Broadband Applications and the Digital Home (Btexact Communications Technology Series, 5) [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

John Turnbull (Author, Editor), Simon Garrett (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2002 | ISBN-10: 0852964285 | ISBN-13: 978-0852964286

This book explores the technological challenges and applications of providing fast, 'always on' internet connections to the home. Current delivery mechanisms of broadband into and around the home are explored in depth, as well as the current and emerging applications of the technology. The authors discuss what drives people to adopt the technology, how it is being used, the massive potential for the technology, and the home of the future. This fascinating book provides balanced coverage of the issues surrounding this next phase of the Internet that promises to transform the our homes and the way we live.

Also available:

Future Mobile Networks: 3G and beyond - ISBN 085296983X
Location and Personalisation: Delivering Online and Mobility Services - ISBN 863413382

The Institution of Engineering and Technology is one of the world's leading professional societies for the engineering and technology community. The IET publishes more than 100 new titles every year; a rich mix of books, journals and magazines with a back catalogue of more than 350 books in 18 different subject areas including:

-Power & Energy
-Renewable Energy
-Radar, Sonar & Navigation
-Electromagnetics
-Electrical Measurement
-History of Technology
-Technology Management

Editorial Reviews

Review

'As 'broadband' is rolling out rapidly in many European countries and worldwide, the publication of this book could not be more timely.

The term 'broadband' means different things to different people. 'Broadband is more bandwidth than you can use', said Mark Bagley of Venation, the web-acceleration company. In this book, 'broadband' stands for a digital communication technology (such as ADSL - Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) which can convey new applications to the user at home via an 'always-on' connection using a copper telephone line. The emphasis is on the word 'new': this book's focus is on the very diverse applications that may range from some telecom services (such as home automation, surveillance, maintenance and monitoring, VoIP) to interactive entertainment services (video and films on demand, games, multichannel television and radio, fast internet, etc). The targeted reception terminal is a Personal Computer (PC), although television sets - suitably equipped with a dedicated set-top box (STB) and a simple remote control, rather than a keyboard - are becoming more and more popular, even for non-media applications.

One vision of broadband outlined in the book is that it could contain searchable media about 'almost every imaginable subject'. This vision is not too dissimilar to the current Internet paradigm: the Internet contains information about 'almost every imaginable subject'. For example, a quick search over broadband on a particular subject could turn up every music item or documentary or film made about that subject.

Unlike the WWW (which is truly worldwide), broadband makes it easier to satisfy the requirements of copyright holders - due to its restricted geographical reach (e.g. local or city-wide only).

Some broadband networks can be specially designed to carry several tens of television channels of conventional quality to an STB or television set. Several trials of this are being conducted in Europe and elsewhere to ascertain the technical and commercial viability. To this end, broadband has recently raised a lot of discussion among broadcasters. Many broadcasters consider it as an opportunity to bring their programmes to viewers' homes through new channels, and thus provide new revenue opportunities. Other broadcasters are afraid of potential competition to their television services and are strongly opposed to ADSL television.

Several broadcasters are running trials involving several hundreds of home users and families. These trials are being conducted in collaboration with their telecom partners in order to assess the various business models. In some cases, these trials are being used as an argument for not investing in terrestrial digital television, thus deferring the introduction of DVB-T in their countries. Nevertheless, it is clear that DVB-T and ADSL TV are two different services and both have their strong and weak points. Therefore, both are needed. For example, if portable and mobile reception is required, DVB-T is a better solution. If interactive TV is required, broadband (which is, by its very nature, two-way) could be a better solution. --Franc Kozamernik, EBU Technical Review, No.296, October 2003

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Institution of Engineering and Technology (December 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0852964285
• ISBN-13: 978-0852964286
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,170,518 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)