Home Automation...the NEXT BIG THING!!!

Home automation market/space really hoting up, Well is it just might be that i have started focusing on this topic and visiting related places or has the space really heated up, well I do think this space is HOT and has a lot of prospect over the next couple of years.

Here are some interesting tit bits I picked up from the blogsphere today.

Insteon, ZigBee, and Z-Wave seem to be the standards that are emerging and replacing the x10 standard.

What are they?//Excerpt
Insteon, ZigBee, and Z-Wave are mesh technologies, meaning that all the devices within a network are equipped with radios and can communicate with each other, rather than just with the controller (the device that serves as central command for the network). Each radio has both a receiver and a transmitter and can act as a repeater, passing on data for other radios out of the controller's range. The radios will be relatively inexpensive, adding $20 or less to the cost of the products or devices they are embedded in, such as thermostats, sprinkler systems, or dishwashers.
//Excerpt
via Wired Home

Why home automation?//Excerpt
I have my bedroom lamp set on to start dimming up in the morning gradually. I get up before the sun, but have a hard time climbing out of bed if it's still dark out. So, for about 15 minutes before my alarm goes off, the light starts dimming up (yes, it's bad grammar, but that's what it's called in "the community") starting at 1% and increasing 1% per 15 seconds. When the alarm goes off, it's at 60% intensity which isn't blinding first thing in the morning, but light enough to get up by. This may sound stupid, but since I'm not a morning person, getting up has never been easy for me. Since I've set this up, I've found I only hit the snooze button once or twice anymore, rather than 5 or 6 times. I also wake up in a better mood and more alert.
//End Excerpt
via Wired Home
Source Spoonman

Whats new?
//Excerpt
We were talking about ZigBee the other day and it's a nice to know that soon we'll be able to control our home with a PDA. C-guys is introducing the first ZigBee SDIO Card at CeBit this week which will take home automation to the next level. For under $100US, the card will be a great tool for running your home. Here's the full Press Release:
//End Excerpt
via WiredHome