Rob Stott

Rob Stott is the Founder and CEO of RLS Creative Services and Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Connected Design. A 15-year veteran of the editorial and communications industry, Rob has a passion for helping tell the stories of and shape the content strategies for business and brands in the custom integration channel.

91 articles published

Industry News Smart Home

3 Reasons to Rejoice as Apple Moves into the Smart Home Market

Reporting has been rampant in recent weeks as the consumer tech industry readies for Apple’s “next big thing.” And, no, I’m not referring to their first foray into foldable phones. Rather, Apple is set to announce a bunch of new smart home products. Some are simple refreshes of existing devices. Others are expected to be…

ByRob Stott3 days ago0Comments

Industry News News

HTSA Names Shaun Schuetz Managing Director, Additional Leadership Changes

The next chapter for the Home Technology Specialists of America is starting to take shape. HTSA has appointed Shaun Schuetz as Managing Director, continuing the planned leadership transition the group first announced in July. Schuetz officially steps into the Managing Director role on October 1 and is slated to become Executive Director on January 1,…

ByRob StottSeptember 30, 20260Comments

Industry News

Why Architechne Interviews Clients Before Sending a Proposal

For many custom integrators, a new project inquiry can quickly turn into a familiar race: collect the wish list, assemble a bid and try to win the job before another firm does. Architechne founder and CFO Jeff Cole says his company takes a different approach. Before Architechne sends a proposal, they actually interview and vet…

ByRob StottSeptember 29, 20260Comments

Industry News Research & Reports

Looking for an Industry Tailwind? Luxury Retrofits Might Be the Answer

CEDIA’s 2026 research points to a market where affluent homeowners, low mobility, and concentrated home improvement spending may make existing homes the smart home’s most important growth arena.

ByRob StottSeptember 28, 20260Comments

AI Industry Events Video

AI Doomsday Fears? Josh.ai CEO on New In-Home AI Code of Conduct and More

It might feel like AI is advancing at an insane rate right now, but for Alex Capecelatro, CEO of Josh.ai, everything is not what it seems. Sure, models are improving at record rates right now, but for his company, over a decade of work has gone into the platform advancements they've been developing. Still, as…

ByRob StottSeptember 23, 20260Comments

Josh.ai Lays Out AI Code of Conduct for the Connected Home

Josh.ai has published a new Code of Conduct for Artificial Intelligence in the Home, outlining twelve principles the company says should guide how AI systems operate in private living spaces. The Denver-based company, which develops AI-powered control systems for residential technology, says the code is intended to address a central concern as AI becomes more…

ByRob StottSeptember 23, 20260Comments

Industry News Research & Reports

The Smart Home’s Biggest Category Is the One Clients Rarely See

The 2026 U.S. Professional Smart Home Market Analysis from CEDIA and The Farnsworth Group puts a clear number on the residential technology market: $33.8 billion. That’s an impressive figure for the industry, but what’s more useful to look at is how and where those dollars are concentrated. Turns out, home networking is the largest category…

ByRob StottSeptember 17, 20260Comments

Industry Events

CEDIA Expo Just Published an Actual Attendance Number

Sharing a verified attendance number tells us more about the future CEDIA Expo than any single conversation we had in Denver.

ByRob StottSeptember 11, 20260Comments

Industry News Smart Home

Apple’s Audio Intelligence Isn’t the Privacy Scandal You Think It Is

Without getting too fanboy-ish, let me just say that there’s a lot one can learn from sitting through an Apple keynote. The way they go about their business – from product development through post-launch marketing – is just on another level. Especially among their most ardent supporters, they’ve established a level of trust and loyalty that is…

ByRob StottSeptember 11, 20260Comments