Homes with broadband service--that's 80% of the country--likely will lead the way More
As more manufacturers offer lower-priced lighting-control products, builders and remodelers have the opportunity to make system packages an option or upgrade to their designs. According to the Consumer Electronics Association, 57% of home builders offered automated lighting controls in 2006, up an impressive 12 points from 2005, making it the fastest-growing home technology. More
Whether it's as complicated as a fully automated home theater system with programmed lighting scenes or as simple as a single-room lighting control, homeowners are looking for ways to make their lives at home easier to manage and more convenient. More
According to the Consumer Electronics Association, manufacturers will sell 3 million home theater system and component packages this year, with a total worth of about $1.1 billion. And as consumers get improved quality out of their DVDs, they are opting to upgrade to better televisions and speaker systems.The use of high-definition televisions (HDTV) also is growing rapidly, and more networks are broadcasting shows in the medium. More