The future according to Microsoft

Now a peek into Microsoft's home of the future.

You may not be able to afford as swanky a pad as Bill Gates, but technology can still enhance a more humble abode. That's the message in the Home section of Microsoft Life², where high-definition TVs and Xboxes jostled each other.

And in the twenty-first Century, the home is also the office. Today's businesswoman needs to be able to run a finance department, while the kids entertain themselves in their own high-tech den.

But there's one thing missing. Anyone see a trace of open source?

Forget this talk of smart refrigerators, Microsoft's lounge is traditional. There's not a computer to be seen.

But look behind you. This is a TV to be proud of and a stack of separate boxes as well — including the latest Xbox (left of the TV). Microsoft is putting all of its weight behind the next generation of Media Player used with high-definition TV.
Is that Steve Ballmer explaining Microsoft's strategy to a customer? No, just Media Player and HDTV in action.

And no child's life is complete without that ever-present computer, but here Microsoft are demonstrating some of the cool, fun things they can do while also stressing the work Microsoft has been doing to make using the Internet a safer place.

Mum's home office where she can do her work as finance director of a charity is safe in the home, thanks to the small device under her hand that allows her to close off and lock her work systems in case the kids decide to go surfing.

Microsoft's latest advertising campaigns are aimed squarely at the message that Microsoft is Life².

And after seeing all of this vision it's time to leave Microsoft's school — the building that houses Life² — and head for home. All we can wonder is why there was not a piece of open source software in sight. When asked about this, the representatives from Microsoft laughed, but would not otherwise comment.