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| EMagazine Volume 5 Issue 5 Oct / Nov 2000 |
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Toys Editorial - October 2000 - [HTI Home Page] |
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Time
sure flies when you're having fun. Our Emagazine is 4 years old now and
HomeToys.com has been online for almost 5 years. If you want some fun click
here
to read the first issue from Oct 96. Has much
changed? Not as much as I would like to see in Home Automation, but on the other
hand, the internet has spawned a new industry called Home Networking. Is there a
difference? Not really. Home Automation / Networking / Electronics /
Entertainment / Technology / You Name It ... all refer to one converging
marketplace.
Underlying all of this technology is a common goal. Improve lifestyle by adding convenience to our home environment. Is it happening yet? For Early Adopters, DIYers and High End Purchasers the answer is yes ... with a few headaches to go along with it. For the average homeowner the answer is ... not quite. Home Technologies have not yet hit the main stream and probably won't for a few years yet. In my opinion there are still too many polarized interest groups and conflicting standards. Too many resources are spent showing off and comparing widgets and gadgets (especially at the Trade Show level ... well over 10 in Oct alone) and not enough emphasis on educating and demystifying for the average consumer. John and Jane Doe just need to know that they can bring home a product (or hire an installer) ... plug it in and have it work.
To
sell the idea of home technologies to the average homeowner we should be
focusing on "Content". With internet connectivity a standard feature
for most systems this should be easy. Vast resources of content are now
available. How do we sell that to John and Jane? First I think we should ask
them what they want. And I don't mean what gadget ... I mean what should the
gadget deliver. Is it information, entertainment, communication or ???
I'm planning to focus on some of this content in upcoming issues. If you have some ideas please let me know how HomeToys can help to educate consumers. Just email me at bobh@hometoys.com .
Getting back to our Birthday party ... I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has participated in the HomeToys adventure. Everyone who has sent in an article, review, tip, letter, news item etc. has helped build our library and those companies who have advertised with us have helped to keep the library online and free to all. The internet has changed a great deal in the last 5 years and we haven't seen anything yet. At HomeToys however we intend to keep to the old internet ways. Lots of focused information for people from all over the world ... for free. All we are doing is helping this industry report on itself ... and we will continue to do so.
The next issue theme is Can Home Automation Help Us Get Through The Energy Crunch? Rising oil prices, deregulation and extreme weather conditions are sending our utility bills through the roof. How can we combat these high prices with Home Technologies? If you'd like to share what you know please contact me and I'll walk you through the process of submitting an article.
I'd like to welcome David Gaw of Coactive as our newest Mentor. He will be keeping us up to date on Residential Gateways. Other Mentors include Wayne Caswell ( Data Networking ) and Reza Raji covers 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!
