Technology of the Hotel Room of the Future

May 17-19, 2006 1

Technology in the Hotel Room of the Future

Technology of the Hotel Room of the Future

Chris Hartmann

Managing Director

HVS Technology Strategies

[email protected]

May 17-19, 2006 2


Hotel Guest of the Present

• Has Laptop

• Needs HSIA

• Has Portable Music Device

• Expects / Desires– Nice TV with wide content choices

– Easy to use technology

– Good alarm clock and sound system

May 17-19, 2006 3


Hotel Guest of the Future

• Has Portable Computing Device• Needs high bandwidth HSIA• May have Portable Video Device• Expects / Desires

– An environment that’s better than, or equal to, Home

– Ability to be productive in Work AND Play

– Easy to use technology

May 17-19, 2006 4


Portable Computing Device - U3• Ultimate portability: Access your personal

workspace wherever you go – without lugging a laptop

• Private and protected computing: When you’re done, simply unplug the U3 smart drive and walk away knowing that your personal information leaves with you

• Personalized computing on shared PCs: Share one PC yet maintain the privacy and familiarity of your software, customized settings, and files

May 17-19, 2006 5


PDA Video Output

Use Compact Flash or Bluetooth to output standard VGA

Limited by PocketPC video processor and (Bluetooth) throughput

May 17-19, 2006 6


OQO Computer• 1GHz processor• 30GB hard drive (shock-

mounted)• 512MB RAM• 4.9" x 3.4" x .9“• 14 ounces• 800 x 480 W-VGA 5" display

(indoor/outdoor readable) • 3D accelerated 1280 x 1024

VGA video output• $1,900

May 17-19, 2006 7


DualCor Cell Phone / Computer• 18 oz

• Approximately 6” by 3”

• Full XP Tablet AND Windows Mobile OSes

• External monitor up to 1900 x 1200

• USB and Compact Flash device support

• 40Gb Hard Drive

May 17-19, 2006 8


Remote Desktop

Requires broswer (PC-any OS, thin client, other)

• VNC – Free software

• GoToMyPC.com – server based -$20/month

• XP Professional Remote Desktop

May 17-19, 2006 9


What does all this mean to Ms. Guest O’TheFuture?

NO MORE “LAPTOP”

Truly HSIAEntertainment

May 17-19, 2006 10


High Bandwidth needs – Home TV

SlingBox

Sony Location-Free TV

Monsoon HAVA

May 17-19, 2006 11


Online TV – Google Video

NCIS - Season 3 - Hiatus, Pt 1 Bellisarius Productions / Paramount Pictures Day-Pass $1.99 - 44 min 29 sec - May 9, 2006

May 17-19, 2006 12


Other High Bandwidth Needs

• Video Instant Messaging

• Video Conferencing

• Corporate VPNs and other Encrypted Connections

• VoIP including Skype

Real time content requires both high reliability (low latency, no delay, few errors) AND high throughput

May 17-19, 2006 13


Portable Video Players

Pocket PCs, Palm devices, Smart Phones and most portable computing devices

mentioned above ALSO include HDTV output capabilities

May 17-19, 2006 14


Home, Sweet Home - Relaxing

May 17-19, 2006 15


Home, Sweet Home - Working

May 17-19, 2006 16


Productive ?

May 17-19, 2006 17


Easy To Use?

K.I.S.S.

May 17-19, 2006 18


How Do We Accommodate this Guest of the Future?

MyISP Invoice #17242

OC3 Service – May 2006 $16,750Monthly Equipment $2,495

Total Due $19,245

Payment due upon Receipt

May 17-19, 2006 19


Not Quite, BUT ….

You better have AT LEAST a 17” computer monitor in each room

Better yet, have a 27”+ HDTV with VGA / HDMI input available

Best of all, install a secure computer with browser capability

Ultimately, in a business traveler property, look for a 19”+ monitor AND HDTV

May 17-19, 2006 20


For happy HSIA using guests,

• Property needs reliable connection with decent bandwidth– T1 (1.5Mbs), 1 per 100 rooms ideal for now

– Business DSL (3-8Mbs)

– Business Cable (3-10Mbs)

– Wireless (WiMax) – not available yet

– Powerline – not available most markets yet

High Quality ReliablePrivate IPs

May 17-19, 2006 21


For happy HSIA using guests,

• Guest support– 24 x 7 with ability to “see” to guest connection

• Bandwidth monitoring and management capabilities– Prevent one guest from hogging bandwidth– Future hotel HSIA model may become

• Basic access free

• Enhanced access at additional cost

– Law Enforcement

• Wired (including DSL/shared) for throughput, security

• Wireless also for convenience, mobility

May 17-19, 2006 22


Infrastructure - Let's get Wired• Cat5e vs. cat6

– cat6 has 2x the raw performance of cat5e, BUT current equipment that uses cat6 can also use cat5e

– labor far greater than materials cost– Future upgrades are expensive and disruptive

• What if you want wired connections, but can't pull cable?– share the phone line– share the electrical outlet– share the coax (TV) cable

• Wireless Issues– Remember - Wireless still needs wiring– Coverage and interference– Security, reliability– Real time traffic, throughput

May 17-19, 2006 23


That's Entertainment

• Analog vs. Digital TV

• DTV flavors - SDTV, EDTV, HDTV

• HDTV resolutions (720p, 1080i, 1080p)

• Other factors – inputs, response time, brightness, contrast, viewing angle

• Content format

• CRT vs. LCD vs. Plasma vs. Projection

May 17-19, 2006 24


Standard Analog

May 17-19, 2006 25


DVD

May 17-19, 2006 26


HDTV

May 17-19, 2006 27


Aspect Ratio (4:3, 16:9)

May 17-19, 2006 28


HDTV Considerations - Inputs• Composite – Low quality, analog, supports most external devices• S-Video – Higher quality, analog, supports newer external devices• Component – Highest quality, analog, supports HDTV to 1080p• VGA – Highest quality, analog, standard computer monitor output • DVI / HDMI – Highest quality, digital, supports HDTV to 1080p

• HDMI carries audio and video, DVI video only

• DVI in 2 flavors – DVI-D (digital only) DVI-I (digital and analog)

• Adapters available to convert between

• Content Protection- HDCP, HDMI

May 17-19, 2006 29


HDTV Considerations - Resolution

• Highest (current) Resolutions – 1080i vs. 720p– Similar amounts of data

– 1080i more detail, 720p better motion

– HD content broadcast in one of these

• Other DTV resolutions – 480p, 480i, 720i, 1080p

• Some sets now handle 1080p (highest HDTV format), but no broadcast content does

May 17-19, 2006 30


HDTV Considerations - Other

• Response time – How quickly a pixel can change – 12-15ms or LESS

• Not clearly defined, “see for yourself”– Brightness – Higher is better, measured in nits or cd/m2

– Contrast – Higher is better, ratio of black to white (how much white is visible on full black) – examples 400:1, 1000:1

– Viewing Angle – At what angle from straight on can the screen be seen clearly?

• Type of screen determines, room and mounting affect need

• Specified as degrees off center to left and right

• Maximum is 180 degrees, CRT is close to 180

May 17-19, 2006 31


HDTV Considerations - Content

• Non-digital content from a low quality source (VCR for example) can look awful on an HDTV set

• Coax cabling and amplification equipment must be of sufficient quality to support HDTV

• HD content requires special equipment (tuner, cable box, set-top box, smart card) to decode and display

• HD content is more limited than SD, but growing rapidly

• Free to Guest TV – Switch to Digital from Analog

May 17-19, 2006 32


In-room Entertainment - VoD

• Digital Media vs. VCR-based (analog)– Much higher quality

– Start/Stop capability

– No limitation on viewing

• DVD player

• Games

• Internet access

May 17-19, 2006 33


HDTV Considerations – TV Set Types

• CRT vs. LCD vs. Plasma vs. Projection– CRT has brightest, best response to motion– Plasma often used above 40”– Projection used for very large (60”+ locations)– LCD is lightweight, uses much less energy– CRTs are extremely heavy and cannot be wall mounted– Plasma can have burn-in problems, cannot be used at high

altitude– Projection sets are least bright and have smallest viewing

angle

May 17-19, 2006 34


HSIA – Considerations

• Throughput / Bandwidth to the Hotel– T1 (Dedicated), Business DSL/Cable (Shared), newer alternatives

(WiMax, Powerline)– T1 = 1.5Mbs, DSL/Cable = 3-10 Mbs– Other considerations – Reliability, Latency, Jitter, Packet Loss

• Real-time Applications – Computer-based telephony (Skype)– Computer-based video (webcam, Slingbox/Sony LFTV)

• Real-time Network (non-Internet) Applications– VoIP Phone– IPTV

May 17-19, 2006 35


HSIA – Key Features

• Bandwidth management & control– Monitoring throughput within and without– Providing automatic reduction to “Internet Hog”– Blocking or restricting certain applications– Pricing based on throughput level– QoS (Quality of Service) and Traffic Prioritization

• VPN (Virtual Private Networking) Support– Heavily used by corporate networks– Sometimes require private IP addresses (feature of incoming line)– More bandwidth intensive and sensitive to errors

May 17-19, 2006 36


HSIA – Connectivity

• Wired, Ethernet and shared (DSL, etc.)– More reliable, consistent, secure

– Greater throughput

– Capability in every laptop, simple connection process

– Known user location

• Wireless– Not tied to wall or desk

– Lowest cost deployment

May 17-19, 2006 37


HSIA – Guest Support

• Challenging for hotel to provide

• Major interaction defining “guest experience”

• Should be proactive, at least on ISP services

• Wireless support more difficult

• Should include bandwidth management where needed by property

• Hotel staff needs easy access to, and be easily accessed by, HSIA support organization

May 17-19, 2006 38


Telephony - VoIP

• Status and Predicted Timeline

• VoIP service vs. VoIP in the guestroom

• PBX/Switch – VoIP / VoIP Enabled

• Telephone Sets

• Wiring – VoIP vs. Analog Phone

• Network equipment – Higher Quality, QoS, Traffic Prioritization

- VoIP service can save money, but there is a potential risk to quality

May 17-19, 2006 39


Telephony - Traditional

• Analog Phones– Cordless considerations

– VoIP technology, analog price/look

• PBX– Support Contracts

– Standard vs. VoIP vs. VoIP-enabled

• Wiring - converting from analog to VoIP

• Voicemail

May 17-19, 2006 40


Energy Management - Heating Up

• Basic - motion detection only– Guest still or in bathroom may result in setback

• Standard - motion detection with door monitor

• Advanced – adds central control – Further setback – unrented vs. rented & vacant

• Humidity Control– Turns ON AC in vacant rooms with high humidity conditions

to prevent mold problems

May 17-19, 2006 41


Listening in Peace & Quiet• Home audio often includes surround sound as does HDTV• Hotel needs to be concerned with volume – no subwoofer!• Virtual surround sound or simply high quality audio with Personal Audio

Device connection, excellent compromise• Hotel wake-up alarm - resets each day• Future Content

– Internet radio– HD radio– Satellite radio

• Main Audio Device options - standalone, TV, clock radio• Remember to K.I.S.S. with remote controls

May 17-19, 2006 42


Other Technology

• Printing capability– Primarily B&W for boarding passes,directions,etc.

– Color nice for business properties

• Just to think about for the future– Loaner Laptops

– USB memory and other peripheral device sales

– Technology conceirge for business and upscale properties

May 17-19, 2006 43


Guest Services - Making Everyone Happy

Technology Enhances Guest Communications– VoIP Phones

– Computer, Hotel Provided or Walled Garden

– Specialized device – Energy Management

– In-room Data Needs• Task Management Software - HotelExpert, Espresso – Receive,

Resolve, Track Guest Issues• Room Service• Emergency information• Marketing and Hotel Information

May 17-19, 2006 44


Hotel Room of the FutureQ & A

Chris HartmannManaging Director

HVS Technology [email protected]

Please e-mail me for a copy of the presentation

Technology of the Hotel Room of the Future

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