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By: Richard Del Cazzo
Web site: http://www.hdtv-hdtv.com
Wireless LCD monitor: ViewSonic® Corporation, a worldwide
Visual Technologies™ leader, is using the 2002 Consumer
Electronics Show (CES) to display the first Mira-enabled wireless
LCD monitor that will enable users to experience always-on,
anytime mobile connectivity to a PC from anywhere in the home.
A prototype of the ViewSonic airpanel™ 150 —
a 15-inch, wireless LCD monitor— is being highlighted
today in a demonstration by Microsoft® co-founder Bill
Gates during his keynote speech at CES 2002. The airpanel
150 is based on Mira, a set of Windows technologies that extend
the rich capabilities of the PC to smart displays anywhere
in the home. As part of its development efforts, ViewSonic
is extending its relationship with Microsoft to ensure that
its airpanel product line optimizes the multi-media and connectivity
advantages of Windows CE.NET-based Mira technology.
With the wireless connectivity and portability of the airpanel
150 wireless LCD monitor, users can enjoy computing experiences
in a relaxed environment-in any room of the home, without
having to be directly in front of their PC.
"The airpanel 150 wireless LCD monitor extends the use
of the home PC, allowing family members to have a rich computing
experience in and around the home," said Marc Mcconnaughey,
senior vice president, Advanced Products Group, ViewSonic.
"The combination of ViewSonic display technology and
Microsoft's Mira technology will quickly establish new standards
in home computing and entertainment capabilities, and help
drive the adoption of wireless home networking."
ViewSonic's creation of the wireless LCD monitor category
supports growing trends in home networking. According to the
Yankee Group, a Boston-based research firm, in 2001, 35 percent
of PC-owning U.S. households were very or somewhat interested
in home networking products, up 7.75 percent from 2000. Thirty-eight
percent of PC owners recognized the utility of home networks
in shared high-speed connectivity and in enabling Internet
applications, while 30 percent also cited increased efficiency
derived from networks.
"ViewSonic recognizes that consumers want the freedom
to experience the power of Windows XP from anywhere in their
home," said Todd Warren, general manager of the Embedded
and Appliance Platforms Group at Microsoft Corp. "ViewSonic's
airpanel will deliver a smart display device to consumers
that offers the rich functionality of Mira in an innovative
form factor that will meet this demand."
The development of the airpanel 150 wireless LCD monitor
is the third step in ViewSonic's plan to deliver next generation
visual technology for the mobile and wireless market. ViewSonic
is one of the very few companies that has already started
volume shipping a Windows 2000-based Tablet PC (ViewPad™
1000) and a Windows CE-based SuperPDA (ViewPad 100). Both
the ViewPad 1000 and ViewPad 100 are currently available through
authorized ViewSonic resellers.
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