There are certain jobs that can be done well by someone with the right knowledge and training, but in other careers, real-world experience is not only advantageous, it is pretty much necessary!
Take Crestron programming, for example. There are a lot of talented programmers out there who can write code like nobody’s business, but programming for Crestron systems involves more than just writing good code. It also involves understanding people and their needs. It involves taking what a client is saying they want in their Crestron controlled system, interpreting that information, and turning it into a highly functional system that is easy for the end users to operate.
A Crestron controlled home or building is only beneficial if it makes people’s lives easier or better in some ways. If the system is confusing or frustrating to use, the programmer did not do his or her job effectively. The whole point of installing a Crestron system and hiring someone for custom programming is to create an environment that is easy to manage and control.
One very important part of a Crestron programmer’s job is designing a system control panel that is intuitive. Whether it’s a wall-mounted panel, a tablet, or even a smartphone, the control panel needs to be simple to use. Creating a control panel like this involves understanding how people tend to interact with technology. What information do they want to be presented with first? Are the options arranged in a way that makes sense to the average person? Can a user make the changes to their environment that they want with only one or two touches?
The best Crestron programming in the world won’t compensate for a control panel that is poorly designed. The end user won’t care what the behind-the-scenes code looks like if they can’t figure out how to operate their Crestron system!
Creating Crestron controlled environments that are client focused requires real-world experience that not all programmers possess. A programmer can take all of the training courses in the world, but there is no substitute for working with actual clients with real demands, in actual residential or commercial settings. Trial and error is a big part of learning what works in the real world. It takes time and experience to become a top Crestron programmer.
People who hire Crestron programmers are those who want something more than what the off-the-shelf Crestron products can provide. In other words, they aren’t going to settle, and they certainly won’t be content with “good enough.” They want a Crestron programmer who will design a system that operates exactly how they think it should, and be able to operate it without having to go through extensive training.
