Home automation technology has moved forwards significantly since Bill Gate's had a smart house built for himself over a decade ago. Wireless devices that can plug in to and control power points, light controls, web-cams, control panels, smart TVs and general appliances are all available at costs affordable to the average consumer.
Microsoft is now looking to finally make an official move into the market of home automation, with the demonstration of its current prototype of 'HomeOS', an operating system geared towards the management of the various devices on the market, along with smartphone applications to use as potential interfaces to such a system.
What makes HomeOS stand out from the crowd is, that like current Windows operating systems, the OS would support a large range of devices from the full array of manufacturers over a variety of connections. Coupled with HomeOS will be 'HomeStore', a targeted app store, where already students and researchers have apps for tasks such as energy monitoring, remote surveillance and face-recognition.
If the price was right, would any of our readers consider automating their home? What manual tasks really push your buttons?
