[2Jim_Brown]

New research indicates that demand for home networks - to connect home theaters, security cameras, and lighting systems is increasing rapidly.

[ArrogantBustard]

Duh! Gigabit switches and cards are dirt cheap ... and 802.11 stuff isn't far behind.

[TommyDale]

Gosh, folks. This has been going on for years! Welcome to the 21st century!

[GOP Poet]

ping

[martin_fierro]

My Linux-powered toaster.

[MineralMan]

Duh. When I remodeled my previous home, I cabled every room for 100 mbps ethernet. That was in 1996. These guys are way behind the times.

The thing is that it's now all obsolete, basically. I wouldn't do it again, but would rely on wireless networking.

[July 4th]

If you're building a new house, there's no reason not to cable it. Sure, have wireless available for those times when you want to move a laptop around, but a cable in the wall is much more reliable/faster/secure and is really the best primary connection. Plus, the cabling can be used for other things if you're not going to use it for networking, like HDTV distribution.

[BurbankKarl]

Yes, I know....my wifi connection is someone else's home network!

[finnman69]

Homes will be wired with the same type of building management software systems that run high end office buildings.

You will from one computer control your home's environment including heating and cooling by zone, turning lights on and off automatically or remotely, controlling home theater & A/V systems, monitoring appliances, monitoring energy usage, watering your lawns, perhaps even recharging your hybrid car's electric batteries.

The technology is already here.

[N3WBI3]

Frankly putting wires in the wall for this is, in most cases, a waste of money. Most wireless devices will do the job just fine and can be secured to a reasonable degree..