Washington Post

But Kurt Scherf, vice president of research at Parks Associates in Dallas, warned that there is sometimes a gap between the technology consumers say they want and what they actually adopt.

"Bill Gates has a house that does absolutely everything, including changing the art work depending on the mood you're in," Scherf said. "To some consumers, that's technological overload. . . . It's targeted applications that provide additional value in the sense of security, safety or cos ...read more

The HAL2000 package costs $399 and includes several hardware additions needed to control light sockets and phone jacks.  Factoring in the cost of additional outlet adapters and labor, it would cost about $1,000 to wire a three-bedroom home's security system, entertainment center and lighting to HAL, said George Snyder, the company's marketing director.   That gives the program an advantage over systems that have typically cost at least $10,000 in the past, said Hongjun Li, an an ...read more