{"id":170564,"date":"2010-09-30T22:19:38","date_gmt":"2010-09-30T22:19:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/research\/project\/homeos-enabling-smarter-homes-for-everyone\/"},"modified":"2024-10-02T16:39:34","modified_gmt":"2024-10-02T23:39:34","slug":"homeos-enabling-smarter-homes-for-everyone","status":"publish","type":"msr-project","link":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/research\/project\/homeos-enabling-smarter-homes-for-everyone\/","title":{"rendered":"HomeOS: Enabling smarter homes for everyone"},"content":{"rendered":"
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It is no secret that homes are ever-increasing hotbeds of new technology such as set-top boxes, game consoles, wireless routers, home automation devices, tablets, smart phones, and security cameras. This innovation is breeding heterogeneity and complexity that frustrates even technically-savvy users\u2019 attempts to improve day-to-day life by implementing functionality that uses these devices in combination. For instance, it is impossible for most users to view video captured by their security camera on their smartphone when they are not at home. Heterogeneity across devices and across homes also makes it difficult to develop applications that solve these problems in a way that work across a range of homes.<\/p>\n

To simplify the management of technology and to simplify the development of applications in the home, we are developing an “operating system” for the home. HomeOS\u00a0provides a centralized, holistic control of devices in the home. It provides to users intuitive controls\u00a0to manage\u00a0their devices. It provided to developers high-level abstractions to orchestrate the devices in the home. HomeOS is coupled with a\u00a0HomeStore through which users can easily add\u00a0obtain applications that are compatible with devices in their homes and obtain any additional devices that are needed to enable desired applications.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\u00a0NEW!\u00a0<\/strong>HomeOS now supports Lab of Things (opens in new tab)<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Prototype<\/h2>\n

We conducted studies\u00a0to both understand\u00a0the difficulties that people face today in managing modern technologies in the home and\u00a0understand how they would like to manage and secure them in an ideal world. Based on these findings, we have developed a research prototype of HomeOS.\u00a0Our current prototype\u00a0includes support\u00a0for a\u00a0range of devices (e.g., switches, cameras, TVs) and applications. Experimental results show that\u00a0it is easy for developers to write applications and for non-technical users to manage their home networks with HomeOS. A dozen homes have\u00a0“dogfooded” our prototype, and\u00a0over 50 students have developers applications and drivers for it.<\/p>\n

In addition to the publications and talks below, the following resources provide\u00a0more information on the HomeOS prototype and what it supports:<\/p>\n