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| EMagazine Volume 5 Issue 6 Dec 2000 / Jan 2001 |
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Toys Editorial - December 2000 - [HTI Home Page] |
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Christmas is just around the corner as I write this and it seems like
only yesterday that I was celebrating the arrival of the new millennium.
Much has changed. I was just reading an
article about internet time ... supposedly running 7 times faster than normal
time. The argument is that internet time doesn't really exist ... just as the so
called New Economy isn't really any different than the Old Economy. As far as
I'm concerned ... neither is correct. Things have been changed by the internet
... just not as extremely as many believed it would. Businesses still need a
solid market and earnings to survive (Old Economy) but they can mobilize faster
now (New Economy). This becomes even more important when you are dealing with a
new technology marketplace as we are with Home Automation and Networking. It's
easy to lose track of what is important ... namely reliable and useful products
for the average consumer.
This issue has several articles about saving energy using Home Automation and Residential Gateways. I was an engineering student during the energy crisis of the 70's. We read and studied huge reports and forecasts about diminishing oil supplies. Then it all went away ... amazing. Next thing you know we start producing gas guzzling SUV's (muscle cars of my day were way more fun by the way). Funny thing is ... we ain't killin' any more dinosaurs that I know of so it seems to me that we will still run out of oil one day. And the solar energy industry has not taken over our heating needs (as predicted at one time). So ... it becomes extremely important (again) that we conserve the oil resources that are left on this earth. And we can do it with the new technologies available today. Read all about it here and if you're smart ... implement it before the powers that be decide to force you to ... at huge cost ... in the near future.
In
an effort to help everyone learn about Home Automation and Networking we've
recently added a "Learning Center".
This resource will help people with all levels of experience get more out of
what HomeToys has to offer. Just choose your level of expertise from a list ...
Beginner / DIY / Home Planning / Builder / Designer etc. and you'll be presented
with a series of links to articles / reviews / libraries etc. that will help you
find and learn what interests you. We will keep it up to date with new content
as it becomes available and as always we welcome your input. If you think we can
improve the resource or you have suggestions of things to ad please email me at bobh@hometoys.com
.
While I'm asking for help ... how about this one? In order to get more content for the average guy / gal on the street I want to produce several product comparison matrices to assist readers in finding the products and services that they need. This is a huge undertaking for us and will take some time. If you feel that you would like to help or have some ideas please let me know.
The next issue theme is Home Entertainment System Automation and Control. You're probably hoping to get a new entertainment system or device of some sort for Christmas. How about putting that system to work bringing you more entertainment ... more conveniently ... everywhere you want it. If you'd like to share what you know please contact me and I'll walk you through the process of submitting an article.
Special thanks to all of our Mentors for their input for this issue. New articles from David Gaw - Residential Gateways , Wayne Caswell - Data Networking and Reza Raji - Home Control Networks. Would you like to become a mentor in your area of expertise? Please email bobh@hometoys.com if you do.
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 and check out these Hot Products. For those of you in the industry who would like a presence at HomeToys, we have several ad opportunities available which are both creative and effective. Click here to see the options and help us spread the word.
Enjoy!
