Title: Internet Research - Activity 10
Course: CGS 1560 Microcomputer Operating Systems > Section: Module 10 - Networking

Smart homes have been a goal of visionaries for decades and have yet to become a reality for the masses. Rich Janow authored a paper titled Proposed Standards for Home Network Operating Systems while at Lucent Technologies/Bell Laboratories in 1997. The paper was written for the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) which sets voluntary standards or guidelines for the industry to follow for compatibility. There have been many obstacles over the years that have hampered the development and progress of the home network operating systems. The technology seems to have now caught up with the theory.

What can the home network operating system (HNOS) bring to the consumer? The following is a list of possible consumer services related to a HNOS:

- Energy Management – In an era of high energy costs a HNOS can offer control over home energy consumption
- Communication Management – The HNOS can unify communication management between home phones, cell phones, email and a host of other communication media
- Security Management – A HNOS can consolidate the management of the home security system bringing together the security and fire alarms in conjunction with internal and external video surveillance
- Healthcare Management – This service could allow remote healthcare monitoring for people with chronic illnesses or the elderly who live at home

With the advent of IPv6 and the development of a host of intelligent devices that can communicate with each other and over the Internet the possibilities are almost endless. The first major company to openly pursue this new market is Microsoft. Microsoft has developed and recently released a trial version of their first HomeOS. Apple and Google are trailing behind with their own research that reflects their corporate identities. There are also a vast amount of products being offered by many smaller companies.

Your assignment is to create a research paper that relates the use of newer technology available today to Bell Laboratories paper Proposed Standards for Home Network Operating Systems by Rich Janow. The goal is to discern what features would be included in the ultimate HNOS if you were in charge of the development project.

The purpose of this research paper is to give you some experience in relating new technology to ideas that were ahead of their time. You need to formulate questions about the subject and then write intelligently and interestingly, informing your reader on how to apply the newer technology. Organize your information with a logical flow giving your viewpoint and reasoning on how the new technology can be applied. Ensure that you organize the information by each of the main points of the larger topic. When applicable you should extend your information to include the basis for your selection of one technology over another.

- Goal: To produce a research paper that explains how emerging technology can be applied as a solution to older problems or ideas
- Ideas:
  - Would you create the HNOS as a virtual machine host or a guest OS?
  - What file system and file storage would you choose?
  - How would you deal with the device drivers for both dumb and smart appliances?
  - How would you network all of the computers, tablets, phones, IPTVs and other devices together?
  - What would the interface be like as far as the visual, voice, and audio aspects?
- Tie your research back to the Proposed Standards for Home Network Operating Systems paper
- Express your thoughts supported by blending your research with your viewpoint and reasoning
- Due date: Due in two weeks see Course Schedule
- Length: (400 words maximum) the page limit forces you to carefully choose your words and eliminate vague sentences
- Format: Times 12, one-inch margins, 1.5 line spacing
- Citations: You may choose either MLA or APA in-text citation style; include a properly formatted Works Cited or Reference page with an introduction and conclusion
- Heading: The heading should include your name, the class "Jones ¬ CGS-1560C," the assignment "Research Paper Module 10," and the date
- Sources: For this paper you are permitted to use any credible source. There is a minimum of four references in total besides the Bell Laboratories

Submit your completed paper to the assignment dropbox.