11th Annual Digital Engineering Conference To Explore The Future Of Consumer Electronics

Leaders from all facets of the consumer electronics industry will meet to explore emerging digital technologies at the 11th Annual Digital Engineering Conference - the Consumer Electronics Future. The conference, produced by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and co-sponsored by the IEEE Consumer Electronics Society, will be held in Hasbrouck, New Jersey at the Hilton Hotel, February 29 through March 1, 2000. Co-sponsored by Microsoft, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company, Sarnoff Laboratories, Sharp Electronics, Thomson Consumer Electronics Inc., Turner Engineering and Zenith Electronics, the Digital Engineering Conference is the launch pad for the digital technologies that will carry the consumer electronics industry into the next millennium.At this year's Digital Engineering Conference, attendees will gain powerful technical insight on trends, advancements and standards in digital audio, video, computer and access technologies. Hot topics will include; data broadcasting, digital automobile electronics, flat-panel displays, electronic books, electronic program guides and digital radio as well as information on recent developments in cable compatibility and the RF environment for digital television (DTV) including DTV modulation.During the luncheon keynote to be held at noon, Wednesday, March 1, Dale Hatfield, Chief, Office of Engineering and Technology, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will discuss the impact of digital technologies on the consumer electronics industry in the year 2000 and beyond. The first conference session will provide an overview of how information for electronic program schedules are processed then delivered to end users through multiple network channels. Rich Chernock, IBM Research and Aninda DasGupta, Philips Electronics, will explain the standards and protocols involved in enabling DTV data broadcasting. Chernock will discuss the implications associated with Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) Data Broadcasting. DasGupta will educate attendees on developments in DTV data application software environment (DASE) standards. Representatives from the Automobile Multimedia Interface Collaboration (AMIC), will speak about the automotive industry's vision of the car as a platform for integrated digital networks that provide vehicle operation enhancement, safety improvements and increased driver convenience. Wael Berrached, Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), will give an overview of the car area network (CAN) bus, the system currently used to connect electronic devices in automobiles.Mark Richer of the ATSC, will moderate a session on the RF environment for DTV receivers. Richer also will give an overview of the ATSC transmission system and VSB system requirements. Paul Snopko, Zenith Electronics, will review VSB receiver performance improvements and Gary Sgrignoli and Ray Hauge of Zenith Electronics, will report on VSB field tests and optimized receiver designs. After an informal reception on February 29, Gary Arlen, Arlen Communications and Rich Doherty, The Envisioneering Group, will conclude the day's sessions with an evening panel discussing the current and future state of consumer electronics in the digital universe.Victor McCrary of the National Institute of Standards Technology (NIST), will update attendees on the latest technology developments for electronic books. Attendees will learn about the future of eBooks and the issues facing this emerging product area, including reader expectation, standards development, human interface capabilities and limitations, and copy protection. George Hanover, former CEA Vice President of Technology and Standards, will be at the helm for a mid-morning discussion on the crucial role cable compatibility must play in connecting DTV receivers with cable systems. Bill Wall, Scientific-Atlanta; Eric Carlsgarrd, Thomson; and representatives from Cable Labs will expound further on network interface and performance issues for cable.Frank DeMartin, Sharp; David Mentley, Stanford Resources; and Dr. Scott Keneman, Panasonic; will wrap up the conference by giving their perspectives on flat panel displays.For more information, visit www.ce.org/events, or contact CEA Technology and Standards, 703 907 7660, engcea@cea.org.About The CEAThe Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is a sector of the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA), the 76-year-old Arlington, Virginia-based trade organization representing all facets of electronics manufacturing and connecting the industries that define the digital age. CEA represents more than 600 U.S. companies involved in the development, manufacturing and distribution of audio, video, mobile electronics, communications, information technology, multimedia and accessory products that are sold through consumer channels. CEA also sponsors and manages the International CES - Your Source for Workstyle and Lifestyle Technology. All profits from CES are reinvested into industry services, including technical training and education, industry promotion, engineering standards development, market research and legislative advocacy.

Source: CEA