Consumers Are Ready For Home Remote Control

Home networks are the foundation of the digital home but are still primarily utilitarian — most networks are erected to share a broadband pipe among multiple PCs, and it's primarily PCs that are connected to them. Yet as consumers accumulate more and more content on their PCs and rely increasingly on the Internet as a source for audio and video, the more enterprising among them seek to enjoy that content on their home stereo or TV by distributing it over a home network. These entertainment networks now comprise 39% of all US online home networks, and the remaining 61% of online home network owners express strong interest in pursuing networked entertainment in the future. Yet consumer product strategy professionals focused on the digital home should not neglect the home automation opportunities that will follow entertainment — consumers are interested in remotely controlling home functions and are willing to pay to do so.