The Infrared Data Association says that Hewlett Packard Co, Intel Corp, Microsoft Corp and Sharp Corp have received draft status for their joint IrBus proposal that meets its IrDA bi-directional command and control specification. IrBus is aimed at enabling in-room wireless use of peripherals such as mouse, keyboard, joystick, gamepad, remote control units and personal digital assistants with hosts such as multimedia PCs, two-way consumer electronic devices and two-way home appliances. Other IrBus supporters include Acer Laboratories Inc, KeyTronic Inc, Logitech International SA, Matsushita Electronic Components and Philips Remote Control Systems. The first host devices are expected to be personal computers using the USB bus, though IrBus support is likely to be built into future I/O chipsets. HP and Sharp are prototyping infrared transceiver modules that should reach the market by mid-1998.
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