"When plumbing and electricity were introduced," says Michael Coen, a grad student at the MIT Artificial Intelligence Lab, "they were viewed as frivolous and unnecessary." People might have a similar opinion of the smart-home technologies Coen is developing. Funded by Darpa, his research is a decade away from the market. But walk into his office and the room will greet you, turn on the lights, and open the blinds. With hidden SGI and Linux-powered vision systems and microphones, it is the most intelligent office you're likely to enter. It's also the most relaxing - lie down on the couch and the room will dim the lights and lull you to sleep with Mozart.
ELECTRIC WORD
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