Background
The installation of most connected (or smart) home technologies
requires the expert knowledge and tailored advice of a home
technology integrator. There is a growing consumer demand
for new and increasingly sophisticated home technologies.
Interest in setting up a home network continues to be driven
primarily by consumers’ desire for internet access.
Most consumers with home networks use their systems for sharing
an internet connection, electronic files, hard drive space,
and/or a printer. Consumers now use their computers for things
other than accessing the internet and using email. The majority
of broadband users download music and video, visit comparison
shopping sites, and use photo-sharing sites. Today’s
home network owners are eager for new applications, particularly
in the areas of entertainment and home control. The increase
in technology and advanced applications has caused many consumers
to scratch their head and seek assistance to help integrate
these new technologies into their daily lives. This is where
Tech@Home
can be of assistance.
Home networks represent the earliest form of the connected
home – a home with a central hub for all things digital.
There are two functional networks in the home: a PC-centric
network and a consumer electronics-centric network. The
PC-centric network is the locus of work activities and incorporate
some entertainment applications, particularly music and
games. The consumer electronics-centric network, on the
other hand, consists of connected consumer electronics (CE)
devices. This network ensures that consumers can view digital
media in any room in the house and incorporated digital
video recorder (DVR) and home theater functionality.
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