WHS + RP Admin
Ever been away but needed to work with ResponsePoint Administrator remotely.
With the Windows Home Server and the Advanced Administration Add-in this is simple to do. I added a shortcut to the advanced admin tab to launch the RP Administrator and viola there it is…
As WHS is built atop SBS 2003 it makes more and more sense. And given it's out-of-the-box functionality, both WHS and RP make big sense for the home of the future… I setup the RP extensions to ring our cells directly. This makes sense, as if someone is actually calling us, they want to speak to us, and if it's an automaton, then well our automaton will screen it for us. In the future we may add desk phones or wall phones or cordless phones. But to get this thing started, it's simple and easy. No extra voice mail extensions, nothing like that…
So here's what I see in the near future for advanced families and homes…In a connected closet…fiber/DSL/Cable, patch panel, firewall, switch and Wireless Access Point, Windows Vista Media Center, Windows Home Server, TV Converter box and distribution panel, Home Automation Control. In each room, xbox and flat panel, telecom.
Zunes/iPods, Windows Mobile Smart Phones / iPhones on each person…
Next is to tackle the Automobile. Currently, Microsoft is partnered up with Ford for some distribution, but I am thinking about tackling this in the near future. Add a simple PC with a Cellular uplink into the trunk, and add displays in the dash, the headrests, and more. Tie the whole thing together with software. You could upload your music/content over the internet to your car or WLAN while in the garage or via USB and away you go. Add-in a GPS/nav link, Live Search add-ins, voice recognition and text to voice for reading inbound email, work content, your kids paper, or whatever.
This is VERY cool stuff. And as I said to a partner, add-in auto-dimming of sound when a siren is approaching and/or a heads up display to PULL OVER. Likewise when change in speed limit or approaching a School Zone or Construction Zone…
This could go in so many directions, and really, actually help us in our daily lives, rather than make it more complicated or difficult.
What's your idea of the future technology?