These guys (naturally at MIT) completely automated their dorm room. Lighting control, window blinds, security, everything! Videos and some technical info included.

MIDAS incorporates three VFDs and one large, color LED display. One VFD and the LED display are centralized to give randomized information from various sources. Everything from news, local weather, and of course, Slashdot articles, scroll across the displays. The Control Pod allows a user to select a particular topic to display immediately on the display. Otherwise, it will automatically cycle through information. MIT has a mailing list called "Reuse" where people post equipment they no longer want. Many of the devices incorporated into MIDAS are parts from devices picked off Reuse. When something very desirable is put on the list, it will often be gone within minutes. Whenever a Reuse post is sent to the list, the display immediately displays the title of the email and the location of the item. This works by using a script my roommate created that browses through mail sent to a particular address we own. Once an email comes in, the title field is sent to the MIDAS controller via Ethernet, the web server picks up the request, and the LED display program sends the information to the display.