OK, so I'm at work and I remember that I need some shopping, I could log on to my home PC, get a list of whats in the fridge , order the main shop and have a shortlist of stuff I need to pick up on the way home. Then I could turn on teh oven to cook that stew I prepared before I went to work.
One mate of mine was looking for a 'project'. he said if I came up with something interesting he would build it.
My Project was to have a system such that when anyone rings teh bell it sends him a text. he can logon to his PC which is running a webcam by teh door. Using VOIP he can hold a conversation with teh caller as if he is stood teh other side of the door. He also has a LOAD of sound effects such as a big dog, etc.
Then we extended it such that his alarm system is linked to the PC. He has web cams in strategic places. when an alarm goes off it texts him what room/alarm has triggered and he can log on and see what is happening. He can also reset it remotely.
It took him just over 6 months to implement it all
(More money than sense but a decent fella all round )