By North American Precis Syndicate

Most homes have many independent electronic systemswith numerous individual controls. More and more homes in 2002 will feature systems that will allow homeowners to operate all low-level systems including lights, air conditioning and stereo to be turned on and off from central control panels.

The custom area of the con-sumer electronics industry is one of the fastest-growing in this country. “Once reserved for the wealthy, custom home automation systems have become more affordable in recent years, allowing more and more people to ‘take control’ of their homes,” said Billilynne D.Keller, Executive Director of the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association.

Here is a look at some of the home electronics trends expected to explode into the mainstream in the new millennium:

Lighting Trends-Wireless lighting systems are becoming more and more widely used. Lighting manufacturers are creating products today that allow users to control lights throughout the house from one single location. For example, an upstairs bedroom light can be dimmed from a kitchen control panel and vice versa.

Audio Trends-More and more homeowners in 2002 will add the convenience of a whole-houseaudio system. Audio systems today are being designed for ease of use and control to allow for the enjoyment of music in all areas of the home. These systems too can be controlled from various central control panels.

Security Trends-Home security is going beyond just an alarm in 2002. By linking various systems, houses can be “programmed” to turn off lights and turn down temperature when people leave. And, when away on vacation, the system can create a lived-in look through timed activation of lights and other household electronics.

Home Theater Trends-DVD, Plasma TV, HDTV and the like are the hype in 2002. And, to take them to an even higher level of enjoyment is the ability to link these products so that people can watch the same DVD movie in two different rooms from a single source.

Home Automation Trends- In addition to the advancements in lighting, security and audio products is the overall trend of whole-home automation and the elimination of multiple remote controls. Home electronics de-signers and installers are utiliz-ing control panels to operate lights, audio, temperature, secu-rity and more.

System installers have the ability to tailor control panels to a client’s needs, allowing homeowners to control all systems from a single, attractive panel, custom finished to blend with the décor.

To find out more about these and other home electronics trends, or to locate a custom electronic designer/installer, contact the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association by calling (800) 669-5329; or you can visit the association on the web at www.cedia.org.