The Home Technology Expo, being staged in association with Classic FM, will be held at the Coca-Cola Dome, Northgate, from 26 to 30 October.
Trends to watch this year include LCD television sets, screens and cameras that take small DVD disks rather than tape, says Andre Du Toit, MD of The Digital Experience, one of the exhibitors at The Home Tech Expo. The innovation of the year, he says, is home automation, which allows home conveniences, like multi-room sounds or systems, to be controlled simultaneously at the flick of a switch. He feels this is something "aspirational" for the emerging market.
Although home theatre systems have been around for almost 15 years, Du Toit feels the interest in new developments in the sector is ongoing. Other technologies on show will include HiFi systems, a range of plasma screens, projectors and television screens, voice and data services, intercom systems, surround sound and satellite communications.
"We`re providing middle to high-end audio equipment, home automation and the complete home entertainment experience for the consumer," says Leigh Romeijnders, director of event organiser EventX.
The last exhibitions of this kind were the annual HiFi Expos, which ran in the late 80s and early 90s and as an exhibitor, Du Toit was disappointed that it ceased because "at that stage one of the major retailers went belly up, which caused a proliferation of the smaller ones".
The appeal of the new event is that it is all under one roof, which, unlike previous events, Du Toit says, took place in various convention centres, which made getting an overview very difficult. The Home Tech Expo will feature 173 stands including international brands, such as Panasonic, Samsung, Sharp, Pioneer and Toshiba, B&W, Quad, Yamaha, Jamo, Rotel, Sony and Microsoft.
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