Likely early adopters of home-networking products, according to the study, are multi-PC households.  The estimated 26.8 million households that do some or all of their work at home will also help drive demand.

A study by Dallas-based Parks Associates concludes that multiple-PC households, representing 14% of all US households are eager to add PC-based home control and entertainment applications.  "More than one-half of multiple-PC households — approximately 8 million American households — find PC-based control of appliances and entertainment applications extremely or moderately useful," says Kurt Scherf, Parks Associates' in-home networks analyst.  "Even more encouraging, our research indicates that a significant number of consumers in this target market — up to one-third of multiple-PC households — are willing to pay upwards of $500 for this kind of product, right now."

Meanwhile, the industry continues to make strides in developing standards to promote home system product interoperability.

From the article, "Integrating Home Systems for Comfort and Control," by Cathy Stephens.

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