Smart homes aren't just for the luxury market

You date yourself by admitting you were an adult by the time you sent your first text message.
Now, it seems coming home to a dark house, a chilly living room and cold stove will soon make you a cultural relic.
Generation automation is here.
Researchers predict that 50 million buildings globally – the majority of them residential – will be equipped for automation by 2018, according to a report from On World, a technology research firm.
“In the past three to four years, we’ve seen a huge change in the number smart homes,” said Mareca Hatler, On World’s research director. “It used to be pretty much a luxury market.”
With costs dropping, consumers are buying automation to control energy use, lighting, security and entertainment systems, On World says in its “Smart Building Set” forecast.
Annual shipments of wireless gadgets are expected to increase by more than 600 percent over the next five years, the report predicts.
Getting home late tonight? Adjust the thermostat to save a few dollars.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth will still be popular for in-home networks. ZigBee, Z-Wave and EnOcean are also names to watch for entertainment, fitness, medical and monitoring tools.
When the doorbell rings, live video on your smartphone lets you see who is outside. Tap the screen to unlock the door. Yes, your keys are headed to the time capsule, too.

Sullivan: homelifeclt.blogspot.com and @sullivan_obs on Twitter