What are "Connected" Neighborhoods?

More and more communities are becoming "Connected" neighborhoods. These are developments that have their own "Neighborhood Network". Typically, they have a clubhouse or community center where a computer network server is located. All the homes in the development are connected to that server by copper, radio frequency networking, or best of all fiber optics. These connections run from each house to the server location. This allows all the homes to have blazingly fast connections for telephony, Internet, and television services.

These services allow features such as:

• Telecommuters to dial into their workplace and interact with their coworkers in real time as if they were physically in the office.
• Video teleconferencing will be provided in an easy and inexpensive way. The video telephone of the future is available today with inexpensive hardware and a fast connection.
  
• Shop worldwide without leaving home. See how clothing and furnishings look in exactly the colors and sizes you want to see. Then order them for delivery over a secure link using online banking services.
  
• Enable fully interactive distance learning. Students can interact with educators in real time and actually participate in classroom activities instead of simply up and downloading assignments.

In addition to the normal services these communities can have local traffic cameras watching the evening and morning commuter traffic so, the residents can avoid accidents and frustration during the work commute. These cameras can be viewed on dedicated cable television channels or over the internet. The cameras can also be placed in playgrounds and community pools so parents can observe their children at play from home or work over the Internet.

Neighbors can watch each others homes while on vacation. For example: when traveling I can direct my front door camera and doorbell to be answered by my neighbor or directed to me at the office over the Internet. When a visitor rings my doorbell my neighbor or I can answer the door and see them, and they will never know that I am not in the house talking to them.

Students can collaborate on school projects and homework assignments, as well as play games. Each family will have Email, it's own web site based in the community, and because of the network, neighbors will get to know each other in new and better ways.

The benefits are obvious and not fully known because new services pop up almost on a daily basis!

"This allows all the homes to have blazingly fast connections for telephony, Internet, and television services. "