Home Automation has been around for quite some time in various forms.  Only recently has it evolved to become affordable for a broader audience.  It also has become more powerful by integrating components and subsystems from a long list of vendors.  Home automation can integrate and control everything from your entertainment, lighting, climate, and security, to your communications and window coverings. 

The latest trend is to leverage home automation technology to integrate systems to effeciently manage utilities and energy usage- Going Green.  This new addition to the automation capabilties will continue to grow and strengthen.  What's next?

In an August 2008 article, "e-Health offers service providers opportunities to serve over seven million people by 2012", Parks Associates thinks that home healthcare monitoring will be the next big thing.  Cepro.com cites developments in the following categories:

>> Patient Monitoring Systems

>> Telemedicine

>> Medication Compliance Tools

>> Video Communications Solutions

>> Electronic Health Records