Five-Year Plan for Home Networks

You've got your broadband connection working. You've untangled and installed all the cables for your home theatre system. What's the next home-based technological hurdle you'll have to figure out? Well, if a the predictions in a new study by Parks Associates come to bear, you'll most likely be installing a network in your humble abode. According to the study, called Networks in the Home: Analysis and Forecasts (Second Edition) the home networking market will grow to cover nearly 150 million connected devices in U.S. households by the end of 2005. The study reveals that the main reason you'll want a network is the need to link up multiple PCs and your desire for enhanced entertainment. Luckily, it looks as though the winning networking technology for the home will probably be a "no new wires" approach, so you won't have to train your butler to be an IT expert.