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Consumer Electronics Daily News Wednesday, January 9, 2019 1 6 Changes in Lifestyle Means Changes in Security By Ashlee Campbell, Marketing Consultant, Alpha Guardian Lifestyles have changed. People are now choosing to live in shared spaces, condos or other multi-family housing arrange- ments, retirees are downsizing and young homeowners are embracing "tiny homes." These lifestyle changes have created a unique need for a secure place to store valuables, electronics and impor- tant documents that is unable to be met by traditional home safes. So, what has Stack-On done to meet this arising need? To answer that question, we sat down with Shelley Nehrt, Director of Product Categories for Alpha Guardian, to talk about the distinctive features of our new Total Defense Dual Home Safe. For starters, the new Dual Safe offers two separate secure storage com- partments; one compartment provides convenient, quick access to items used daily while the second area offers fire- proof storage for valuables and docu- ments used less frequently. "This new Dual Safe by Stack-On is the only safe on the market today that incorporates an external, auto open draw- er in the body of the safe," Nehrt said. "Other notable features include an inter- nal light in the auto open drawer, an alarm that sounds after three incorrect entries, factory installed door storage for better organization and a spacious, fully carpet- ed fireproof area with adjusted shelves." "The small footprint of the Dual Safe allows it to fit in a closet, bedroom or other location aligning with today's lifestyle trends. Available in two different sizes, 40 inches and 48 inches tall, the height of these safes provides a convenient drop off point for keys, wallets or other things typically carried in pockets or purses," Nehrt said. "The flexi- bility of the Dual Safe lends itself to people who need secure storage that works for them." Even after hearing about the innova- tive and beneficial features of the Dual Safe, you may still be asking yourself why anyone should consider safeguard- ing their valuables with a home safe. "Consider this: In 2016, there were over 750,000 burglaries in the U.S., with most lasting no more than 12 to 15 min- utes," said Nehrt, citing Pew Research Center. "In the past few years, sales of home security cameras, doorbell cameras and other security devices have explod- ed. But why stop at seeing who is breaking into your home? Wouldn't you prefer to have another layer of security that actually prevented an unwanted intruder from steal- ing what is most important to you?" In the end, it's all about peace of mind and knowing that your valuables are safe and secure from unwanted intruders, friend or foe. As our lifestyles continue to change, so must our attitudes on security. We no longer live in a time where your money, credit cards, electronics, jewelry or other valuables are safe, hidden away in your sock drawer or in a shoe box. To learn more about Stack-On products, or any other Alpha Guardian brand such as Cannon Safe and GunVault, visit www.stackon.com or www.alpha guardian.com. Concern Over Tech Overuse Grows Among Public & Tech Industry In 2017, Pew Research Center reported that 77 percent of U.S. adults owned a smartphone, up from 35 percent in 2011, making it one of the most quickly-adopt- ed consumer technologies in recent histo- ry (Pew Research Center, 2017). The allure is by no means limited to adults. Usage is skyrocketing among children, from toddlers to teenagers. Case in point: A 2017 report from Common Sense Media found that the average amount of time children ages 0-8 spend on a mobile device per day tripled since 2013 (The Common Sense Census, 2017). American teenagers (13- to 18-year-olds) average about nine hours (8:56) of enter- tainment media use on any given day, excluding time spent at school or for homework (The Common Sense Census, 2015). Popular technology use can prompt interesting behaviors. Parents may think kids are spending too much time using technology, yet they themselves may find it difficult to put down their own devices (The Common Sense Census, 2016). Also, half of parents report checking their phones at the dinner table, a place where usage may be off limits for chil- dren. (ASHA, 2016). One of the more remarkable devel- opments of the past year is growing intro- spection within Silicon Valley on how the popular technology it created is being used. Several leading figures have pub- licly raised technology overuse as a con- cern, questioning its impact on society. This self-examination is consistent with findings from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) polls. In January 2017 and 2018, ASHA sur- veyed CES atten- dees about popular technology use (ASHA Survey, 2017; ASHA Survey, 2018). The results are telling. Among them: 88 percent of surveyed attendees thought it is important that more prominent industry figures speak out about tech overuse (2018 survey); 86 percent said they would attend a venue, restaurant or social gathering where personal device usage is prohibited (2018); 67 percent said children should not be allowed to have their own per- sonal tech devices until age 10 or older. Almost a third said children shouldn't even use devices until age 10 or older (2018); 87 percent believed children are spending too much time with tech- nology (2017); 74 percent felt today's popular technology is negatively affecting conversation and social inter- action (2017); and 80 percent thought the potential impact of technology should be consid- ered part of a prod- uct or an app's development process (2017). Ahead of these concerns, ASHA launched the Healthy Communication & Popular Technology Initiative (www.communicationandtech.org). The intent is to promote and protect healthy communication in a technology-driven world while encouraging conversation, human interaction and safe listening. Join the growing number of brands that are making healthy tech usage a pri- ority for their customers. Stop by booth #44404 (Sands, Halls A-D) to learn more about the ASHA's Communication & Popular Technology Initiative. Learn more at www.communi cationandtech.org. Direct to Garment Printing and the Future of Custom Apparel An interview with Jazmin Casing, Marketing Manager at AnaJet, Inc., A Ricoh Company. CEDN: What is direct to garment print- ing? JC: A direct to garment (DTG) printer utilizes inkjet technology to apply water- based inks directly onto clothing and accessories. Then, a heat press or tunnel dryer is used to cure the ink into the fab- ric, ensuring a long-lasting print that stands up to regular wear and washing. CEDN: What makes DTG different from other printing methods? JC: Unlike other types of garment print- ing, DTG offers high-resolution printing with a wide color gamut, so you can achieve fine-detail, photo-quality prints that you can't get with other printing methods. As a point of reference, screen- printing is one of the oldest and most popular garment printing methods and it's typically used for high-volume batch- es of garments with designs that require only a few different colors. In contrast, DTG is the best choice for shorter runs and one-offs as well as elaborate or high- ly colorful designs. CEDN: Why is DTG growing in popu- larity? JC: Because DTG makes it easy and rel- atively inexpensive to design and print high-quality garments, it's a highly attractive technology to newcomers in the industry. An increasing number of larger print shops are also adopting DTG as a way to supplement their business by accepting one-of-a-kind and low-volume orders. DTG is also growing in popularity because improvements in technology have made the machines easier to use. Next-generation printers like our RICOH Ri 1000 are particularly user-friendly because they require less user mainte- nance. The RICOH Ri 1000 even has a built-in Interactive Operation Guide that reminds users to com- plete necessary tasks. Additional features like quick-change magnetic platens allow users to expand their offerings and switch between setups with minimal downtime. Another major innovation that is impacting the way we do custom apparel is the idea of a "mobile" DTG printer. Our all-in-one Ri 100 is small enough to fit on a countertop and has a built-in ink curing unit, making it an excellent option for on-demand printing at events and public retail environments. CEDN: How is DTG shaping the future of custom apparel? JC: Major retailers are on the path to adopting DTG as a solution for growing revenue and brand loyalty through in- store customization. Customers can come into a store, choose a piece of clothing that they'd like personalized with their name or a particular image, and the prod- uct can be customized right in front of them. Similarly, our customers have been finding ways to sell customized apparel at events like sporting func- tions, fundraisers, company parties and trade shows. CEDN: What other trends in custom apparel can we expect to see as DTG continues to grow in popularity? JC: Expect to see major retailers offering some pretty buzzworthy in-store cus- tomization experiences. To stay competi- tive in a digital economy, retailers will have to leverage their brick-and-mortar presence to offer an in-store experience that can't be replicated online. Attractions like interactive design kiosks and photo booths will allow consumers to participate in the design process of their customized goods – and give them an easy way to show off their newly cus- tomized apparel on social media. For more information, go to www .anajet.com, call 877.626.2538, email info@anajet.com or stop by booth #42370.