Matsushita Unveils Compact Internet Set-Top Box for TVs
nikkeibp.asiabiztech.com
February 16, 2000 (TOKYO) -- Matsushita group companies have developed a compact
Internet-capable set-top box for use in connection with a television.
The group companies -- Matsushita AVC Co., Matsushita Communication Industrial Co.,
Ltd., Matsushita Transmission System Co., Ltd., and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co.,
Ltd.'s System Design & Creation Laboratory -- are expected to announce the product this
spring.
The companies exhibited a prototype at the System Design Show 2000 held in Shinagawa,
Tokyo, on Feb. 3 and 4.
The set-top box was developed under a next-phase Internet terminal project, which started
in October 1999. The project is promoted by a Matsushita image group and the Design &
Creation Laboratory. It will be targeted at businesses, including builders of the so-called
"Internet condominiums" and government offices.
The group companies have not decided if the set-top box will be for consumer retail sales.
Applications to be installed in the terminal are limited to a Web browser and client
software for e-mail. It has an infrared remote-control device for operation. A keyboard is
an option.
The back of the box has a terminal for an analog public line to connect to the Internet, a
parallel port for peripherals such as a zip drive and a printer, and RS-232C interfaces. A PC
card slot is planned to be included on some models. This will enable, for example, an
Ethernet card and wireless LAN card to be plugged in, so that customers can utilize
various connection types (telephone line, wireless, cable TV, ADSL and others).
The companies are planning to accommodate the following: (1) A fax machine could be
used as a substitute for a monitor, printer, scanner and other devices by connecting the
fax machine to the Internet terminal; (2) the set-top box can be connected to an adapter for
Echo-net-compliant capabilities, to control home electric appliances via an electric-power
cable network; (3) linking with a mobile phone; and (4) use of the set-top box like a PC's
hard-disk drive (HDD) by plugging a large-capacity memory card into a PC card slot so as
to run a variety of applications.
(Nikkei Electronics) |
