At the Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association (CEDIA) Expo in Indianapolis last week, HP demo'd a new technology for its high-definition television sets that will allow consumers to use them to access digital files stored on their PC's. According to HP, the technology, which is slated for distribution next summer, will allow its HDTV sets to communicate with a variety of devices on a home network, and will also allow consumers to access multimedia services over the Internet. The prototype HDTV sets that HP demo'd at CEDIA contain a built-in media receiver that enables them to communicate wired or wirelessly with PC's. HP plans to offer companion software with the TV sets that will allow consumers to create virtual databases of media content on their PC's: once a library of personal media is created and a wired or wireless connection is made, the company says, consumers will be able to use their remote controls to navigate those libraries and access their content. "This is among the world's most advanced television technology," Steve Nigro, HP's SVP and general manager of imaging and printing technology platforms, said in a prepared statement. "By creating even smarter HDTV's, HP will help consumers access digital content over the Internet or content that was previously quarantined on the PC. Now that content will be readily available through the heart of home entertainment--the TV."
What was once a simple, unidirectional flow of electricity from centralized power plants to passive consumers is evolving into a complex, intelligent network where millions of distributed resources actively participate in grid operations. This transformation, powered by smart grid technologies, represents one of the most significant infrastructure shifts of our time. It promises to reshape how we generate, distribute, and consume energy. At its core, the smart grid represents far more than mere digitization of existing infrastructure. This bi-directional capability is fundamental to understanding why smart grids are becoming the backbone of modern energy systems, facilitating everything from real-time demand response to the integration of renewable energy sources. Smart Grid Market Development By 2030, smart grid technologies are projected to cover nearly half of the global electrical grid, up dramatically from just 24 percent in 2025. This expansion is underpinned by explosive gr...