The e-Home

Making the PC easy to use

Since the spring 1999 Intel Developer Forum, Intel has begun a movement to shift the industry towards easier to use PC's. Focusing on stylish, concept PC's that fit naturally in the décor of a home, the primary focus of these PC's is that they're always connected, always on.

With recent advances in home networking, integration of additional PC functions on a single chip, and the growing expansion of broadband Internet connections, Intel was once again preaching the potential of the e-home.

For Spring IDF 2000, a mock e-home was displayed populated with a few of these concept PC's.

The PC's in the demonstration used a combination of wireless and phoneline networking to connect the systems to each other and the Internet.

In the living room, a concept PC from Anderson Velocity was used as the hub of the home network. Serving as the homes' primary Internet access machine as well as digital video center, this system offered Firewire connections for digital cameras as well as a 4-port USB hub. Powering the system was a Pentium III 800 processor.

Anderson Velocity concept PC

To personalize photographs and browse the web, an Internet appliance from Engineering Design Consultants was used. This concept PC, named 'N Touch, shared files with other PC's via a wireless connection and also featured a wireless keyboard.

The 'N Touch

Also on display was PC-based digital television programming output by the Fiori Home Media Center.

Trendy looking isn't it!?

It has been announced that PBS will begin airing digital television programming next summer. These programs will offer enhanced, interactive content such as additional information related to the given program you're watching.

To demonstrate that concept PC's can be used for gaming, the Palo Alto eXo concept PC was running a MechWarrior-style game (although I can't remember the exact name) at a pretty good framerate. The Intel representative demonstrating the PC was online and playing against 4 or 5 opponents.

Your next gaming machine

The final system on display, and easily the most unique was the Sozo Design Pi Casa concept PC. A portable PC, the Pi Casa can easily be moved to various rooms inside the house and plugged into small docking stations, referred to by Intel representatives as "outlets" during the demonstration.

The gray bottom is the docking station. Note the interesting tops in various colors

While the e-home demonstration was pretty impressive, I'm a bit skeptical of when we can expect this technology to become mainstream.

While you and I may think the idea of a PC in every room is a great one, there are still hurdles that must be overcome before the e-home becomes a reality. I think you'll agree that the concept PC's are much better looking than your typical beige box though!