The BBC ran a story recently regarding the "Smart dream home". I Quote:
with rising broadband speeds and connections, the rise of wireless networks, and cheaper more powerful machines in homes, it is getting easier to realise the smart home dream.
A lot more now can be controlled from one central machine, with one central and easy interface, which is what convergence is supposed to be about.
They go on to quote Will Levy, founder of Touch of a Button:
He thinks there needs to be more qualified people who can take the ordinary non-technical person step-by-step through the set-up and the integration of technologies with other systems around the home.
"It could be very much like getting the plumber around," says Mr Levy. "I could see in five or 10 years' time having them in the Yellow Pages alongside plumber of electricians that you call out."
I can just here them now:
*long intake of breath* - blimey mate who put that in? Linux? *looks up* That needs to all come out - you need XP mate, then we gotta install SP2 and all the hot fixes, it ain't a small job. Should be able to start today though. Won't be cheap of course. I'll get going now if you like, just need to nip out and get some bits and bytes, bit low in on them in the van, big shortage you know. Cor Linux? You must have had a right cowboy put that lot in... Probably need a new firewall and av suite too? You know what they are? No? Blimey I got some work to do here...