the new technology: "I heard the impressive Sony Beamforming Microphone prototype at InfoComm 2019, and I'm looking forward to hearing the final product. The hands-free, location-free features make it very appealing."

The beamforming microphone is expected to be available in spring 2020.

Recap of key features:

About Sony Electronics' Imaging Products and Solutions - AmericasSony Electronics' Imaging Productions and Solutions - Americas group develops and manufactures video and audio technologies and solutions for a range of professional applications. These include broadcast television and motion picture production, live event production, corporate presentations, meeting rooms, ENG/EFP, digital cinematography, and more. Sony professional technologies are used in market segments including media solutions, imaging solutions, education, corporate A/V, visual simulation and entertainment, theater, healthcare, and sports. Visitpro.sonyfor more information.

About Sony Electronics Inc.Sony Electronics is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America and an affiliate of Sony Corporation (Japan), one of the most comprehensive entertainment companies in the world, with a portfolio that encompasses electronics, music, motion pictures, mobile, gaming, robotics and financial services. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Sony Electronics is a leader in electronics for the consumer and professional markets. Operations include research and development, engineering, sales, marketing, distribution and customer service. Sony Electronics creates products that innovate and inspire generations, such as the award-winning Alpha Interchangeable Lens Cameras and revolutionary high-resolution audio products. Sony is also a leading manufacturer of end-to-end solutions from 4K professional broadcast and A/V equipment to industry leading 4K and 8K Ultra HD TVs. Visit http://www.sony.com/news for more information.

1: Beamforming is a signal processing technique used in sensor arrays for directional signal transmission or reception.2: Dante is trademark of Audinate Pty Ltd.

Sony logo (PRNewsFoto/Sony Electronics)

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Sony Launches IP-based Ceiling Beamforming Microphone with Speech Reinforcement and Clear Audio Recording - Yahoo Finance

Gray Area is a politically-minded nonprofit arts venue focused on dissolving boundaries between art and technology, performance and life. The End Of You, open through March 1, is an exemplar of their mission.

The immersive art exhibition, designed to take around an hour and experienced with a staggered stream of other people, is the product of 12 artists work in Gray Areas incubator, the Experiential Space Research Lab, a collaboration between Gray Area and Gaian Systems, a planetary cognition lab. Artists took leading roles on different installations. The result is a collection that functions as a chaotic, yet cohesive, whole exploring humanitys abusive and inextricable relationship with the environment.

When you first enter, there is no clear path to follow, no indication of what you can and cant touch. Theres information availablea fold-out pamphlet distributed at the door, a seated exhibition guide to answer questionsbut the power of The End of You comes from the process and uncertainty of slowly discovering the space and unraveling your relationship and responsibility to nature through it.

Your first or last stop in the exhibition is likely the RegisTree, by lead artist Romie Littrell, a mutated bio-abstraction of a tree set off from the other two rooms. The RegisTree provides a photo of yourself blended with your choice of microscopic matter, a fun visual kickoff or cap-off that makes the overarching theme of the journey explicit. Past the tree, you find The Room of Revelations, by lead artist Kelly Skye, which is small and sterile, featuring a bizarre but entrancing mix of animal portraits, floating video panels with flowing images of wilderness, and printed legal news of efforts and successes to win protections and personhood for nature.

The main room begins with The Luxuriant Prolific Undying, by lead artist Yulia Pinkusevich, a slice of white-rock shore beneath red, fruit-like orbs hanging from the ceiling. Its an otherworldly surface with two hunks of tree and roots suspended in the air. Grab a headset and sit down on a shaved stump, run the salt rocks through your fingers, and gaze out on the twisted colors and hallucinatory imagery of The Uncanny Forest, by lead artist Stephen Standridge. Experience large panels of abstract, psychedelic color like flowing lava. Youre led on a quasi-meditation by a strange ethereal voice, Thoughts do not exist without bacteria. The voice is omniscient and judgmental but nurturing. Were reminded of our stardust beginnings, invited to re-examine the wasteful reality we participate in, and then are offered the freeing solace of considering our ultimate insignificance in the history of the universe.

The Luxuriant Prolific Undying. Photo by Naveed Ahmad for Gray Area.

On the other side of the room The Archive of Human Nature, by lead artists Celeste Martore and Jonathon Keats, is a collection of tagged inventory from the whole spectrum of human usagefrom moisturizers to mopeds to presidential campaign buttons, there are a playground-sized childrens slide and an aluminum duct hanging from the ceiling, everything open for touch and examination. There is a messy but eerily stark quality to their arrangement, the products we live by separated from their context and power.

After considering our cosmic origins and viewing the refuse of our daily life, we turn to absorb the horrors of active, specific environmental injustices. This Hammer by lead artists Kevin Bernard Moultrie Daye, is a smaller and more personal installation, but no less abstract. It explores the botched cleanup of the Hunters Point Shipyard Superfund site. Dangling from the ceiling are flickering tubes of large rolled-up newspaper headlines from the San Francisco Bayview, unheeded warnings and coverage of the fraudulent cleanup. The installation conveys a murder-scene feel, flashing emergency lights, the ghosts of marginalized human lives and poisoned nature.

Terminal Blurring by lead artist Orestis Herodotou is experienced by lying under a patchwork tent of connected triangles displaying organic textures, from recognizable foliage to spores of inverted colors all running and cycling at different speeds. Once the novelty of lying on the floor watching trippy images fades, the videos begin to hypnotize and disorient as you lose yourself in their seemingly endless loop.

Termina lBlurring. Photo by Beth LaBerge for Gray Area

At the end of the main room, the final installation An Immersive Game of Life, by lead artist Stephanie Andrews, is modeled after Conways Game of Life, a game from the seventies created by Mathematician John Horton Conway in which a player selects a formation of cells and watches without further input as they grow and evolveillustrating how complex systems can develop from simple rules.

In the modern interpretation of the game, one stands in an empty U-shaped space, surrounded and grounded in a projected world. Youre small, looking up at fungi of varying heights, scattered patches of digital plant growth. The landscape reacts to people and configurationsmore people and movement and the growth emerges, existing life twitches to new heights, weather changes, colors grow more vibrant. When theres too many people, the ecosystem is overwhelmed, it darkens, life recedes. The balance of this system is not readily apparent and its tellingly difficult to understand your role and impact. For the installation and for our planet, a little patience and self-reflection is essential.

Artists Featured: Brenda (Bz) Zhang, Celeste Martore, Jonathon Keats, Kelly Skye, Kevin Bernard Moultrie Daye, Orestis Herodotou, Rena Tom, Romie Littrell, Stephanie Andrews, Stephen Standridge, Yulia Pinkusevich

Dates: Now March 1, 2020Location: Gray Area at 2665 Mission StreetSocial Media Tags: @grayareaorg @endofyou.io #endofyou

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12 artists collaborate at Gray Area to immerse you in the environment - Mission Local

The art world descends on Tinseltown this week as the sophomore edition of Frieze Los Angeles gets underway. Local galleries and museums have pulled out all the stops to capture visitors attention. But sinceFrieze, Felix, and other LA fairs are arguably the center of it all this week, here is our guide to how to navigate them. Good news for those of you who dont want to spend all your art-buying money on Uber: This time around, the fairs are more concentrated and easier to travel between now that the Art Los Angeles Contemporary has moved to Hollywood from Barker Hangar. Happy fairgoing.

Gretchen Andrews Frieze Los Angeles information guide. Courtesy of the artist.

When: February 1316;Thursday, February 13, preview,invitation only; Friday, February 14, preview, check ticket and invitation time; Saturday, February 15, 11 a.m.7 p.m.;Sunday, February 16, 11 a.m. 6 p.m.

Where: Paramount Pictures Studio

What to Know: The second edition of the anchor fair, which attracted considerable buzz (not to mention celebrity cameos) in 2019, features 70 international exhibitors, making it considerably more manageable than the sprawling New York or London editions.This year, the fair boasts anew curated sectiondedicated to emerging art spaces in LA and new curatorsforFrieze Projects, which returns to transformthe Paramount backlot into an outdoor artistic showcase.

On the backlot, keep an eye out for a collective dance performance fromBlack Lives Matterco-founder and artistPatrisse Cullors thatinvites visitors to participate and reclaim time, space, andenergy, according to organizers. Other anticipated projects include those byLorna Simpson,Jibade-Khalil Huffman,andGary Simmons. Inside the fair, highlights include new paintings by art star Avery Singer at Hauser & Wirth and an immersive LED ceiling installation by James Turrell presented by Pace and Kayne Griffin Corcoran.

Tickets:Admission to Frieze LA is not for everyone. Tickets to the Friday preview range from $500 (including a curated tour, magazine, and tote bag) to $175; general admission on Saturday or Sunday is $125. Tickets to view the special programs only (outside the tent) are $60 on Friday and $25 over the weekend.

Coady Brown, Spellbound. Image courtesy 1969 Gallery, New York.

When:February 1316; Thursday, February13, opening reception, 6 p.m.9 p.m.; Friday, February 14, 11 a.m.7 p.m.; Saturday, February15, 11 a.m.7 p.m.;Sunday, February16, 11 a.m.6 p.m.

Where:Hollywood Athletic Club,6525 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood

What to Know:After years on the far west side of the city at Santa Monicas Barker Hanger, the11thedition of the long-running Art Los Angeles Contemporary fair is relocating to the historic Hollywood Athletic Clubon Sunset Boulevard. Although it has lost a number of heavy-hitting exhibitors since the arrival of Frieze LA, such as David Kordansky Gallery andSusanne Vielmetter Los Angeles Projects, this years lineup boasts50 exhibitors from 11 countries, including New Yorks the Hole and Los Angeless Luis De Jesus. The fair will also hostindependent publishers, special projects, and on-site artist interventions.

Keep an eye out for a project by Gozi Ojini presented by Court Space, a curatorial platform that pops up at Los Angeless public and private sports courts. Ojini will present installations and sculptures made from repurposed sports equipment, referencing the athletic history of the Club.

Tickets:$25 for a one-day pass; $30 for a three-day pass; $65 for opening night

The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Courtesy of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

When:February 1316;Thursday, February 13, 11 a.m.6 p.m., preview by invitation only; 6 p.m.8 p.m., public preview;Friday, February 14, and Saturday, February 15, 11 a.m.8 p.m.; Sunday, February 16, 11 a.m.4 p.m.

Where: The Hollywood Roosevelt, 7000 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles

What to Know:If Frieze LA is the art-fair equivalent of the Oscars, Felix is the Independent Spirit Awards. The hip hotel fair, now in its sophomore year, was founded by collector and television mogul Dean Valentine with art dealers Mills Morn and Al Morn of Morn Morn gallery. Taking inspiration from the historic Gramercy International Fair, which kicked off the art-fair phenomenon in the mid-1990s, Felix invites dealers to set up shop in individual hotel rooms. This years edition will feature 60 exhibitors fromChina, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Poland, and the UK, bringing back a majority of last years galleries and welcoming 25 new ones.

This time around, the fair has tweaked its structure to avoid overcrowding near the entrance, which frustrated some visitors during its debut. Felix is also hosting a series of special projects organized byWilliam J. Simmonsthat will appear in the lobby, ballroom, and outdoor bungalows. Highlights include a display of work by Judy Chicago selected by TV producer Jill Soloway and a video by Martha Wilson that shows the artist gradually transforming into Melania Trump.

Tickets:$25

Spring Break LA. Courtesy of the fair.

When: February 1416; Friday, February 14, 11 a.m.4 p.m., press preview and VIP afternoon first look, 4 p.m.9 p.m., VIP opening night; Saturday, February 15, 11 a.m.9 p.m.; Sunday, February 16, 11 a.m.7 p.m.

Where:Skylight ROW DTLA,757 S Alameda Street, Downtown Los Angeles

What to Know:You can expect a freewheeling, immersive experience at this fair, which was founded in New York in 2012 but expanded to LA last year to coincide with Frieze. As in New York, the LA version offers curators a free space to exhibit inside a disused urban building. (Transactions take place online through the Spring/Break site, which takes a final cut from the sales.) This years fair hosts 45 nearly exclusively Los Angeles-based artists, curators, and artist-run spaces, all responding to the fairs 2020 theme, In Excess. By keeping overhead costs for participants low, the fair hopes to encourage experimentation, meaning you are more likely to see an ambitious installation or new media work at Spring/Break than at some of the weeks other fairs.

Tickets:$2550

A visitor interacting with Camile Magrane. Image courtesy stARTup Art Fair.

When:February 1416; Friday, February 14, 7 p.m.10 p.m., opening night party; Saturday, February 15, 12 p.m.9 p.m.; Sunday, February 16, 12 p.m.7 p.m.

Where: The Kinney, 737 West Washington Boulevard, Venice Beach

What to Know:The opening night party is open to anyone with a general admission ticket ($15 in advance and $20 at the door). The scrappy fair hosts more than 80 artists who will transform the rooms and grounds of the Kinney Hotel in Venice Beach with painting, photography, sculpture, and installation. In addition to unrepresented artists, fair organizers give free exhibition space to local community nonprofits who show their art in hotel rooms or hallways, includingArt Share LA, theLos Angeles Center of Photography,the Los Angeles Art Association, and theLos Angeles Childrens Project.

Tickets:$10100

Image via Art Palm Springs.com

When: February 1317; Thursday, February 13, 5 p.m.9 p.m., opening night preview, VIP ticket holders only; Friday, February 14, 11 a.m.7 p.m.; Saturday, February 15, and Sunday, February 16, 11 a.m.6 p.m.;Monday, February 17, 12 p.m.5 p.m.

Where: Palm Springs Convention Center,277 N Avenida Caballeros, Palm Springs

What to Know: If you are looking to take a trip to the desert before or after Frieze Week, but cant stand to be too far away from an art fair, Art Palm Springs is for you.The ninth edition of the fair, which coincides with Palm Springs renowned Modernism Week, brings together 70 international art dealers with an emphasis on American art.Eckert Fine Art, which presents work from founder Jane Coats Eckerts collection of 19th- and 20th-century American art, is bringing works by Alexander Calder, while Swiss gallery Imago Art will present Cy Twomblys mixed-media piece Untitled (La Compositioni) (1964) from the collection of Baron Giorgio Franchetti.

Tickets:$25 for a day pass; $100 for the VIP preview plus a four-day pass

Link:
Heres Your Go-To Guide to All the Fairs Taking Place in Los Angeles During Frieze Week 2020 - artnet News

SnapAV just announced the Signature by Episode custom install speaker line. Signature by Episode offers 32 models across three series, one and two-step installation options, with seven optional cradle accessories that can be paired with pre-construction brackets, back boxes, and a plethora of grille options. The Signature by Episode 3 Series models feature polypropylene woofers and silk dome tweeters for all-purpose performance. Models in the Signature 5 Series are a step up and feature polypropylene woofers and adjustable silk dome tweeters, both with vacuum-deposited titanium for added performance. The Signature 7 Series features honeycomb fiberglass Nomex woofers and pure titanium tweeters for discerning listeners.

Crafted with premium components and tuned based on the sound principles of the National Research Council (NRC), Signature by Episode delivers lifelike sound that does not cause listener fatigue while providing more bass extension, and the ability to be played at louder volumes without distortion. Signature by Episode also gives integrators a completely tool-less speaker solution with Push Lock by Swarm technology, securing in-wall and in-ceiling speakers with the simple push of a button. And, for more challenging installations involving uneven sheetrock or popcorn ceilings, the dog ears can be cinched an additional 6 millimeters to ensure a perfect fit.

The Signature by Episode 3 Series starts at 195 or 225, Signature 5 Series starts at 260 or 300 and the Signature 7 Series starts at 345 or 400.

More information on the Signature by Episode 3 Series is here.

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SnapAV to Release the Signature by Episode Custom Install Speaker... - rAVe [PUBS]

The curtain wall is steadily rising up1059 Third Avenue, a 481-foot-tall mixed-use tower on the Upper East Side.Designed byManuel Glas Architectsand developed byReal Estate InverlandandThird Palm Capital, the slender reinforced concrete superstructure topped out at 30 stories andwill yield a total of 127,000 square feet. The development will contain 38 condominiums spread across 103,900 square feet, averaging around 2,740 square feet apiece.

Photos from street level show the state of progress. It is likely that the exterior could be completed by the end of 2020.

1059 Third Avenue, photo by Michael Young

1059 Third Avenue, photo by Michael Young

1059 Third Avenue, photo by Michael Young

The first large sections of continuous floor-to-ceiling glass have been installed on the top floors of the northern elevation.

1059 Third Avenue, photo by Michael Young

1059 Third Avenue, photo by Michael Young

More work on the southern elevation is needed. Several balconies hang over the side and will give residents views of Central Park and the Midtown skyline.

1059 Third Avenue, photo by Michael Young

Meanwhile on the wide northern profile, the metal frames that will hold up the panels in between the tight grid of rectangular windows are mostly in place.

1059 Third Avenue, photo by Michael Young

1059 Third Avenue, photo by Michael Young

The columns and edges of each floor plate have been painted gray.

1059 Third Avenue, photo by Michael Young

1059 Third Avenue, photo by Michael Young

Installation has yet to begin on the curtain wall on the ground floor and first several stories of the podium.

1059 Third Avenue, photo by Michael Young

The residences begin on the sixth story and go all the way to the top of the building. Some will have private outdoor terraces. The development will also contain 7,100 square feet of office space on the second floor and a hospital facility measuring around 9,700 square feet on the third and fourth floors. Amenities include a fitness center, a spa, and a residential lounge. The closest subway is the Lexington Avenue-63rd Street station, serviced by the Q and F trains. Also nearby are the 4, 5, and 6 trains at the 59th Street-Lexington Avenue station by the Bloomingdales flagship store. Central Park is four avenues to the northwest, while access to the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge is three streets to the south going along 59th Street.

So far, YIMBY has not heard of an official completion date for 1059 Third Avenue, though sometime in 2021 may be a safe estimate.

Subscribeto YIMBYs daily e-mailFollowthe YIMBYgram for real-time photo updatesLikeYIMBY on FacebookFollowYIMBYs Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews

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Curtain Wall Continues to Ascend at 1059 Third Avenue on the Upper East Side - New York YIMBY

"Submerge" installation at Artechouse, New York. Photography by Alkenz.

Calling all influencers: Pantone and New York art space Artechouse have teamed up on an immersive, eye-popping installation to kick off New York Fashion Week. The exhibit, named "Submerge," does feel a bit like taking an underwater plunge thanks to 17 projectors affixed to the ceiling. Together, these transform the enormous room into a canvas for shimmering animations celebrating "Classic Blue," the Pantone 2020 Color of the Year.

It's the second-ever exhibition at the multimedia artvenue, which opened last September in the former boiler room of Chelsea Market.This particular space, with its past life on display in a labyrinth of overhead ductwork, follows two other Artechouse locationsone in Washington D.C., the other in Miamiin what has become something of a chain. Since the D.C. location opened in 2017, Artechouse hasshownrenowned media artists and collectives likeRefik Anadol, National Cherry Blossom Festival, and Rhizomatiks.For this show, the venue and Pantone called in Mexico Citycreative collective INTUS Interactive Design to create the audiovisual experience.

"At Artechouse, we try to connect audiences to art in an entirely new way," says Sandro Kereselidze, art founder and chief creative officer at Artechouse. "Just as musicians use the notes to evoke feelings, we as artists use color to affect the psyche and elicit powerful emotions."

Continue for more photos of the installation, open to the public through February 23.

Read next: Classic Blue is Pantone's 2020 Color of the Year

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Pantone and Artechouse Kick Off New York Fashion Week with Immersive Installation - Interior Design

A surprise sale on Amazon today slashes the Fire TV Stick down to just $34.99, but theres another deal you should consider before you buy one. If you dont need to have the stick form factor, the Roku Express HD Streaming Media Player is easily the best value device out there even on a normal day. Its priced at $30 and it gives you access to all the different streaming services you use along with Rokus beloved software. $30 is indeed a great price, but Amazon is offering a discount today so you can snag one for just $24! Theres no way this deal will be around for very long though, so hurry up and grab one while you still can.

Heres more from the product page:

Follow @BGRDeals on Twitter to keep up with the latest and greatest deals we find around the web. Prices subject to change without notice and any coupons mentioned above may be available in limited supply. BGR may receive a commission on orders placed through this article, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes..

Image Source: Roku

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The Roku Express is only $24 right now - BGR

These HVAC systems for single-family homes, apartments, and other residential applications provide plentiful ventilation and efficient cooling and heating at the touch of a button.

(Courtesy Delta)

BreezElite Ventilation FanDelta

This bathroom exhaust fan allows for hands-free operation thanks to a built-in humidity sensor. Its special mounting-bracket system simplifies installation, maintenance, and renovation.

(Courtesy Honeywell)

MM14CHCS Portable Air ConditionerHoneywell

Set on rolling wheels, this portable indoor system houses four features within one unit: heating, cooling, airflow, and dehumidification. Ideal for single rooms (or New York studios), the MM14CHCS has three fan speeds, a 24-hour energy savings timer, light-touch digital buttons, and remote control.

(Courtesy LG)

Art Cool MirrorLG

Aptly named, this wall-hung HVAC unit features an opulent mirrored chassis. Offering superior energy efficiency with real-time feedback, the duct-free inverter technology is equipped with built-in Wi-Fi for touchless operation.

(Courtesy Mitsubishi Electric)

SLZ-KF Four-way Ceiling CassetteMitsubishi Electric

Featuring multiple-direction vane controls, this ceiling-mounted ductless unit allows users to select up to four airflow patterns. When paired with the 3D i-see Sensor, it automatically detects room capacity to adjust temperature, airspeed, and other qualities for optimal comfort.

(Courtesy Panasonic)

nanoe XPanasonic

The main feature of this ductless heat pump unit, available in early 2020, is a built-in air and surface purification system that penetrates deep into carpet and furniture fibers. With nearly whispering airflow, the technology dispenses nanoscale OH radicals to reduce odors and pollutants.

(Courtesy YORK)

YHGYORK

The newest release within the LX series features a compact body to fit in tight spaces. Users can connect remotely via Alexa or YORKs Affinity Hx3 thermostat to monitor energy usage in real-time.

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Hot at home? Try the latest, greatest heating, ventilation, and cooling units - The Architect's Newspaper

I don't know about you, but the bulk of my income is spoken for before it even hits my checking account. Not only do I add money to my emergency savings fund and pay for insurance every month everything from health, home, and car to life and disability I also have my mortgage, retirement savings, and debts to think about.

Despite all of that, I'm here to argue in favor of yet another way to redirect your money: a homeowner's savings account.

Hear me out.

Yes, technically your emergency savings account is meant to cover you in the case of a homeowner's emergency read: flooded basement, broken water heater, termite infestation, etc. but what if it's not enough? Or what if multiple things happen at once?

Having a separate high-yield savings account dedicated specifically to house stuff can help ensure you stay covered if things like a broken water heater and a non-covered healthcare expense crop up at the same time. When you have a family, this becomes even more important.

My experience two years ago is the perfect example why.

After saving up for a while and receiving a particularly lovely tax refund my husband and I decided it was finally time to dig up our old, rotting deck and replace it with a beautiful new one.

We were still in the midst of paying off some healthcare expenses related to the birth of our second daughter, but we figured we could handle it all. Then, a few weeks after the deck installation finished, guests staying in our basement felt water leaking through the ceiling. As it turns out, the water hose to our refrigerator had a leak, and it was seeping through the basement ceiling.

Luckily, we caught it early enough that it wasn't as devastating as it could have been. We ended up spending about $300 to get the water hose replaced, and since the ceiling damage was minimal, we let it dry out, painted over the stain, counted ourselves lucky, and moved on. Until about a month later when we suddenly had no hot water.

A quick trip to the basement (again) confirmed that our water heater had not only gone out, but that it was leaking out into the laundry room. We were lucky enough, again, to catch this relatively early on, but even the low-ball estimate for repair included a brand new hot water heater (generally about $799-$1,501, according to HomeAdvisor) and replacing the laundry room flooring (about $1,000, plus the cost of tile).

At this point we began to feel two things. One: a little unlucky, and hopeful that the home issues would stop. Two: extremely grateful. Grateful that we had decided back when we first bought the house and knew we would want to make some updates to start siphoning off some money into savings specifically for house-related things.

Updating the deck, fixing the refrigerator and hot water heater, and replacing the laundry room floor meant that the savings was pretty much depleted, but we knew we were still covered for whatever additional health-related expenses or other emergencies might be coming down the pipeline because we had our emergency fund.

At the end of the day, I'm not a certified financial expert (I just write about money), but I like to helpfully suggest, to whomever will listen: If you're a homeowner, get yourself a new high-yield savings account as soon as you can, and start putting whatever you can away specifically for house-related emergencies. You'll never be sorry you did.

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When my family was hit with 2 expensive home repairs at once, we only made it through thanks to our high-yield savings account - Business Insider

Despite increased focus on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) jobs, hard labor is still a major driver of the national economy.

Recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that employment for construction workers and hand laborers/movers has grown faster than employment in STEM jobs over the past five years. While STEM careers tend to command higher salaries, wage increases for careers in manual labor have also outpaced STEM. Wages for STEM careers grew at an average annual rate of 2.1 percent between 2013 and 2018, whereas wages for construction workers and hand laborers/movers grew by 2.9 percent and 3.0 percent, respectively.

While employment and wage growth might be strong, working in a physically demanding job can be both taxing and dangerous. Research from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration shows that out of 4,674 worker fatalities in private industry in 2017, more than 20 percent were in a construction field. Additionally, a recent analysis from the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that while hand laborers/movers account for just 2 percent of total employment, they were responsible for 6 percent of days away from work due to occupational-related injury and illness in 2018.

To identify the most physically demanding jobs, researchers at InsuranceProviders.com analyzed data from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). They created an index to measure the overall level of physical demands for different jobs based on strength, stamina, coordination, and flexibility requirements.

The 5 million employees in the 20 most physically demanding jobs make up about 3.5 percent of the nations 145 million workers. Construction laborers and hand laborers/movers account for approximately 80 percent of total employment among the 20 most physically demanding jobs. While most of the physically demanding jobs are related to building and construction, otherssuch as dancers, athletes, and trainersrequire intense fitness routines or athletic practice. Here are the 20 most physically demanding jobs.

The Top 20 Most Physically Demanding Jobs

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

20. Brickmasons and Blockmasons

Overall physical demand index: 57.7Strength index: 88.7Stamina index: N/AFlexibility index: 76.6Coordination index: 65.4Total employment & projected growth: 63,930 (9.7%)Mean annual wage: $54,430

Brickmasons and blockmasons are responsible for using materials such as brick, tile, and concrete to build or repair structures like walls, partitions, arches, and sewers. More specifically, brickmasons and blockmasons must be able to handle and move heavy objects, employing physical abilities such as trunk strength and extent flexibility. The mean annual wage for brickmasons and blockmasons is slightly above the national average.

Photo Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

19. Hand Laborers and Material Movers

Overall physical demand index: 58.4Strength index: 96.2Stamina index: 76.6Flexibility index: 60.7Coordination index: N/ATotal employment & projected growth: 2,893,180 (4.9%)Mean annual wage: $30,890

Hand laborers and material movers manually move materials such as freight, stock, or luggage from one location to another. They might also perform other general labor, and they often work in warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and retail operations. With a total employment of 2,893,180 workers, hand laborers and material movers are the most common job on this list. They also have the lowest mean annual wage on this list, at $30,890.

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18. Stonemasons

Overall physical demand index: 60.0Strength index: 100.0Stamina index: 76.6Flexibility index: N/ACoordination index: 63.5Total employment & projected growth: 12,310 (9.0%)Mean annual wage: $44,370

Stonemasons typically use stone materials and masonry techniques to build structures like piers, walls, walkways, curbstones, and floors. Stonemasons often use hand tools to shape, trim, or cut stone, as well as mix and pour grout. Among all occupations on this list, stonemasons have the highest strength index due to the weight of the materials they must work with and move.

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17. Construction Laborers

Overall physical demand index: 60.5Strength index: 98.1Stamina index: 88.7Flexibility index: 55.1Coordination index: N/ATotal employment & projected growth: 1,001,470 (10.5%)Mean annual wage: $40,350

Construction labor is the second most common job on this list and total employment is projected to grow by more than 10 percent in the next decade. Compared to other occupations, construction work requires an incredible amount of both strength and stamina. In addition to building, these laborers may also be involved in clearing debris from construction sites, digging trenches, and setting up scaffolding.

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16. Firefighters

Overall physical demand index: 64.0Strength index: 72.8Stamina index: 96.2Flexibility index: N/ACoordination index: 86.9Total employment & projected growth: 321,570 (5.3%)Mean annual wage: $53,240

In addition to fire work and prevention, firefighters provide emergency medical services, search and rescue, disaster assistance, and hazardous material response. Being a firefighter requires both strength and stamina, which is why its so common to see these workers exercising at the station when not responding to an emergency.

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15. HelpersRoofers

Overall physical demand index: 64.9Strength index: 98.1Stamina index: N/AFlexibility index: 67.2Coordination index: 94.3Total employment & projected growth: 8,630 (13.0%)Mean annual wage: $31,740

While helpers generally assist roofers by using or holding materials and tools involved in building or repairing roofs, they are also responsible for cleanup on the job site. Helpers to roofers require a high degree of strength and coordination because they generally work high above the ground and must keep their balance. This is one of the lowest-paid occupations on this list, but the projected growth is more than twice as much as the overall average of 5.2 percent.

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14. Commercial Divers

Overall physical demand index: 77.3Strength index: 53.2Stamina index: 76.6Flexibility index: 92.5Coordination index: 86.9Total employment & projected growth: 3,380 (7.2%)Mean annual wage: $59,470

Commercial divers inspect, repair, remove, or install equipment and structures within bodies of water. They might also conduct underwater tests or experiments, rig explosives, or take photographs. The physical requirements of the job skew towards flexibility and coordination; divers must be able to swim and perform manual labor while underwater.

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13. Tree Trimmers and Pruners

Overall physical demand index: 78.5Strength index: 85.0Stamina index: 76.6Flexibility index: 74.7Coordination index: 77.5Total employment & projected growth: 42,440 (9.8%)Mean annual wage: $40,510

Tree trimmers and pruners remove branches from trees and shrubs in order to maintain a clear path for roads, sidewalks, or utilities, or to improve the appearance of a landscape or neighborhood. Strength is an essential skill for this job, since it often involves climbing and working with heavy equipment. Coordination and balance are also critical for those working in high places.

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12. Roof Bolters, Mining

Overall physical demand index: 79.3Strength index: 88.7Stamina index: 76.6Flexibility index: 74.7Coordination index: 77.5Total employment & projected growth: 3,250 (-9.7%)Mean annual wage: $59,090

Roof bolters are responsible for operating machinery to install roof support bolts in underground mines. The installation process can involve drilling holes into the ground and breaking up rocks and concrete. Even though roof bolters typically use machinery, they must still exert physical strength to perform their job duties. Although this is one of the highest-paid occupations on this list, employment is expected to decline by 2028.

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11. Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers

Overall physical demand index: 79.4Strength index: 64.4Stamina index: 76.6Flexibility index: 85.9Coordination index: 90.6Total employment & projected growth: 101,900 (2.3%)Mean annual wage: $49,170

Like many of the other jobs on this list, drywall and ceiling tile installers are heavily involved in construction. These workers apply materials such as plasterboard, wallboards, and tiles to ceilings or interior walls of buildings to improve aesthetics and reduce sound. The physical demands of this job typically involve carrying and installing heavy materials and also maintaining balance while installing these materials at various heights.

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10. Reinforcing Iron and Rebar Workers

Overall physical demand index: 80.1Strength index: 81.3Stamina index: 88.7Flexibility index: 72.8Coordination index: 77.5Total employment & projected growth: 18,360 (11.1%)Mean annual wage: $54,670

Reinforcing iron and rebar workers are an integral part of many construction crews. These workers use tools such as fasteners, rod-bending machines, and blowtorches to secure reinforced steel bars (rebar) or wire mesh to the concrete used in constructing roads, buildings, and bridges. The main physical demands of this job include carrying heavy equipment, standing for many hours at a time, and bending or stooping in order to install rebar.

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9. Choreographers

Overall physical demand index: 83.1Strength index: 57.9Stamina index: 97.1Flexibility index: 78.5Coordination index: 99.0Total employment & projected growth: 5,090 (-2.8%)Mean annual wage: $53,560

At $53,560 per year, choreographers earn slightly more than the national average across all occupations. Choreographers must exercise high levels of stamina, coordination, and flexibility in order to lead rehearsals, create new dance routines, and demonstrate proper technique and form.

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8. Fallers

Overall physical demand index: 85.2Strength index: 91.5Stamina index: 93.4Flexibility index: 65.4Coordination index: 90.6Total employment & projected growth: 4,680 (-18.0%)Mean annual wage: $48,520

Fallers cut down trees, while ensuring that the direction of the trees fall minimizes any damage to people or objects around it. Since fallers rely on a variety of hand tools such as axes or chainsaws, they must be strong enough and have enough stamina to properly use them. The job outlook for fallers is the worst on this list, with a projected 18 percent decline in employment over the next decade.

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7. Roofers

Overall physical demand index: 86.9Strength index: 88.7Stamina index: 88.7Flexibility index: 73.8Coordination index: 96.2Total employment & projected growth: 128,680 (11.8%)Mean annual wage: $43,870

Roofers install shingles, slate, asphalt, aluminum, or wood on new or existing buildings. They may also bind, seal, insulate, or soundproof the roofs as well. Coordination is particularly important for roofers, who must maintain their balance on top of ladders or buildings as they perform their work.

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6. Structural Iron and Steel Workers

Overall physical demand index: 88.4Strength index: 97.1Stamina index: 76.6Flexibility index: 85.9Coordination index: 94.3Total employment & projected growth: 77,410 (11.5%)Mean annual wage: $58,170

Also known as ironworkers, structural iron and steel workers raise and place iron or steel girders and columns in order to form structural frameworks for new buildings. These workers may also construct metal storage tanks or prefabricated metal buildings. Welding metal components, operating machinery, and loading or unloading materials are some of the physical demands for this job, making strength and coordination especially important skills.

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5. Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors

Overall physical demand index: 88.5Strength index: 77.5Stamina index: 98.1Flexibility index: 80.3Coordination index: 98.1Total employment & projected growth: 308,470 (12.8%)Mean annual wage: $44,580

Like choreographers, athletic trainers must also have high levels of stamina, coordination, and flexibility in order to lead workouts, design new exercise routines, and demonstrate proper technique and form. Its common for fitness trainers and aerobics instructions to teach multiple classes or clients in a day, further raising the physical demands required.

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4. Manufactured Building and Mobile Home Installers

Overall physical demand index: 90.3Strength index: 93.4Stamina index: 88.7Flexibility index: 85.9Coordination index: 93.4Total employment & projected growth: 2,920 (-11.4%)Mean annual wage: $32,910

Since manufactured building and mobile home installers are constantly moving materials and using construction tools, strength, coordination, and stamina are the major physical abilities required for this job. Manufactured building and mobile home installers have the lowest total employment on this list, at 2,920 workers, and employment is expected to decline even further by 2028.

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3. Athletes and Sports Competitors

Overall physical demand index: 90.4Strength index: 95.3Stamina index: 98.1Flexibility index: 71.9Coordination index: 96.2Total employment & projected growth: 10,800 (6.2%)Mean annual wage: $87,030

Despite low employment numbers, athletes and sports competitors are the highest-paid workers on this list, with a mean annual wage of $87,030. Regardless of the sport, athletes are generally strong, coordinated, and in great aerobic shape. For most athletes, the competition itself is only a small part of the job; training and practice are where most of the work hours are put in.

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2. Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas

Overall physical demand index: 92.0Strength index: 93.4Stamina index: 88.7Flexibility index: 93.4Coordination index: 92.5Total employment & projected growth: 11,310 (17.1%)Mean annual wage: $47,630

At 17.1 percent, derrick operators have the highest projected growth of all occupations on this list. These workers rig derrick equipment and operate pumps to circulate mud or fluid through a drill hole, with the ultimate purpose of extracting oil and gas. Flexibility, strength, and coordination are highly important to derrick operators, who use heavy machinery and handle heavy objects.

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1. Dancers

Overall physical demand index: 97.0Strength index: 87.8Stamina index: 100.0Flexibility index: 100.0Coordination index: 100.0Total employment & projected growth: 9,720 (0.6%)Mean annual wage: $43,056

Among all occupations on this list, dancers require the greatest amount of stamina, flexibility, and coordination. Whether performing solo or as part of a group, dancers must maintain tight synchronization between the bodys movement and musical accompaniment, usually in a choreographed routine. Like athletes, professional dancers practice rigorously and maintain peak physical fitness.

Detailed Findings & Methodology

Data on physical demands of occupations for the U.S. were obtained from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). Wage statistics were obtained from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics and employment statistics were obtained from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections Program, with projections into 2028.

To identify the most physically demanding jobs, a composite score for each occupation was calculated based on the following data from O*NET: trunk strength, static strength, explosive strength, dynamic strength, stamina, gross body equilibrium, gross body coordination, extent flexibility, and dynamic flexibility. Values for these measures were combined to result in four dimensions of physical demand: strength, stamina, flexibility, and coordination. Jobs were then ranked by their overall score.

In general, the most physically demanding jobs are lower-paying jobs. More specifically, employees in the 20 most physically demanding jobs have an average wage of $36,926, which is significantly lower than the $51,960 annual mean wage for U.S. employees as a whole. A few of the main outliers include athletes, commercial divers, and roof bolters (mining), which all have average wages more than 1.5 times the average wage of the 20 most physically demanding jobs.

Interestingly, none of these jobs require a college degree. In fact, only two occupationsfirefighters and commercial diversneed an additional postsecondary certification or training program. Half of the most physically demanding jobs require a high school diploma or equivalent, and eight do not require any educational credentials at all.

While the job outlook for individual physically demanding jobs varies significantly, from -18 percent for fallers to 17.1 percent for derrick operators, these jobs overall are poised for growth by 2028. Altogether, the 20 most physically demanding jobs are projected to grow at a rate of a little over 7 percent in the next ten years, which is higher than the projected growth of about 5 percent in the number of employees in the U.S. as a whole.

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Analysis: The most physically demanding jobs in US - FOX 28 Spokane