With digital televisions (DTVs) supplanting analog models in much of the world, manufacturers are adding new features such as Internet connectivity and wireless HD capability to broaden their appeal, reports In-Stat.

“DTVs are competing with computers to be the entertainment hub of the home,” says Brian O’Rourke, In-Stat analyst. “Sets with Internet connectivity are already commercially available in the US, Europe, and Japan. Models from Hitachi, LG Electronics, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Samsung, Sharp, and Sony can connect directly to the Internet without a home computer.”

Recent research by In-Stat found the following:

• 36% of digital sets sold in 2013 will be network-enabled.
• DTV Revenue in Asia-Pacific will see a 6.3% Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) from 2008 to 2013, the fastest growth among the major regions, except for Rest-of-World. 
• DTVs are now the only TVs available in most of North America, Western Europe, and Japan. 
• Silicon TV tuners capable of demodulating both analog and digital television signals in a single chipset are beginning to replace Can TV tuners in high-end models.
  

IBM and Cisco announced that they are teaming on a pilot to help the Dutch utility Nuon and the city of Amsterdam make smarter use of energy by enabling consumers to make more informed decisions about their energy consumption. The pilot program is part of the Amsterdam Smart City initiative, in which citizens, governments and companies are working together to make more efficient use of energy, water and mobility to create a more sustainable city.

 

The consortium will jointly implement an innovative energy management system based on smart metering and home energy management technology, which will enable 500 selected households to gain better insight into their energy consumption and help drive change in usage behavior. It is anticipated that as a result of the pilot, customers will be able to save on energy costs and realize a CO2 reduction of at least 14 percent.

 

Smart meters and home energy management systems will be installed in the 500 households that participate in the pilot. Within this consortium, Nuon and IBM will develop the applications for the energy management system, making use of intelligent IT systems and well-protected web technology. Cisco will be responsible for the IP-based home energy management solutions that help enable real-time, highly secure connectivity between household appliances and the energy system, resulting in substantial efficiencies.

 

Through this project, IBM and Cisco aim to demonstrate how intelligence throughout the electrical grid can dramatically reduce outages and faults, improve responsiveness, handle current and future demand, increase efficiency and manage costs.

 

"Now that more than half of the global population lives in cities, we need to acknowledge that achieving a sustainable future lies in our urban centers," said Guido Bartels, General Manager of IBM's Global Energy & Utilities industry. "Smarter energy initiatives are foundational for other critical infrastructure systems that make up a city--this project will enable the City of Amsterdam to leverage integrated, intelligent and interconnected technologies to transform their systems and optimize the use of finite resources."

 

"Giving the citizens of Amsterdam more information and better control over their energy use will cut down on costs and consumption as well as reduce their overall impact on the environment," said Marthin de Beer, senior vice president of Cisco's Emerging Technologies Group. "Innovative cities like Amsterdam recognize the opportunity in using the standards-based intelligent communications network as a platform for economic development, better city management and improved quality of life for citizens. With this pilot, we hope to demonstrate how smart and connected communities can be more energy conscious and more green."

 

The energy management pilot in Amsterdam has been realized with the help of several program partners housing corporations Far West and Ymere, Amsterdamse Innovatie Motor, Home Automation Europe, ROC Amsterdam, the University of Amsterdam and Grid Operator Liander. The pilot is co-funded by the European Fund for Regional Development.

 

Toshiba, Toko Electric and Tokyo Electric Power Company will jointly launch into commercialization of a "smart meter," an advanced electricity meter equipped with communication and other functions.

Toshiba and Toko Electric will undertake the design and production of the smart meter to be eventually installed in all households in Tokyo Electric Power's service area starting fiscal 2013. There has been a growing movement especially in the U.S. and Europe toward the introduction of smart meters. The three companies look to expand distribution outside Japan to areas such as Europe and Southeast Asia.

The three companies intend to sign a letter of understanding shortly. While another utility, Kansai Electric Power Company, has already introduced a household smart meter on a trial basis in Japan, the three companies will be the first to enter into a full-scale commercialization. They plan to develop and introduce a new device different from the meter introduced by Kansai Electric Power.

The three companies will develop their smart meter to allow installation at a lower cost than the conventional electric meter currently installed in each household. From fiscal 2013 onward, the smart meter will be installed in phases, first in households whose meters have reached their renewal limit and eventually in every household inside Tokyo Electric Power's service area.
The smart meter will be provided with advanced features such as communication and household electrical appliance control functions, which will enable the control of electric consumption and remote reading of the meter.

Not so long ago Bluetooth was chosen as Health Device Standard by Continua, and now Zigbee as well. Anyway it is time the people at the Continua Health Alliance learn about CAT-iq!

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The ZigBeeAlliance announced that the Continua Health Alliance has endorsed ZigBee Health Care as Continua's new low power local area network (LAN) standard. ZigBee Health Care offers interference-free wireless connectivity, supporting thousands of devices on a single network. Continua recommends ZigBee for sensing and control in professional settings, homes, recreation centers and across large campuses. Continua Health Alliance is the leading non-profit coalition of major health care and technology companies in the industry.

 

For the Continua Health Alliance Design Guidelines, ZigBee Health Care offers secure, robust, battery-efficient wireless connectivity for patient activity and facilities monitoring while delivering the freedom of wireless operation outside of buildings. ZigBee peacefully coexists with other wireless technologies, including Wi-Fi, a critical requirement for patient safety and use in health care facilities. ZigBee Health Care runs on a wide-range of cost-effective and certified silicon platforms already available from many of the world's largest semiconductor manufacturers.

 

"Continua's selection of ZigBee Health Care follows a rigorous technical review and seeing firsthand the ability of ZigBee Health Care to meet the requirements set forth by the Continua Health Alliance," said Rick Cnossen, Continua Health Alliance president and chairman of the Board of Directors. "ZigBee Health Care can be utilized around the world in a wide variety of settings and is particularly well suited for use in low-power LAN applications."

 

Products using the standard will help ageing and physically challenged people remain independent. It also features the security required to protect personal data and conform to regulatory policies.

 

"As one of the leading companies in health care, Philips anticipates the use of ZigBee Health Care in a variety of products," said Paul Coebergh van den Braak, senior director at Royal Philips Electronics and a member of the Continua Board of Directors. "ZigBee Health Care offers a comprehensive standard for both personal monitoring and use along with medical facility use."

 

ZigBee Health Care devices can interact with other ZigBee wireless technologies already deployed in consumer electronics, home automation and commercial building automation.

 

"The ZigBee Alliance looks forward to a long and productive relationship with the Continua Health Alliance and appreciates their selection of ZigBee Health Care for inclusion in the Continua Health Alliance Design Guidelines," said Dr. Robert F. Heile, chairman of the ZigBee Alliance. "ZigBee Health Care is ready for product manufacturer use today and is backed by a strong ecosystem of suppliers offering certified platforms to suit any device need."

 

Source; Wireless healthcare