Home Automation Is Fire Hot!

"As a number of the country’s biggest telecommunications and cable organizations keep making their drive into the home security industry, the usage of home automation technology has increased substantially."

I have been seeing an increasing amount of advertising and solutions coming out that tout home automation and security.  It looks as if companies are finally starting to notice that a lot of us like to know what is going on at home while we are away, or even to be able to control things in our homes with a wave of the hand.  Of course, the technology has vastly improved over the years.  Commercial solutions for home automation components like Zigbee and Z-Wave have risen to replace the old X-10 standard that I not so fondly remember.  Costs are still high, but have come down, and the polish on setup and interfaces have improved.  Even without going with your cable provider, you also have options such as Logitech.  I am certain that in a few more years, home automation and security should be in the reach of most of us without much work.  Have you set up your own dream home?  What did you use and how did you accomplish it?