My friend Sondre is dreaming of automating his house. Having his basement filled with racks of servers and having sensors all over the place. He wants voice recognition to help him turn the lights on and off and control his music. His music will follow him from room to room by routing it to that room's set of integrated sound system, and doors will open as he approaches.
That's kinda cool. But really, if I was to spend a lot of money automating my house I'd want it to help me with the stuff I don't mind doing myself. I just don't think its too much hassle opening the door when leaving the room, or turning the lights on. And I actually enjoy putting on music manually. But if I could have my house clean itself, though, that would be another thing alltogether. Now we're talking actual value.
If it would constantly keep the toilets shining and pleasantly fragrant, the floors swept and toys out of harms way, keep stains off my rug, ants out of my kitchen, the waste basket empty, the lawn mowed, the fridge emptied of dated goods, the car washed, my bills paid, my inbox free from spam, and dinner ready on time. Then I'd start doing the mortgage-math.
"Computer! Lights on!", my ass.
"Bjorn, your car is washed now. Would you like it waxed as well?" - That's more like it!