Each September, the custom electronics industry convenes at the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association show (CEDIA) to get a peek at the high-end tech products that will hit the luxury market the following year. This year, CEDIA was decidedly flat—with flat TVs, flat speakers, and other thin solutions intended to ride the coattails of the surging plasma and LCD TV market. Other products in the spotlight illustrate the importance of controlled lighting and the Internet’s growing role in home control products and appliances. Below are some of the most intriguing items on display this year. —Rebecca Day

Click photos for a closer look.
		An artistic canvas for blank screens A plasma TV is a home owner’s dream, but it can be a design nightmare when the TV is off. Solar Shading Systems solves the blank canvas problem with VisionArt, a motorized shade printed with fine-art images. VisionArt offers 100 limited-edition fine-art prints in eight frame styles and 32 original works of art and photography. The company uses the high-resolution giclee ink-jet process to reproduce images, which the company claims are indistinguishable from the original. The motorized shade can be operated by a home-theater remote control. VisionArt, A Division of Solar Shading Systems, Newport Beach, Calif. www.solarshadingsystems.com
		Digital artwork from the masters Consumers who spend a lot for a high-definition TV expect it to be more than just a boob tube, and the digital media experts at Roku agree. When the company’s HD1000 Digital Media Player connects to an HDTV, it can play music, display art from the masters, or feature a slide show of family photos. Roku sells digital art packs, including collections of digitized masterpieces by Van Gogh, Monet, and Ingres, and nature works comprising landscape photography and motion video. Roku, Palo Alto, Calif. www.rokulabs.com
		Home-theater lighting Known for its lighting and grip products for the movie industry, Matthews Studio Equipment has expanded to the residential home-theater market with a new line of lighting fixtures. Models include the Cameo spotlight, Eclipse wall sconce, Cape wraparound light (shown), and Torchière floor lamp. Optional finishes include bronze, pewter, antique brass, matte black nickel, brushed nickel, and chrome. Custom finishes are also available. Matthews Studio Equipment, Mission Viejo, Calif. www.artcoustic.com
		Plasma monitor speaker MartinLogan’s Fresco speaker makes a gracefully bold design statement next to a plasma monitor. Measuring 6'' from the wall, the curved enclosure features an interchangeable faceplate and a palette of optional grille colors. Vertical or horizontal positioning enables Fresco to serve as a front, center, or surround-sound speaker. MartinLogan, Lawrence, Kansas. www.martinlogan.com
		Artistic speakers A loudspeaker doesn’t have to look bad to sound good. Artcoustic, founded by former Bang & Olufsen designers, uses acoustically transparent speaker grilles as a canvas for artwork or patterned fabrics that blend with the decor. Artcoustic speakers vary in size but are all less than 6'' deep. Screen fabrics are available in designer styles or custom artwork. Artcoustic USA, Mission Viejo, Calif. www.artcoustic.com
		As big as it gets, for now Samsung’s 63'' plasma TV is the industry’s largest—for the moment. The built-in analog tuner enables users to view standard TV, while the set also includes the connectors required for a digital cable or satellite box. The 3'' deep display features Samsung’s fanless design for quiet operation. The Dolby Virtual Surround System delivers a surround-sound effect from two speakers. Samsung Electronics, Ridgefield Park, N.J. www.samsungusa.com
		A fitting subwoofer Every home theater lover wants room-shaking bass, but finding space for a bulky subwoofer can be a vexing exercise for architects and designers. NHT’s clever solution is the iW1 in-wall 14'' x 36'' sub that measures less than 3.5'' deep—a neat fit in a standard residential wall. The outboard electronics and amplifier stack with the A/V gear. NHT, Benicia, Calif. www.nhthifi.com
		Home control panel by day, internet portal by night No longer tied to their touch screens, home owners can now pick up an AMX Modero home control panel to control lighting, climate, security, and A/V functions from anywhere in the house. Even better, Modero panels are Internet appliances, too, allowing homeowners to access MP3 music libraries, surf the Web, and check e-mail. The connectivity works both ways—home owners can also control home functions over the Internet from anywhere in the world. AMX Corporation, Richardson, Tex. www.amx.com
		Wireless LCD TV Sharp Electronics offers the first battery-powered LCD TV for the U.S. market. The 15'' television is an integrated unit, complete with speakers, stand, and a handle. The rechargeable battery operates for three hours off a single charge. When networked with a home PC, the LC-15L1U can show a DVD movie without a wired connection. Sharp Electronics, Mahwah, N.J. www.sharpelectronics.com
		Scan your dinner Beyond’s Westinghouse microwave oven comes with a database of 4,000 products tested in cooking labs precisely for the appliance. The oven’s bar-code scanner is able to scan UPCs to see if they are available in the database, which is continually updated and available over the Internet via the Beyond network. The oven links to a Beyond hub over a power-line carrier network. Beyond/Salton, Seattle. www.beyondconnectedhome.com
		Quieter shading control Lighting control isn’t just about bulbs and switches. Lutron Electronics believes room shading is as important to a sophisticated lighting system as programmed dimming scenes. A noisy motor ruins the subtle effect of motorized shades, but Lutron’s new Sivoia QED intelligent drive system for roller shades, Roman shades, and draperies boasts virtually silent operation. The system integrates with Lutron lighting-control keypads. Lutron Electronics, Coopersburg, Pa. www.lutron.com

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