Doing the Technology Drop-In
Dealers attending CES on Jan. 6–9 should drop in on the NextGen Home, a show home said to demonstrate the next generations of home technology.

By Tom LeBlanc

01/05 - In Las Vegas, it's not surprising to see a lion indoors. It's not strange to look up inside a hotel and see the moon and stars. So what would be so unusual about a house that happens to be located outside the South Hall entrance of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC)?

According to producer of the NextGen Home iShow's Charlie Wardell, 2005 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) attendees will be surprised and impressed when they check out this model home dubbed, "The Future Is Here." The home is intended to allow CES attendees a chance to see first hand the converging trends in home electronics in a real home environment. Leading manufacturers will be showcasing their next generation of products in the show home.

"iShow wants to be a platform to showcase the evolving American home as it relates to home automation and electronics," he says. Wardell adds that the NextGen Home, which will be on display on Jan. 6–9 during CES, reflects that effort.

As the official home of the Consumer Electronics Association's (CEA) TechHome Division, Wardell says the NextGen Home is intended to promote integrators in the CEA database. "[The CEA] hopes that people who visit the home or read about it in the press will go to the [www.ce.org] when they need to find an integrator," he says. "They also want to promote their TechHome Rating system, and to generally raise awareness of the expanding role of technology in the home."

The home is not aimed merely at prospective custom electronics customers. It's aimed directly at dealers as well. "[Dealers] will be able to experience new technologies in use," says Wardell. "For instance, the home will be using Microsoft's Media Center Edition solution for certain home automation functions. Dealers will see how they can integrate this into their systems."

Grand Tour
CES attendees should just show up, says Wardell. No appointments are necessary. Visitors will receive a map that aids them in giving themselves a self-guided tour. Inside, they'll see audio distribution systems by Microsoft and NetStreams.

They'll see a prefabricated structural insulated panel called CoreWall, which acts as a hub for the home's mechanical and electrical systems. The CoreWall has been laser cut to accept the electrical and structured wiring panels, among other home systems. Standard Cat 5 and RG-6 will run from it to the various rooms in the house. There will be a fiber- optic connection to the home and a high-definition cable TV service.

HAI will be supplying its OmniPro II for security and other home control functions. Lutron is handling the lighting control. There is remote monitoring of the HVAC system, an automatic water shutoff, and a connected refrigerator and oven.

Welcome to the Neighborhood
Some attendees might ponder the logistics of getting a house like this to a Las Vegas parking lot. The home was constructed by Rutherfordton, N.C.-based All American Homes in its factory. The company then delivered it to the LVCC site.