CEA's HNIT Division Launches Two New Home Networking Initiatives

New Division Takes First Steps Toward Achieving Its Mission

14-May-01

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) launched two new home networking initiatives designed to help achieve the mission of its recently formed Home Networks and Information Technology (HNIT) division. The two new programs - a public relations program and an industry relations campaign - join several ongoing CEA efforts to foster the adoption of networked consumer electronics products and their connection to the Internet, including new consumer research.""Home networks have long offered practical and popular consumer benefits including improved safety, comfort and energy savings,"" said Dave Hill, Vice President of Business Development for Panja Inc. and chairman of CEA's HNIT division. ""The popularity of the Internet, the number of multi-PC households and the sheer number of products available that combine the power of digital technology with the benefits of connectivity are turning the evolution of home networks into a revolution. Our consumer research and the rapid proliferation of new products such as MP3 players and digital camcorders that let people edit home movies on their PCs are strong indicia of consumers' desires for networked consumer electronics products.""According to a recent consumer research survey conducted by CEA to gauge the attitudes and opinions toward new home networking applications and products, 53 percent of survey participants were somewhat to very interested in having the ability to listen to music from a single source from any room in the house and 41 percent would like to use their stereos to listen to music from the Internet. While the most popular home networking applications are safety and convenience features, such as automated lighting and thermostat controls, according to the survey, interest in entertainment and information features showed a dramatic increase over previous surveys. To raise consumer awareness and improve understanding of available home networking applications, CEA has launched a public relations campaign that includes an interactive CD-ROM tutorial. The multimedia CD-ROM, entitled homeTECHhome, contains animated tutorials about home networking, virtual tours of a networked home, captioned photos explaining the installation process, video clips of industry leaders explaining the technology and Web links to more information. Designed primarily for use as a multimedia press kit, the CD contains historical press releases, high resolution photos, print-quality color diagrams and clips from CEA's available video news releases. CEA also has published TechHome Officeô, a consumer guide to home office setup. The guide includes synopses and equipment checklists for three different levels of home offices - basic, intermediate and advanced - as well as insights into the latest office technologies to ensure that teleworkers create the most efficient and economical home office for their needs. A redesign of CEA's www.TechHome.org, a consumer Web site that demystifies home networking by explaining the benefits, capabilities, and techniques of interconnecting electronics in the home, is ongoing and is scheduled for launch in 2001.Also scheduled for completion in 2001, CEA's TechHome Rating System will help consumers identify the technological systems and capabilities of a ""wired"" home. With information supplied by builders and realtors, the system will allow consumers to compare homes based on their technology rating, much like other comparisons - such as energy efficiency - that are based on standardized criteria.In an effort to provide the electronics industry with the tools to meet consumer demand for networked consumer electronics products, CEA produced the Industry Guide to Home Networks. The online guide (www.CE.org/networkguide) is designed to serve as the definitive industry resource for information on home networking. Spearheaded by the Network Classification and Phasing Working Group of CEA's HNIT division, the guide was assembled from materials submitted by home networking industry entrepreneurs, company presidents, product engineers, industry research analysts, and CEA staff. The content is maintained and updated regularly, and provisions for industry comments and suggested edits have been built into the site. Topics covered in the online guide include: the exploration of possible home network applications and their benefits, a home networking market overview, definitions of the various types and categories of home networks, an extensive glossary of home networking terms, and descriptions of home networking technologies and standards. Information on the R-7 Home Networking Committee of CEA's Technology and Standards department also is provided in the guide.""Home networking provides the digital plumbing that supports the compelling applications consumers' demand,"" said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of CEA. ""As the only consumer electronics organization with the ability to research consumer desires, develop technologies and standards, represent manufacturers, and create public awareness, CEA is committed to making all of the benefits of home networking available to consumers.""

For more information about the CEA, visit www.ce.org.

Read More:
http://www.ce.org