The Wireless Home of the
Future - by Tom Dibble
Many different companies, from PC and white goods manufacturers
to telecom and consumer electronics firms, have started to develop
and market products for the home automation market. A report
on connected home services, by Cahners In-Stat Group, estimates
the U.S. market will multiply by over 27 times the 1999 figures
by 2004. Technologies within the home, such as broadband, Bluetooth,
Wireless LAN, and HomeRF, will help fuel this growth. Orange
is already exploring technologies and working with a number
of different companies to turn ideas into reality. But in this
newly emerging market, it will be interesting to see which way
the trends will go.
As an example of what such a connected home might
be like and to trial the effects of the technologies involved,
Orange decided to take an ordinary family home in Hertfordshire,
UK, and turn it into a blueprint for life in the future.
Once the overhaul of the house was complete, three
families in succession spent time in the house. The University
of Surrey (UK) and Orange, in a Big Brother style research project,
wanted to see whether new technologies and devices made home
life simpler or just took up more time and became a hindrance.
Overall, the families' experiences were said to
be positive. There was special praise for the home's wireless
approach. All of the occupants stated that the jumble of wires
associated with most entertainment products such as music systems,
computers, and game consoles were annoying and ugly at the best
of times, but to have these replaced with wire-free products
created a much cleaner and neater living environment.
Other technologies all of these families particularly
liked included broadband Internet access, in particular, being
able to download video from the Web. Another positive response
was to the digital photographic technology that allowed the
occupants to take real-life pictures, or ones downloaded from
the Web, and have them displayed on electronic photo frames
around the house. These could even be alternated in each room
according to moods or time of day. The families also liked the
voice-control systems in place, which allowed them to control
the television and manage other environment and climate controls.
On the negative side, there was a universal dislike
for the home's wall panels, which enabled occupants to control
everything in a room at the touch of a button. Such items included
climate, entertainment, and lighting. The fact that a simple
light switch was not present seemed to frustrate some members
of the families. A comment made by one occupant was that "High
tech is nice but I want to feel in charge."
Since these families have left the house, work
has begun to compile their feedback. Orange was recognized last
year for this research at the World Communications Awards by
winning the Technology Foresight Award.
All this is great, but unless you're Bill Gates
and happen to live in a multimillion-dollar house that is outfitted
like the house of the future, how accessible are these gadgets
and systems going to be to the average home owner? Who will
manufacture them? The home automation market has historically
promised a lot, but thus far has failed to deliver much. Lack
of standards, expensive solutions, and industry fragmentation
have stunted the growth of the industry.
However, there is now renewed conviction that
this market will see strong medium-term growth due to key factors.
The unprecedented impact of the Internet will mean a change
in system designs and business models. The Internet is creating
a paradigm shift that is leading to home automation solutions
becoming IP-aware, and in the process, opening up greater possibilities
for service providers and appliance manufacturers to create
new revenue streams. This will be aided by the emergence of
wired broadband connections.
So, the question is, how long until we see some
semblance of a stable, lucrative market? Answers on a postcard
please.
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