Home automation used to be limited to turning on lights and
appliances, and maybe controlling your thermostat and lawn
sprinkler, from your computer. While you still might not be able
to create all the Jetsons’ toys, today you can also * Build a
wireless network * Create and set up a weather station *
Automate your TV and sound system * Spy on your pets when you’re
not home * Set up an answering system that knows what to do with
calls * Increase your home’s security If you know how to use
Linux and a few basic development tools — Perl, the BASH shell,
development libraries, and the GNU C compiler—Linux Smart Homes
For Dummies will help you do all these tricks and more. For
example, you can * Discover the best sources for Linux-based
home automation devices * Set up a wireless network, create a
wireless access point, build a bridge between wired and wireless
networks, and route your own network traffic * Build a personal
video recorder with MythTV that will record to DVD, or set up a
wireless streaming music s