Money Shots: The kitchen of the future?

Thanks to the efforts of Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ) and LifeWare, your kitchen (or your grandchildren's kitchen) may one day feature a touch-screen PC -- similar in looks to a flat-screen television -- that will serve as a household organizer of sorts. In the following video, Forbes.com previews the product (click image):


With technology developed by H-P and Micosoft, LifeWare is launching its $15,000 Home Package, fitting touch-screen PC/web-cams in every room of the house -- all connected, all the time -- enabling adjustments to the thermostat, lights, music and who knows what else. According to the company, it's a big hit with gamers, who don't have to get up to see what's going on in other parts of the house. (And why would they be concerned about that anyway?)

According to Chris Mauzy, a Director at Best Buy (NYSE:BBY), "You have no idea how cool it is to be in the living room watching your favorite TV show and you get kind of tired and you pause, then go to your master bedroom, hop into bed... and hit 'Play.' You can't beat it."

B. Brandon Barker is the author of Operation EMU.