Microsoft Corporation Research blog

Now, Microsoft Corporation is entering one area that doesn't have an operating system...and guess what that area is none other than our "Home". Don't be confused as Microsoft Corporation guys are actually developing an "operating system" for homes. "HomeOS (Home Oprating system) provides a centralized, holistic control of devices in the home such as set-top boxes, game consoles, wireless routers, home automation devices, tablets, smart phones, and security cameras etc. It provides to users intuitive controls to manage their devices," according to Microsoft Corporation Research blog. HomeOS (Home Oprating system) is coupled with a HomeStore through which users can add obtain applications that are compatible with devices in their homes and obtain any additional devices that are needed to enable desired applications. In-fact, Microsoft Corporation has developed a research prototype of HomeOS (Home Oprating system). "Our current prototype includes support for a range of devices (e.g., switches, cameras, TVs) and applications." "Experimental results show that it is easy for developers to write applications and for non-technical users to manage their home networks with HomeOS (Home Oprating system). A dozen homes have "dogfooded" our prototype, and over 50 students have developers applications and drivers for it." HomeOS (Home Oprating system) is an experimental operating system for the home which focuses on providing centralized control of connected devices in the home, useful programming abstractions for developers, and allows for the easy addition of new devices and application functionality to the home environment, said Microsoft Corporation. The company is licensing (free; non-commercial use) HomeOS (Home Oprating system) prototype to academic instituitions to encourage teaching and research on connected homes and devices.

Source: EE Times