Style4Home - Technology and Design -- Putting them Together for the Perfect Home Theater

(ARA) - Home theaters have gone beyond the purview of the rich and are showing up in homes across the country, from high-rise lofts to suburban subdivisions. So if you’ve been thinking of taking your home viewing experience to the next level, or if you’ve already started a home theater makeover, you’re in good company.

Now for the moment of truth: Raise your hand if you have a brand new piece of electronic gear still sitting in the box somewhere in your home because you couldn’t face trying to figure out how to work it? Or maybe that flashy DVD player made it out of the box, but is sitting next to your entertainment center because you couldn’t figure out how to hook it up and make it work with the rest of your equipment.

If so, you’re not alone! In a new survey by Philips Electronics, almost one-fourth (21 percent) of the respondents admitted to having unopened electronics at home that they found too complex after purchasing them. More than half (55 percent) of those surveyed said they were uncomfortable with new technology.

How are you going to create your perfect home theater if your components are still in the box? And once you unpack all that stuff, how are you going to integrate your personal style at home with all that technology? The truth is, most consumers face this same two-fold barrier when it comes to embracing technology in their homes: their comfort level with choices in new technology and a lack of understanding about how to make it work with their décor. Luckily, today’s well-designed products mean consumers are no longer faced with a choice between great design and cutting-edge technology.

Philips, a leader in innovative, easy-to-use technology solutions, has joined forces with Stephen Saint-Onge to help simplify the integration of electronic components and décor with the launch of a new Web site, www.designingathome.com. Well known for his role on the popular TLC series “While You Were Out,” Saint-Onge helps with how-to articles and personal design tips as well as before and after photos from room makeovers showing the successful marriage of design and technology.

The Web site is just one way Philips is making it easier for consumers to create their perfect entertainment room. With beautifully designed products created with consumers in mind, the company takes you from concept to “Charlie’s Angels” without any hassles!

Consumers surveyed consider two products essential for creating the ultimate home theater setup -- a large screen television (33 percent) and a high performance sound system (54 percent). Philips answers those needs with products like its “Home Theater in a Box” system, which includes many higher end features, such as multi-media card slots, Super Audio CD, wireless speakers and the ability to stream audio from your PC.

Philips also addresses the rapid changes taking place in technology. With the digital revolution, consumers are faced with a perplexing number of potential advances products and new technologies for the home. One-third (35 percent) of survey respondents expressed concerns about product choices and wiring becoming obsolete. Consumers want to make wise, future forward investments, but feel overwhelmed by conflicting information and confusing technology predictions. Philips offers products such as the Cineos which utilizes current technology, while embracing the next wave of progress, such as HDTV.

The marriage of technology and design isn’t impossible -- in fact, with the right information, it can be a match made in heaven.

For more information, visit www.designingathome.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content