XHome: the key to multimedia in the home environment
Increasing numbers of households are obtaining access to broadband-based
Internet, both via fixed (cable, ADSL, fibre optic) and mobile (WLAN, GPRS,
UMTS) networks. The manufacturers of consumer electronics, the network managers
and the suppliers of multimedia content respond to this fact with a range of new
equipment, applications and services. But although these do provide for
important requirements of people today, they still have not led to the
anticipated breakthrough.
An important problem is the fact that a fast and problem-free exchange of the
content between all these services and applications has not yet been properly
coordinated. Certain types of content can only be received, stored and
distributed with certain types of equipment. Consider, in this context,
television broadcasts and web pages. In addition, the consumer feels overwhelmed
by the enormous range of multimedia-based services, applications and equipment
available, all of which have their own limitations with regard to functionality,
compatibility and user-friendliness. Suppliers of multimedia services and
content, too, experience these shortcomings as being a problem. They therefore
have trouble in closely coordinating their services and products to their target
groups.
Key to multimedia content exchange in the home environment
In the Xhome vision, any multimedia terminal, in any place in the home, can
obtain content from a large number of internal and external sources via various
access networks. The user can manipulate this content and push it to other
terminals, or store it on one or more information carriers. Searching for and
finding content that corresponds with the personal preferences of the user is
done in a simple, intuitive, terminal-independent manner. In addition the user
can - equally easily - produce, store and send multimedia content himself. Of
course the user always retains the control over and insight into his personal
profile, security, privacy and costs.
In order to realise this vision, the Xhome project is developing a generic and
user-focused concept for the exchange of multimedia content (photo, video,
audio, html), including 'content searching' (searching and browsing), storage
and distribution. In addition the concept, which is to be developed for a quick
and problem-free exchange of multimedia content, could not just be the impetus
for the development of numerous electronic services and applications in the
entertainment arena, but also, specifically, in the public sector, such as
healthcare and education. Within the Xhome project, such a concept is being
developed and realised based on a concrete application in healthcare.
Research subjects
From a technical point of view the project takes on a number of challenges. For
instance: how can the provision of information be personalised, so that content
can be searched for more effectively and found more quickly? How can the user
exert (wireless) control over the distribution of multimedia content to a number
of pieces of equipment in the home? And what security and privacy guarantees are
possible? In addition, there is still only limited knowledge regarding the
requirement for – and therefore the feasibility of – multimedia services and
applications in general, and those in the healthcare sector in particular. We
are investigating the requirement and translating it into functional user
demands.
Project objectives
The objective of the Xhome project is therefore twofold. Firstly, we aim to
develop a concept for a safe, personalised exchange of multimedia content
between users. Secondly, we aim to demonstrate the technological and social
feasibility of this concept by means of a concrete application in a specially
selected area, in this case healthcare. The availability of the concept will
stimulate the development of multimedia applications in a number of areas. In
addition, the results are important for content and service providers who can
offer certain functionalities included in the concept.
Participating parties
- TNO Physics and Electronics Laboratory
- TNO Strategy, Technology and Policy
- KPN Research
- Telematica Instituut
Duration
April 2002 - March 2004
Project manager
Ir. A.H. van den Ende (TNO Fysisch en Elektronisch Laboratorium)
Postbus 96864
2509 JG The Hague
The Netherlands
E-mail: vandenEnde@fel.tno.nl
Tel.: +31 (0)70 374 05 83
