ANALYSIS - SONY LEADS THE IN-HOME NETWORKING PACK
TOKYO, July 10 (Asia Pulse via COMTEX) -- "This is the TV of tomorrow,"
says Rodger Lea, head of Sony Electronics' Distributed Systems
Laboratory in Silicon Valley. He points to a set featuring a video-tape
recorder (VTR), a MiniDisc (MD) player and a digital camera.
He turns it on, and a virtual console appears in center screen. The
unified remote controller accesses the Electronic Program Guide (EPG),
allowing users to tune into a TV or music program or prepare the VTR or
MD player to record.
Rapid digitization of audio-visual (AV) equipment has culminated in a
digital TV (DTV), poised to become an external information window
through which multimedia shines into our homes.
Earlier this year, Sony Corp. crafted a multimedia concept, dubbed
"fusion." Facilitated by the IEEE 1394 high-speed transmission
standard, the fused network of household TV, VTR and personal computer
(PC) coordinates the receipt, input, search and playback of broadcasts
or e-mail. Video mail is also possible.
To realize this multimedia environment, Sony integrated three
technologies: HAVi, MHEG, and proprietary operating software called
Aperios for quick, real-time processing of multimedia data.
HAVi, an in-home networking technology based on IEEE 1394 and
formulated by eight manufacturers from Japan and Europe, enables
concurrent operation of connected home-use equipment, regardless of
maker.
Transmission speeds from 200Mbps to 400Mbps expedite real-time sounds
and images.
MHEG, an international standard for multimedia encoding, allows blanket
processing of digital information signals, such as text, music and
moving images.
The technology, used to navigate through digital broadcasts, works in
conjunction with Internet browser software and enables program searches
from different sources, such as broadcasts and VTR.
Craig Mundie, a senior vice-president at Microsoft Corp., stresses the
potential of Sony's fusion concept. Joint efforts will generate a force
that propels in-home networking into the future. With this in mind,
Microsoft made Windows 98 IEEE 1394-compatible.
Digitization heralds challenges as well as lucrative business
possibilities.
Heightened competition among providers of satellite, CATV and
ground-wave services will be further exacerbated by the wired entry of
appliance and computer makers. And Sony will lead the way.
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