Technological developments change the consumer electronics market into a
very dynamic market. CE manufacturers are used to realize product innovation
by means of standardization, inside products as well as between products.
Standardization and innovation are often conflicting activities.
An approach is discussed to optimize the balance, based on ''light-weight architectures''.

The weight of an architecture determines how easy an architecture
can be realized, changed and applied. An heavy architecture has many
mandatory rules, which apply always and everywhere, with a large degree
of detail. An heavy architecture provides a lot of certainties and control,
but is more difficult to adapt to changing circumstances.


