Once homes are equipped with access-sharing networks, applications that sounded futuristic become eminently practical. Networks will extend the Web's tentacles to every nook and cranny of the home. In some applications, home networks will reach out to the Net for videos, music and e-books. In others, remote services will look in on the home to monitor security, diagnose appliance problems and turn off lawn sprinklers when it's raining. Entertainment will be the biggest motivation for installing home networks.
Education is another key driver.
Many schools routinely assign homework involving Net-based research. Households with two or more school-age children that can afford the extra hardware will, in the interest of family harmony, set up home networks. Home networks will inspire more schools to offer Net-based instruction. While some pundits moan about the lack of a single standard, I suspect home networks will use different media for different purposes. The Home Phoneline Networking Alliance standard, HomePNA, uses existing telephone wires and is likely to remain dominant for the next few years.