Cross collaboration and the connected home
The concept of the connected home isn’t a new one. However, this year it’s certainly been the cause for plenty of conversation. From global events such as the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2012 to the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2012, conversations about seamless connectivity and integration across all devices in and around the home have had gadget addicts all a flutter.
While the full potential of the connected home is still a few years from being realized, people are slowly embracing the possibilities available to them today – think connected TVs, refrigerators, washing machines, and cooling and heating systems. And people are also getting used to the idea of running their homes from a single interface.
The problem is that many of these devices are made by multiple manufacturers, and getting them to communicate and work in a cohesive manner isn’t always easy. So what’s the solution?
During MWC 2012 we talked to Olivier Carmona, Chair of the DLNA’s Compliance and Test Committee, about its vision for creating digital interoperability in the home. I think what he says makes a lot of sense – collaboration is key to making a connected home convenient for users.
Through industry cross-collaboration, more than 230 manufacturers of consumer electronics goods, PCs and mobile devices have created the DLNA Networked Device Interoperability Guidelines. These guidelines allow manufacturers to participate in a growing marketplace for connected multi-branded digital products, which will lead to increased innovation, simplicity and value for consumers. I look forward to the flexibility and freedom of being able to manage my connected home.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYq8-k8QyG4
Written by Ulrika Bergström
Ulrika believes that people should be at the center of every new innovation. She is interested in the developments taking place in ICT and how they are influencing our day-to-day lives. At Ericsson, she has worked in marketing and communications, market research, and strategy.
