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For many consumers, integrating technology into their lives is a constant challenge. It seems that the person usually responsible for fixing the family PC when it goes haywire is the resident teenager. And when it comes to unlocking the full potential of the Internet, most people have only scratched the surface. Now we are starting to read more and more about something called "home networking" and how it is going to change the way we live in the future. That will be great if it will do things such as set the clock on the VCR so it’s not always flashing . Now IBM has set out to demystify home networking and deliver a system that is truly geared to meet the needs of the average family.
When IBM decided to enter the home networking market in 1996, it was based on the idea that the PC would act as the central hub controlling lights and appliances. With easy-to-use software and hardware, the PC could become the ultimate home timer, turning on and off lights at pre-determined times and automatically shutting off appliances that may have been left on. However, as the market continued to develop and the needs of the consumer became more advanced, IBM realized that the home network needed to do more. Consumers wanted their thermostat automatically set to 65 degrees and all of the lights shut off in the house when they armed the security system in the morning before they left for work. In response, IBM introduced the Home Director system in September of 1998.
Home Director is the first fully-integrated home networking system from a major consumer technology company. Home Director connects all of the subsystems in the home, such as lighting, heating and air conditioning (HVAC), as well as security systems. The system also provides an advanced wiring structure that allows for the connectivity of multiple PCs, in-house video distribution and Internet sharing. Homeowners can now monitor the front door, adjust the thermostat, access files from the downstairs computer and log onto the Internet at the same time as another family member using one ISP account from anywhere in the house. While others are talking about having home networking products, the vast majority are restricted to PC-to-PC connectivity with limited functionality. IBM is the only company offering a complete home networking solution that incorporates the technology of today as well as tomorrow.
The foundation of the IBM Home Director system is the Home Network Connection
Center. Various wires, such as coaxial cable for video and category 5 for PC networking
and telephones, are installed throughout the home and routed to one central location: the
Connection Center. The IBM Home Network Connection Center allows homeowners to link their
PCs together as well as distribute video throughout the home. For instance, a single VCR
or DVD player can broadcast its signal throughout the home so its content can be viewed on
any television.
Once the Connection Center is installed, the homeowner can take advantage of home networking applications that IBM and others are continuing to develop. Presently, IBM offers the IBM Home Network Controller, an integrated home management system, and the IBM Web Point Internet distribution center, which allows simultaneous Web access across the network via a single Internet signal. IBM also has plans to add other applications that work in conjunction with the Home Network Connection Center that will further enhance the way people communicate and receive information in the future.
While all of this may sound complicated, IBM has worked very hard to make it simple and hassle-free. One of the key elements in the development of the Home Director system has been the inauguration of the IBM Authorized Home Systems Integrator program. In the past, if you went looking in the phone book for a company who could install and maintain a home network, there were few - if any - to be found. The Authorized Home Systems Integrator program is designed to give consumers access to experts in the field of home networking. The IBM Integrator is responsible not only for installing the Home Director system, but working with the homeowners to make sure it continues to meet their needs and lifestyles well beyond the initial installation. The Integrator is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to adjust the system and add functionality as new products are introduced. The homeowner can rest easy at night knowing that IBM is delivering a complete solution that no other company can.
If you would like more information about the IBM Home Director system, visit the Web site at www.ibm.com/homedirector. The site has comprehensive information about Home Director and a list of local IBM Authorized Home Systems Integrators around the country. Information is also available over the telephone by calling 1-800-426-7144.
