Companies Chase the Promise of High-Tech Homes

Smart homes are an idea as old as the Jetsons. But some big companies are betting that the reality will soon catch up to the vision. The latest sign: Cisco, Comcast, General Electric and ADT Security Services are joining investors in a $23 million funding round for iControl Networks Inc., a start-up whose software allows customers to control a home's lights, thermostat and security system via the Web. Other start-ups are also vying to supply software to monitor and manage such technology, which could be a $5 billion a year market by 2011, according to research firm Parks Associates. Behind the recent activity is a belief by large and small companies that the typical house will undergo a transformation much like offices did a decade ago, which could lead to an explosion of new gadgets and services targeting consumers.