July 4, 2006 -  With the advances in broadband communications, interactive wireless technology and secure digital content, the concept of the Connected Home is increasingly becoming a reality. Gerard Kleisterlee, president and CEO of Royal Philips Electronics, talked to World News at CeBIT about how the company's leading-edge technology will enable that vision sooner rather than later.

"We are witnessing the birth of a major trend. A wholly new approach to the way we use consumer electronics in the home and how we react to digital content. This will profoundly affect the way we live our lives," said Kleisterlee. "This is about helping people improve the quality of their lives by integrating experiences, functions and objects around them. All with the help of technology that's smart and meaningful."

 The Connected Home is the focus of what Philips refers to as the 'Connected Consumer Age'; a scenario where multiple interlinked devices are joined by a wireless home network and connected to the outside world via a broadband connection. Within the Philips Connected Home, a linked environment of devices and home appliances can speak to each other, giving consumers greater personalized control, productivity and convenience.

 By handing such power to the consumer, the Connected Home opens up a multitude of opportunities for change in the living environment. "This is going to affect our personal expression, our productivity and our ability to mould domestic environments to our needs," said Kleisterlee. "These changes to our lifestyle are supported by technologies and devices in precisely the areas where Philips enjoys leadership positions, such as displays, optical storage and connectivity as well as lighting".

 As a trusted provider of consumer technologies, Philips has been 'at home in the home' for over a century. Therefore, the progression to the Connected Home is a natural one. The company's innovative product range shows how devices from the world of consumer electronics will play a leading role in the broadband era. Philips also has the critical mass to form alliances with content, connectivity and systems providers and even hardware providers.

 "We have a very clear idea of what this is all for. Philips has a long and distinguished heritage of research into customer intimacy. We understand the relationships people want to have with technology. And of course we've also picked up more than 70,000 patents for technology in the service of man," said Kleisterlee.

 The devices introduced in support of the Connected Home will break down the barrier between two distinct types of experience. Currently consumers are restricted to undertaking productive work on a PC in the home office and relaxing in front of screens in the living room. With the Connected Home there is no need for these restrictions. The first products will conform to a 'build and grow' concept and will be compatible with legacy products and open systems, notably Linux. They are designed for progressive expansion as consumers acquire the extra elements of the Connected Home.