 |
| EMagazine Volume 5 Issue 2 April / May 2000 |
Features |
|
|
|
Mentors |
|
Free
Email Updates |
|
|
 |
| Home
Toys Editorial - April 2000 - [HTI Home Page] |
KEEP INFORMED OF THE LATEST NEWS Sign Up for our Newsletter [Click Message To Learn More] |
Could
it be that we've turned the corner and will start to see a bevy of new and
intelligent home appliances and devices marketed to the masses? I've been yaking
about this ever since I began HomeToys in 1996, trying to understand why Home
Automation remained such a mystery to the average consumer, and I think things
are starting to happen out there. While X10.com has led the way with it's
internet marketing campaigns, now rumor has it that some very large retailing
chains are preparing to launch Home Networking Sales and Installation Solutions.
Sunbeam / Thalia has some rockwellian
looking smart appliances slated for the shelves later this year and of course
many computer industry giants are offering devices for home data networking and
communications. Hopefully the fun has just begun. Will Mr. and Ms. Homeowner
embrace the new era? Will they be able to understand and afford it? Will they
even care? Stay tuned. We'll do our best to help the process.
|
I live in a 15 year old home that needs to be updated with a structured cabling system. What to do? My plan is to start the project this spring and I'll be asking the experts and amateurs to help out. Later this month I'll post an outline of the project and set up an interactive forum so that you can give me your input and feedback. I'll document and publish the process as we go and perhaps we can all learn something along the way. In the end we'll have a great resource for those that follow with similar needs.
The Home Automation Association has announced its Mark of Excellence awards for this year and Kenneth Kerr, president of Home Controls, Inc. has won the HAA Leadership Award. Congratulations Ken and all the other winners.
This issue features many terrific articles as usual. Believe me I'm not bragging. I don't write this stuff ... I just put it out there for you to read and enjoy. Without the co-operation and outstanding co-operation of those who contribute articles, reviews and interviews ... HomeToys would not exist. Thanks to you all from myself as well as many who write to say that we have "The Best Home Automation Website on the Internet".
Special thanks to Wayne Caswell who has agreed to become our first Mentor. That means Wayne will focus on keeping us up to date on the Data Networking topic. He has a special section devoted to the topic ( click here ) where he writes articles and provides links to other relevant information. Next month Reza Raji will become the 2nd mentor. His topic ... Home Control Networking. Would you like to become a mentor in your area of expertise? Please email bobh@hometoys.com if you do.
In June (next issue) I'd like to learn about how to control the home or cottage from a remote location. Using the telephone, internet and probably mind control there are many possibilities out there now and more in the near future. Do you have some insight about this or any other relevant topic? Send your articles, letters etc. to me at bobh@hometoys.com .
As always I ask that if you like HomeToys and what we provide for you ... the best way to show it is to support our advertisers and sponsors. Click those banners ... check out these Hot Products and take a Gadget Tour.
Enjoy!
