The cost of upscale electronics continues to slide toward the mainstream market as evidenced by the wave of flat-panel displays and multi-room audio solutions unveiled at the 2005 International Builders' Show in Orlando, Fla. But it's not just the usual cast of characters promoting the world of home technology. Joining the likes of Sony, Sharp, and Samsung are water heating specialist Rinnai and the appliance division of LG, delivering smart electronics for a broad segment of homeowners.

According to a nationwide survey conducted by the Internet Home Alliance, homeowners continue to show a strong interest in residential technology ranging from appliances to entertainment systems. IHA surveyed 400 new or prospective home buyers to learn how consumers make decisions about purchasing, installing, and maintaining home technologies. Forty-nine percent of the new home buyers presented with at least one home technology option made a purchase. Home security systems led the list of technology purchases, followed by pre-wiring for cable or satellite TV and a built-in home theater.

Respondents assigned "somewhat important" status to technologies including structured wiring, multi-zone HVAC, air purification systems, wireless home PC networks, energy management, community-wide high-speed Internet connections, and home control/automation and lighting control. The most frequently presented technologies to homeowners--following those that came standard with the home--were intercom/distributed audio, central vacuum, and home security systems.

According to IHA, respondents indicated that technology options were typically the last-mentioned options in the home-buying process. They are often presented in a checklist fashion without further description or explanation. Consumers said they would prefer to purchase options after seeing them featured in a showroom. Seventy percent of respondents said they considered making one or more technology purchase for their new home independent of the builder.

Among technologies they'll be able to choose from are some new ones introduced at IBS. Sony launched its version of the 21st-century intercom system, at the same time lowering the entry point for multi-room audio and video. The two systems, designed specifically for new-home construction, take a cookie-cutter approach to whole-house audio to provide a lower-cost alternative to custom-designed systems. By using pre-selected equipment, installers can reduce design and installation time for whole-house entertainment systems, resulting in systems retailing for $1,000 to $2,000 per room, including installation. Systems come pre-programmed to control Sony components, with an emphasis on ease of use. Pressing a DVD button, for instance, powers up all components required to play a DVD movie. A single remote control operates all the equipment.

Sony's audio-only package is built around an in-wall module combining a CD player, AM/FM radio, amplifier, intercom, and room monitor along with Sony-selected speakers. The front panel conceals the disc player and glides up to reveal the electronics when users press a button to activate the system. Panels can be painted to match the decor. The video package adds DVD players for each local room. The system supports from one to seven sources and from one to seven zones.

Designed for new homes costing up to $500,000, the self-contained Sony systems are powered by low voltage and connected via router over Category 5 Ethernet cable. Connection to the whole-house PC network enables each sound station to pluck MP3 tunes from PC hard drives in the home and play them through any sound-enabled room. Each system also has line-in connections for local sources such as portable music players, cable boxes, or satellite receivers.

Both audio and video packages start with a home theater system built around Sony components including TVs and VCRs. Homeowners can choose from five- or 400-disc CD and DVD changers.

Attempting to bring new energy to the mature water heater market, Rinnai floated a new product concept at IBS--flat-panel TVs--to complement its tankless water heaters. In an effort to bring "35-year-old technology" up to date, Rinnai has added a waterproof 12-inch LCD TV to its product line for use in upscale bathrooms. Built into waterproof housings designed to be mounted beneath a showerhead or in another location away from direct spray, the Rinnai TV can be connected to cable, satellite, or antenna feeds to bring TV programming to the shower or bath.

The company claims its wall-mounted, continuous-flow heaters shave $6 to $10 off the cost of monthly utility bills compared with standard tank water heaters because the water is heated as needed rather than heated and maintained. Digital technology enables homeowners to further tailor water temperature and usage to their needs, and the TVs include operational buttons that communicate with the water heater.

Using the buttons on the TV and feedback from the screen, homeowners can set fill and temperature levels for the bath, including automatic shutoff when the proper level is reached. Auto-Fill enables users to preset the time they want to take a bath, choose the volume of water for the tub, and select the precise temperature. Auto Preset enables users to pre-set the time, temperature, and water consumption of a shower. For instance, they could set the shower to come on at 6 a.m. at 98 degrees for 15 minutes using 40 gallons of water. The TVs will be available late summer. Price has not been set.

The company that brought the world the Internet refrigerator has now unveiled the networked washer/dryer.

LG Electronics launched at IBS 2005 the Remote Monitoring Laundry System ($1,349 for the washer, $949 for the dryer, $99 for the remote monitoring kit). The concept behind the combo is to enable consumers to monitor their laundry cycle from elsewhere in the home using a remote device. Positioned for use in existing homes as well as new homes, the Remote Monitoring system communicates using Power Line Communication (PLC) technology over standard electrical wiring. A separate monitoring kit includes a remote monitoring device--roughly the size of a wallet--which can be plugged into any electrical outlet.

From the interface on the remote device, homeowners see the status of the washer and dryer operation including cycle status and remaining time. A buzzer announces the end of each cycle. The Remote Laundry System will be available in the second quarter.

Rebecca Day specializes in writing about home electronics. She can be reached at customhomerd@aol.com.