This is cool, sexy stuff:
“Microsoft, together with the upcoming LEGO® MINDSTORMS® NXT, will help further amplify the impact of robotics,” said Søren Lund, director of LEGO MINDSTORMS at the LEGO Group. “The MINDSTORMS robotics toolset has enjoyed a strong community of users since 1998, and the launch of our next-generation platform includes many built-in features that further the community’s ability to take MINDSTORMS programming out of the box. In combination with Microsoft Robotics Studio, PC users will have a sophisticated tool that will further extend the powerful NXT hardware and software to an even wider range of developers who wish to create advanced applications for their LEGO robots.”
Check out http://msdn.microsoft.com/robotics/ for more info!!
another great quote:
“...execution scenarios can be developed using a selection of programming languages, including those included in Microsoft Visual Studio and Microsoft Visual Studio Express languages (C# and VB.NET), as well as Jscript and Microsoft Iron Python as well as third-party languages...”
*read read read, think think think... DING! Lightbulb...*
So it's pretty much feasible at this point to use VB.NET Express, with Lego Mindstorms (or a custom solution) and MS Robotics Studio to build a robot that can cruise around your house and use X10 (via VB.NET and Brian Vallelunga's X10 DLL) to turn stuff on and off as needed. Couple this with Speech Server (so you can give the robot verbal commands) and Media Center so you can view things through the robots eyes (X10 wireless cam) while watching TV and you have got one badass house. Now if I can teach the damn thing to play the XBOX 360 and make a decent latte, I'll be set.