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Company: Parks Associates

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Article Title Author Company eMag Issue Article Synopsis
Trends, Technologies, & Ecosystems: Evolution of The Digital Home The Analyst Team at Parks Associates

Feb 2013

 Parks Associates, with more than 25 years of industry expertise and consumer research, analyzes the top trends influencing the future of the connected home and digital lifestyle.
Expanding Role of the Service Provider—from Music to Games to the Connected Home Tom Kerber, Tricia Parks, and Harry Wang Parks Associates

Aug 2012

 Opportunities for value-added services span such categories as entertainment, technical support, home management, energy services, and healthcare. Each one offers a unique value proposition, and service companies view these services as means to retain customers and as platforms for future revenue growth.
The Rise of the Personal Cloud Kurt Scherf Parks Associates

Feb 2012

 From the starting point of data backup and synchronization, personal cloud services over the next few years will increasingly focus on media access and storage.
The Personal Cloud Kurt Scherf Parks Associates

Dec 2011

 The main driver for cloud-based services today is data safekeeping, but as content libraries grow, so will demand, both explicit and implicit, for solutions to organize, manage, and retrieve data, files, and media.
What Kurt Scherf Parks Associates

Feb 2011

Parks AssociatesFor the foreseeable future, online data/backup services will complement local storage such as computers and attached hard drives because they provide redundancy and the flexibility of multiplatform access. Online solutions will not reduce the need for robust storage in the home over the next five years, but it could eventually bring forth the long-anticipated arrival of “thin client” computing, where devices don’t have to rely on large amounts of storage and processing. But it’s a long-term evolution, and it will be awhile before consumers start to see their local storage and computing needs diminish.
The Connected TV and Video Experience: Parks Associates White Paper Parks Associates

Dec 2010

 While the electronic program guide (EPG) helps by organizing available content and relevant metadata for review, systems with enhanced search functionality and content recommendations allow consumers greater control over the discovery and evaluation process and thus play a significant role in promoting content and maintaining customer satisfaction. While these search-and-recommendation methods differ among solution providers, each system relies on a combination of information sources.
Consumer Attitudes and the Benefits of Smart Grid Technologies Bill Ablondi Parks Associates

Oct 2010

 Consumer attitudes about the benefits of smart grid technology are still in a formative stage. Most consumers are not aware of the term, much less the capabilities smart grid technologies will be bringing in the next few years.
The Role of the Set-Top Box Harry Wang Parks Associates

Aug 2010

Parks Associates expects the role that a set-top box serves in the home to expand. Service providers, especially cable and telco/IPTV operators, will leverage this platform to support their multiplay strategies. Consequently, the set-top box will play a role as a home media server itself or as a network node, supporting multimedia functions and connecting multiple entertainment platforms while linking back to an RG to offer whole-home services.
Google TV - Searching for Success Kurt Scherf Parks Associates

Aug 2010

Kurt Scherf studies developments in home networks, residential gateways, digital entertainment services, consumer electronics, and digital home technical support services. Kurt is the sole author or contributing author/analyst to more than 80 research reports and studies produced by Parks Associates since 1998.
What Happened To The Smart Home? Kurt Scherf Parks Associates

Jan 2009

 Ten years ago, the “smart home” was all the rage. Almost every company in our market had a concept center or display house that showed the functionality of the digital home.
Adoption of Wireless and Powerline Controls Bill Ablondi Parks Associates

Jan 2009

 One must consider all of these factors in determining whether electronic controls will replace electromechanical toggle switches. Wireless and powerline controls effectively address two factors in a positive way: absolute price and infrastructure. First, the cost of products based on these technologies is significantly less than traditional control systems installed by home systems integrators. Second, the infrastructure is already in place, so no new wires are needed.
Web Video’s Recent Moves: Making the Right Decisions? Kurt Scherf Parks Associates

Nov 2008

 The market to distribute premium video content (mainly TV episodes and feature-length movies) is currently going through one of its most dynamic periods as experimentation with business models, delivery mechanisms, and consumer tastes is in full swing.
Choice of Storage Media for Portable Multimedia Players Harry Wang Parks Associates

Nov 2008

 Unlike in the digital audio player market, the fight between NAND flash and hard-disk drive (HDD) on the PMP platform is far from over.
No Way to Regulate - Mobile TV in Europe a Parks Associates white paper John Barrett Parks Associates

Sep 2008

 Standards can be a good thing; the GSM standard proved to be a great thing. Yet standards must be useful and not established simply for the sake of having a “standard.” A European mobile TV standard will not enable lucrative roaming services, nor will it solve the economies-of-scale problem facing the market. It will, however, deny European operators the freedom to choose which technologies they need and also deny them the use of established network infrastructure.
e-Health Opportunities for Global Service Providers a Parks Associates white paper Harry Wang Parks Associates

Sep 2008

 An aging population with rising incidence of chronic conditions is a threat to the global healthcare system. Each month, the world's elderly population increases by 795,000. In countries such as Japan, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Italy, and Spain, the elderly outnumber the children. Chronic diseases such as diabetes, congestive heart failure, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) unfortunately come with age and can lead to deteriorating quality-of-life standards. These chronic diseases are not only major causes of death but also among the most costly to treat and cure.
Consumer Technology: Key Trends and Outlook for 2008 The Parks Associates Analyst Team Parks Associates

Feb 2008

 The Parks Associates analyst team has consolidated its insights on some of the next significant areas to watch within the digital lifestyles space. This paper examines some of the latest developments and activity across a wide array of products, services, and categories. Many of our research efforts in 2008 – both industry reports and primary consumer research – will be focused on these areas.
Broadband Video: A Market Update Kurt Scherf Parks Associates

Dec 2007

 Current “winners” in the broadband VoD space are the television broadcast networks, which are reporting good success with their online initiatives. For example, they are reporting high ad retention, no evidence of primetime cannibalization, and targeting the right viewer in terms of demographics.
Home Controls: Trends and Opportunities Bill Ablondi Parks Associates

Oct 2007

 Home controls are one dimension of a broader set of home systems that includes entertainment, security, energy management, broadband access, and data networking. These other home systems can entice consumers to bring controls into their homes if control systems manufacturers partner with firms providing these other systems and services.
Who Will Win the 4G Race? Michael Cai Parks Associates

Aug 2007

 Mobile WiMAX is likely to have the most success among new market entrants looking to enter the market in the near term, such as landline operators seeking to include mobility in their service bundles. The potential of such markets should not be under estimated.
Broadband Adventures in Rural America Chris Roden Parks Associates

Jun 2007

 In a perfect world, everyone would have access to a broadband technology like cable or fiber. However, it will be decades before telcos and cable providers expand these high-speed services to rural areas. While none of these alternative solutions have emerged as a leader, it looks to be a race between WiMAX and BPL.
Digital Hell John Barrett Parks Associates

Apr 2007

 There are lots of theories about how and why new products achieve mass-market success. I’d like to offer my own little rule of thumb. No product will ever achieve mass-market success unless it inspires envy. People must look at the early adopters and want to become one.
Business Models for Managing the Digital Home Kurt Scherf Parks Associates

Apr 2007

 We anticipate significant opportunities for hardware and software companies helping service providers, home network and home computer vendors, and CE vendors to develop more proactive customer help solutions.
Watching Trends and Opportunities beyond 2007 Kurt Sherf Parks Associates

Feb 2007

 Because change in this industry tends to be incremental and far more subtle than what can easily be reported in a newspaper article or a short television news report, we wanted to open 2007 with some of our thoughts about “what’s next” in the digital lifestyles industry.
Mobile TV in Europe: Who Needs a Standard John Barrett Parks Associates

Dec 2006

 Operators will rightly choose the technology that presents them with the strongest business case, and this choice will vary from market to market. They cannot (and should not) be expected to forego current savings in exchange for the promise of cheaper equipment further down the road.
Digital TV Transition: Tour de Europe Harry Wang Parks Associates

Dec 2006

 Due to resource constraints, diverse operation backgrounds, varying levels of competitive pressure, and split views on market dynamics and corporate competences from decision-makers, operators are selecting different integration approaches.
The Digital Home: Here, Now, and Ready for Integration Kurt Scherf and Stuart Sikes Parks Associates

Oct 2006

 If the solution is simple, reliable, and fairly priced, the consumer wins, and the integrated digital home – nay, the digital lifestyle – vision becomes a reality – rapidly.
Media Servers in the Digital Home Kurt Scherf Parks Associates

Aug 2006

 Annual sales of media server form factors will be significant over the next five years, to the tune of nearly 50 million shipments in 2010
Digital Home Health—A Primer Harry Wang Parks Associates

Aug 2006

 The total market for digital home health services is expected to grow to $2.1 billion in 2010, fueled mainly by wellness monitoring services (CAGR 74%), Web messaging, and online consultation services (CAGR 54%).
Reaching the Unreachable Consumer Parks Associates Parks Associates

Feb 2006

 Tools such as the Internet should be leveraged to provide more of the interactivity and commerce activities associated with product research and purchase. These tools can also reinforce the messages that consumers receive via traditional advertising methods and give both content producers and advertisers more effective ways of measuring their audiences.
Making TV Meaningful Parks Associates Parks Associates

Feb 2006

 IPTV has the potential to cause a paradigm shift in telecommunications services, and service providers, especially telecom operators, have a great opportunity to increase customer ARPU. With the addition of video into the package, things become more complicated. Consumers attach more value when it comes to video. Quality and quantity of video content are important issues that drive consumer preferences.
Home Builders: Key Channel for CE Bill Ablondi Parks Associates

Dec 2005

 Home builders sold $11 billion worth of technology products in 2004 and expect sales to increase 10-12% in 2005, according to Parks Associates’ 2004 Builder Survey.
Look Ma! My Phone Kills Mosquitoes Yuanzhe (Michael) Cai Parks Associates

Oct 2005

 Cell phones are no longer just tools for making phone calls. Phone makers have been busy developing new models that include advanced entertainment and information features.
Putting the Home Network to Work Kurt Scherf Parks Associates

Aug 2005

 This white paper examines the challenges that face home users of computers, the Internet, and home networks and provides insight into how the industry is addressing the need for improved management, monitoring, and maintenance services and solutions to home users.
Dealers Revenue to Reach $5.7B Bill Ablondi Parks Associates

Dec 2003

 Continued growth of new construction coupled with consumer demand for the latest entertainment systems is driving sales through installing dealers to grow 8% in 2003 over 2002. The results of Parks Associates latest survey of the channel indicate that next year looks even better with nearly 60% of dealers expecting their businesses to grow more than 10% in 2004.
The Market For Ultra-Wideband Solutions Kurt Sherf Parks Associates

Oct 2003

 We readily acknowledge the challenges inherent in forecasting a networking solution as broadly-positioned as UWB. However, we simultaneously would caution against the over-hype that has been associated with previous "revolutionary" technologies.
Public Hot Spots: One Truth and Two Myths Yuanzhe (Michael) Cai Parks Associates

Oct 2003

 Most hot-spot service providers agree that the majority of this market's early adopters are and will continue to be so-called road warriors. These people travel nationally or internationally for professional purposes, and while on the road, they need Internet connections to access their corporate networks and e-mail.
Disconnected: Consumers And The Mobile Phone Industry a White Paper John Barrett Parks Associates

Aug 2003

 Table of Contents 1.0 There Went the Big Spenders 2.0 Conspicuously Not Consuming 3.0 Does Anybody Really Want All This Technology? 4.0 What?s Really Wrong with the Industry
Trends in Residential Energy Management A White Paper Kurt Scherf Parks Associates

Jun 2003

 Expect cautious incursions into the world of deployed energy management solutions in the beginning. Eventually, however, we believe that commercial deployments in larger numbers will be the norm, at least in certain markets. After 30+ years of watching a market evolve at a painstakingly tortuous pace, the next few years should provide some interest and excitement.
The Chinese Telecom Market Michael Cai Parks Associates

Apr 2003

 China's telecom carriers market will gradually open to foreign investors, in the order of value-added services, basic mobile services, and basic fixed telecom services. Geographically, the Chinese government will first open the market in three super-sized cities-Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, then 17 big cities, and finally the rest of the country.
Why Kurt Scherf Parks Associates

Dec 2002

 In the end, Parks Associates believes that the PC and standalone consumer electronics platforms will both play key roles as distributed hubs in the home. Reprinted from the November 17, 2002 edition of "Parks' Points"
Shanghai Interactive/Digital TV Yuanzhe (Michael) Cai Parks Associates

Dec 2002

 In early 2002, the Shanghai municipal government “advised” SCN to accelerate the digital TV project and gradually migrate to interactive TV services in the next few years. The government also provided millions of dollars in subsidies specifically for the digital TV project. Reprinted from the November 17, 2002 edition of "Parks' Points"
Coming To A PC Near You Michael Greeson Parks Associates

Dec 2002

 Movielink ushers in a new genre of content provisioning capable of radically altering the business of movie rental. While you may disagree with this claim, to those likely impacted by this move, this is indeed big news. Reprinted from the November 17, 2002 edition of "Parks' Points"
Home Entertainment Network Growth Kurt Scherf Parks Associates

Jun 2002

 Caveats and concerns aside, the next two years promise to bring significant development in the field of connected entertainment. Growth will come from partnerships between platform developers and service providers (think set-top boxes), new forms of content, emerging business models, and a growing awareness and acceptance among consumers for these applications.
CONNECTIONS™ 2002 Wrap-Up Kurt Scherf Parks Associates

Jun 2002

 CONNECTIONS™ would like to extend a Texas-sized “thank you” to the more than 50 exhibiting sponsors, two supporting organizations, and 24 supporting publications for their participation in and support of what has become the industry’s largest, most important and focused executive conference and trade show for the home networking and residential gateway industries. We’ll expect many happy returns in 2003, when CONNECTIONS™ will convene for the seventh consecutive year!
Info Appliances Kurt Scherf Parks Associates

Apr 2001

 The business model in terms of total available market (TAM) for information appliances may have to be clarified.
MMDS Broadband Michael Greeson Parks Associates

Oct 2000

 MMDS is ideally suited for areas where DSL and cable cannot reach. And in areas where these services are available, MMDS can offer ISPs the advantages of rapid deployment, a swift time-to-market, none of the "last-mile" obstructions inherent to DSL and cable service, and a more cost-effective mode of providing Internet service. All of these advantages should prove very enticing to ISPs scrambling to establish a presence in the broadband market.
Forum99 Wrap-Up Kurt Scherf Parks Associates

Dec 1999

 From the announcements that came from Forum’99, it is evident that the excitement is only just beginning to build. Technical advances are only one part of the key to unlocking the vast potential this market holds, however. The overreaching message proclaimed by most speakers – and attendees – is a better understanding of the needs and desires of the 21st century consumer.

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