New Website for Commercial Building Automation
www.automatedbuildings.com

HTI Home Toys and Enviromation Inc. are pleased to announce the launch of a joint venture website dedicated to Commercial Building Automation. Those familiar with HomeToys will recognize the style and multitude of features and resources found at automatedbuildings.com. Ken and Jane Sinclair of Enviromation provide much of the content and will maintain the site. Ken has been involved in the Building Automation Industry for many years and brings a wide variety of expertise to the table. Here's just a few of the valuable resources to be found:

• The News Tab takes you to "THE AUTOMATOR" our EMagazine with Headlines, News Releases and lots of interesting articles and product reviews. All past issues will be archived and the articles and reviews indexed and stored in libraries.
• The Systems Tab will allow you to get quickly to your area of interest including Environmental Control, Lighting Control, Sensors, Actuators and End Devices, Fire and Life Safety and Security.
• The Products Tab takes you to our sponsor pages where a showcase of products and services can be found. Contact us if you'd like to participate and promote you products or services.
• The Resources Tab provides linkage to the players in our industry, plus access to demo and shareware software, Industry Articles, Product Reviews, Industry Events, Training Sources and the ability to search for companies in the industry.

New Control System Under Development

Elk Products, Inc., Savoy Automation, Inc., and Global Converging Technology, Inc. is jointly developing a new home automation control system for release later this year.

The system will feature: Global Converging Technologies spread spectrum phone system and wireless touch screens. Savoy Automation's Cyberhouse control software embedded into the control. Elk Products' Magic Module Automation Controllers, voice annunciation, and security control interface.

WebPad Promises To Unlock the Full Potential of the Internet

Intel Architecture Labs and Advance Internet (a division of Newhouse Publishing) have each been conducting research on how to unlock the full potential of the Internet as an information, communication and entertainment medium by giving consumers access to it anytime, anywhere in the home.

Intel Architecture Labs and Advance Internet are now working together to test consumers reactions to a prototype Web Pad delivering Internet content that is tailored to each individual in the home via a wireless pad device that communicates with a PC by a radio frequency (RF) connection. The trials, which run through April 23, include 10 homes with a total of 43 participants. The architecture of this prototype is different from other Web Pads being proposed in the industry that simply provide a web browser on a portable flat-panel device. The concept being tested involves well targeted and packaged content cached so that it can be accessed instantly rather than having to fire up a browser and surf for information on the Web. The trials have demonstrated that this type of Web experience results in more usage of the Internet by more members of the household. While HPG and the StrongArm group are both pursuing opportunities in the handheld/Web Pad category, we are not announcing any specific plans at this time to either manufacture Web Pads based on the prototype being tested. Nor are we at this time specifying which processors in the Intel product line should be used in such devices.

The technology in the trials featured a unique combination of wireless hardware; an extremely user friendly interface (created by Intel) and easy to use, well packaged, dynamic and useful content (created by Advance Internet).

Wadsworth Changes Name to Telesystems

From Beau Wadsworth:
"We are changing our name to Telesystems from Wadsworth Electronics. The reason is actually rather administrative more than anything. We are simply merging the Wadsworth Electronics venture with our Telesystems service branch. Also currently, we are building an X-10 interface product. The device allows third party equipment to interface to the powerlines and handles many X-10 housekeeping functions such as listen-before-send, error correction etc. Call 800-321-8851 for more information."

Hometouch Inc. announces the addition of serial I.R. control

Hometouch Inc. is pleased to announce the addition of serial I.R. control--512 codes--Adjustable scan frequency--50 macros with 10 codes per macro. Applied Digital Inc. worked with Hometouch to make this possible. Hometouch will also release it's dealer tool kit this month that will allow set-up on site.

Leviton Introduces Revolutionary New Line of Lighting Control Products

Leviton has introduced a revolutionary generation of lighting control products that set a new standard for product engineering, performance and design. The line includes multi-location devices for architectural, touch, scene and traditional dimming applications and consists of more than 200 devices. For more information visit www.leviton.com

ANNOUNCING : PC COMMANDER

Now you can use the remote from your TV/VCR etc to control your PC. Just imagine, control of your PC/Applications from the comfort of your favorite armchair. PC Commander lets you associate a keyboard-sequence with the keys of your IR remote, so you can scroll around your favourite App, and Print etc. As well as this you can assign a number of keys that lets you scroll through a selection list, choose one, and run it. The listed items can be Programs such as MS Word, Explorer etc or Files such as spreadsheets , documents etc or even "links" such as URLs etc - so you can even "surf the ‘net" . Other applications would be to control cameras, X-10 home control, TV Cards, CD, MP3 and DVD players, and many more - all from the comfort of your armchair.

** Now c/w WinAmp plug-in :-)

Available from CONCEPT "direct" at http://eurosat.com/conceptuk 
UK Distributors Technovision http://www.technovision.co.uk  
and in USA from Futurestandard http://www.futurestandard.com

Home Automation Forum

March 9, 1999 Phoenix, Arizona

Preston Home Technologies announces the development of a not-for-profit Internet Forum dedicated to the Home Automation and Systems Integration enthusiast. Our goal is to provide a forum for designers, installers, do-it-yourselfers, architects, builders, homeowners, and others to share information. Our secondary goal is to help spread the word of Home Automation and Systems Integration.

Please check it out at http://www.prestonhometech.com/haboard/index.html

New Location for CSC Headquarters

Communications Supply Corporation is proud to announce the new location of their Corporate Headquarters and Distribution Center which opened on March 15,1999. CSC consolidated its Downers Grove, IL and Elk Grove Village, IL sales and distribution centers into their new 100,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility.

The new address is:
200 East Lies Road
Carol Stream, IL 60188
New Phone 630-221-6400
New Main Fax 630-221-6420
Toll Free 800-468-2121

3COM AND MICROSOFT JOINTLY DEVELOP HOME NETWORK PRODUCTS

The 3Com and Microsoft corporations have formed an alliance to jointly develop products that will connect personal computers within homes and enable consumers to save money by sharing modems, printers, scanners and other peripheral devices. The in-home networks would also make it easier to play multiple-player computer games. (New York Times 11 Mar 99)