CEA Launches New Home Networks And Information Technology Division

Two Divisions Merged To Reflect Changing Industry

21-Dec-00

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) announced the uniting of the Integrated Home Systems Division (IHS) with the Communication and Information Technology Products Division (CITP). Dubbed the Home Networks and Information Technology Division (HNIT), the new division's mission is to foster consumer adoption of home networks and serve as the catalyst for technology and market development. The HNIT Division will be led by incoming board chair Dave Hill, Vice President, Business Development for PANJA. Hill replaces IHS Division founder and X-10 President, Peter Lesser as Board Chair.""The creation of the HNIT Division is the natural evolution of the two divisions' work, which had begun to overlap in a very complimentary way,"" Lesser explained. ""The merger also is reflective of the transition that is taking place in the consumer electronics industry. As entertainment and communications content continues to go digital, consumer demand for the features and functions of connected digital products will continue to drive the evolution of home networking."" Lesser continued, ""This 'distributed convergence' is being made a reality by CEA member companies from the information technology and traditional consumer electronics industries. The HNIT Division provides a place for them to work together.""To help consumers understand the benefits of networking technologies, CEA defines a home network in the following way:""A home network facilitates communication among the appliances, home systems, entertainment products and information devices in a home, so they can work cooperatively and share information. This allows users to get information about the home's condition and remotely control home systems and appliances, as well as provide access to information and entertainment resources outside the home.""This definition embraces the concepts of distributed control as well as distributed content. In the coming months, CEA's new HNIT Division will refine its mission and define the work required to make the home network meaningful and compelling for consumers. ""We are taking a group of individuals and a restructured board and melding the two together,"" said Hill. ""As the incoming chair, it's not my style to lead by the gavel but rather to stir with a spoon. We will blend together the positive momentum and visions of the two divisions to capture the hearts and imagination of the American consumer. The new division will help our membership understand where the consumer is going, and what the consumer is going to buy in the digital age.""The foundation for this work has been under construction for the past year. Kara Dickerson, who most recently served as the Director of Communications for the National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association, has joined the CEA's Member Relations department to help manage the new division. New HNIT Division Board members from companies including Cisco, Intel, Avaya, 3Com and Sony have been actively shaping the division's evolution. This group of industry leaders launched several working groups and projects to help drive the success of the home networking industry. These include:- Network Classification And Phasing Working Group - This group has produced ""The TechHome Guide To Home Networks"" which will be online in January of 2001. This industry guide introduces a standardized classification system and terminology and will serve as the definitive resource for information on home networking technology.- TechHome Rating System - a program for rating the technological capabilities of existing, new and planned homes. The program will be released in January of 2001 and will provide home builders, buyers and sellers with a measure of a home's networking capabilities.- R-7 Home Network Committee - a CEA Technology and Standards Committee designed to ensure that current and future home networks can coexist within a home through the use of compatible electronic communications standards.- Consortium For Electronic Systems Technician Training - a collaborative effort between CEA and other trade associations, the consortium was founded to develop curriculum for training electronic systems professionals. - HNIT Members-Only Interactive Website - a communications tool for HNIT Division members, it will serve as a forum for collaborative projects and other joint efforts.- Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) Working Group - provides consumers and industry with information and guidelines for creating a small office/home office.- Sales Tax Holidays For Computer Products - in collaboration with Government and Legislative Affairs, the division is working to promote the passages of sales tax holiday legislation that allows individuals to purchase computers and computer-related products without paying the added burden of sales tax. Such high-tech tax incentives would spur growth and bridge the ""digital divide.""Source: CEA

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