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Big Players Show Their Interest in the Future of the Connected Home
Today’s buzz in the technology
world surrounds high-speed Internet access. What external networks will be in place? What
types of gateways will receive data? What types of devices will use high-speed Internet
data, and how will that data travel around the home from device to device? These
questions, as well as issues of in-home networks supporting other applications were the
foundation for CABA and Parks Associates’ second annual conference,
CONNECTIONS
‘98. About 200 industry players attended the conference from diverse company
types and from all over the world.
In her welcome, Tricia Parks, President of Parks Associates, issued a challenge. Her
challenge was to use this conference to determine how to increase the number of new homes
being wired for our information-heavy future — drastically and quickly. Parks noted
that in 1997, only about 55,000 new starts in North America included structured wiring out
of a potential 1.6 million new homes. "Every new start without broadband wiring
capabilities is a lost opportunity," Parks said, "What can the industry do to
ensure a dramatic increase in the next two years?"
Throughout the two-day conference, presentations rang with the need for in-home
networks capable of handling video transmission and for effective, speedy, reliable radio
frequency and power line-based networks. Some view wireless networks as the only way to
penetrate the more than 100 million existing North American homes based on the cost and
inconvenience of adding new wire in existing homes. Parks Associates agrees that wireless
in-home networks are important but does not expect to see a broadband wireless solution
for in-home networks in the foreseeable future.
CONNECTIONS ‘98 demonstrated that key technology players agree it
is time to reach inside the home with broadband capabilities. Leading off in Session I
were Intel, IBM, and Microsoft. They were followed by other giants including Southern
Development Company, Ontario Hydro, and Bellcore. While Ed Arrington of Intel focused on
radio frequency development efforts being supported by his company, he challenged the
audience to help Intel ensure that EVERY new home has structured wiring in the next three
years.
Highlights from the conference include Intel’s concepts for in-home network
devices; Intel is developing prototypes to encourage the appliance, consumer electronics,
and computer industries to rev up their efforts for the home. Mark Schmidt displayed
IBM’s view of upcoming residential environments — complete networks with lots of
smart devices — and spoke of its Professional Home Director™ which will be
introduced to installing dealers in August. Joseph Mouhanna of Microsoft explained
Microsoft’s cooperative initiatives to develop wireless home networks and more
powerful gateways. Aziz Khadbai of Nortel predicted that "what is happening now
outside the home will dramatically impact what happens (to product) within the home."
The conclusion from this is that home networks have hit businesses’ radar screens,
and activity will continuously accelerate over the next two years.
Proceedings from CONNECTIONS ‘98 are now available and include
presentations as well as audiotapes. For more information, contact Parks
Associates at
972-490-1113 or e-mail sales@parksassociates.com
or CABA at caba@caba.org. To review the CONNECTIONS ‘98 agenda,
check our Web sites,
www.parksassociates.com
or www.caba.org.
CABA is North America’s Home & Building Automation Association. CABA —
Continental Automated Buildings Association — is a key source of Information [CABA
Home & Building Automation QUARTERLY], Conferences, and Networking. Members
include manufacturers, suppliers, energy utilities, cable and telecommunications
companies, builders, consultants, governments, and research organizations. CABA’s
mission is to encourage the development, promotion, and adoption of opportunities relating
to the automation of homes & buildings.
About Parks Associates: Parks Associates is an
internationally recognized market research and consulting company specializing
in emerging consumer technology products and services. Founded in 1986, Parks
Associates creates research capital for companies ranging from Fortune 500 to
small start-ups through market reports, primary studies, consumer research,
custom research, workshops, executive conferences, and annual service
subscriptions.
The company's expertise includes new media, digital
entertainment and gaming, home networks, Internet and television services,
digital health, mobile applications and services, consumer electronics, and home
control systems and security.
Each year, Parks Associates hosts executive thought
leadership conferences CONNECTIONS™, with support from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA®), and CONNECTIONS™ Europe. In addition, Parks
Associates produces the online publication Industry Insights in
conjunction with the CONNECTIONS™ Conference series.
http://www.parksassociates.com |
http://www.connectionsconference.com |
http://www.connectionseurope.com
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http://www.connectionsindustryinsights.com
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