You will wish you college housing was this cool-- 3 months ago, Berkeley freshman Derek Low set out to create "BRAD," the Berkeley Ridiculous Automated Dorm, with very clever results.

Low says he now has “the most ridiculously automated dorm room in the school ever," a claim that is near-certainly true. Features include motion detectors (switching lights on/off when someone enters/exits the room) and controls (lights, shades and music) via either voice or mobile apps.

Best of all is the red "emergency party button"-- it closes the shades, swaps overhead lights for strobe and neon lighting and comes complete with disco ball and fog machine.

Low details the entire BRAD creation process on his website, where he even provides an appropriate shopping list. He rates the difficulty of get it up and running 4 (out of 10), cost 6 and time 6. Now we wish our university days were just as productive...

Watch Berkeley Ridiculously Automated Dorm (BRAD) Video

Go Berkeley Ridiculously Automated Dorm

Nearly 10 years ago Bill Gates opened Comdex with a keynote on "smart" computing powering gadgets around the home. Microsoft is not giving up on that dream-- and is working on a home automation platform, HomeOS.

A recently available 2010 research paper on the platform, which Microsoft was testing in 12 different homes over the last 4-8 months.

HomeOS follows the desktop PC model, where "all devices in the home appear as peripherals connected to a single logical PC." To handle the integration of multiple devices the platform uses "roles"-- packages of functionality associated with a particular household item.

To add further functionality, users simply buy new application drivers through HomeStore, a smartphone app store-style marketplace.

The paper gives no mention of HomeOS being Windows-based-- Microsoft has other non-Windows OS research projects, such as Singularity and Midori. The real question is whether Microsoft will actually start selling HomeOS, now that even Google (with Android@Home) wants a slice of the home automation pie.

Go An Operating System for the Home (Microsoft Research)

Control4 announces the Smart Appliance App and Smart Appliance Module-- a Card Access development installers can integrate into a number of Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances.

Sub-Zero BI-series refrigerators and Wolf E-series wall ovens can accommodate the Control4 Smart Appliance module. Once the module is installed, users need to download the free Smart Appliance app, compatible with all Control4 systems.

The app handles alerts, energy management, appliance diagnostics and remote appliance management. It can also receive text or email alerts for service requests.

Go Control4 Smart Appliance Module

The Z-Wave Alliance will feature a number of products using the wireless technology at Light+Building 2012, with a focus on energy-efficient and environmentally friendly home control systems.

Alliance members present at the show include Aeon Labs, Eminent, FAKRO, Fujikom, Honeywell, Motion Control Systems, Sigma Designs, Square Connect and QEES.

Aeon Labs will be demonstrating the 220 V Smart Energy Switch, a device connecting "power guzzlers" (dishwashers, tumble dryers, electric ovens) to home networks, allowing users to monitor power consumption.

QEES will show off new products such as MyKey remote control and Reto Shell switches and dimmers, while FAKRO will present home network integrated skylights, interior and exterior shutters, blinds and awnings.

And finally Japanese developer Fujikom will show off a Z-Wave solution allowing the control and configuration of up to 232 LED bulbs from one PC or smartphone.

Go Z-Wave Alliance at Light+Building 2012

ON World reports home energy product and service adoption is accelerating thanks to widespread smartphone use-- predicting global revenues for the segment will reach $4.3 billion by 2016.

As one of the fastest growing Smart Home markets, home energy management has most traction in the telecom, cable/broadband, security services and retail segments. Home energy systems and services are emerging in multiple channels, and are being deployed in many Home Area Network (HAN) architectures.

“Integrated HAN solutions, multi-purpose smart energy devices, and intelligent cloud services are the major ways companies are differentiating their offerings today,” ON World says.

A patent evaluation from the analyst reveals over 100 recent smart energy device, home energy controller and cloud-based energy solution applications-- including  Allure Energy’s proximity sensing (and music streaming) thermostat, Nest Labs’ Learning Thermostat (featuring MEMS sensors, WiFi and ZigBee) and the AT&T hosted Smart Home services platform.

Another growing trend is "set-and-forget" systems-- with 70% of ON World survey respondents indicating "automated systems that require minimal time/effort" are an important consideration for home energy management products and services.

Go ON World Smart Home Energy Systems and Cloud Services Market Report

We might be still far, far away from having proper Jetsons-style robot housemaids, but that doesn't stop companies from selling robot vacuums-- like Neato Robotics, now announcing the XV-21 Pet and Allergy Vacuum cleaner.

Sporting a pleasant retro-futuristic look reminiscent of the SNES games console, the XV-21 catches x3 more allergy-inducing filth than the previous Neato vacuums thanks to a newly developed bristled brush designed to pick up more pet hair and other fibres from your customers' floors.

Other improvements include a cleanable filter improving both airflow and suction power, as well as lower noise levels. A USB port allows for online firmware upgrades.

The XV-21 ships with a Pet and Allergy kit packed with the filter (also sold separately) and is compatible with earlier Neato vacuum accessories.

Go Neato Robotics