Gates envisions consumers building home networks with PCs, music players, game consoles, and media centers. Many expensive homes are already being outfitted with control panels that let you access automated systems, such as lighting or temperature; down the road you may be able to control them by the Internet, or via handheld devices, like cellphones or iPods. "There will be sensors that can tell you if your front door has been opened or closed and your kid is home," says Bill Ablondi of Parks Associates, a technology industry consulting firm in Dallas. "There are some people -- we call them early adopters -- who have these already, but it will become more widespread in the next 10 years." There will be more -- and grander -- ways to entertain ourselves at home. More TV screens scattered throughout the house, for example: Those who can afford it will be able to stay connected to their football games as they move from room to room, without missing a single play. Or they can project movies against the wall of their media room.

Connectivity will extend to the kitchen, too. Manufacturers are finding ways to adapt computers to make them more kitchen friendly, says Ablondi . Our kitchens may be equipped with computers that utilize voice recognition systems, for example, so people can download recipes or check ingredients while they're cooking: No keyboard required.

From the article "Is this the home of the future?"  By Linda Matchan.

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