In Pictures: Beyond the smartphone - Emerging platforms developers should target next

From the car to the living room, technologies and markets are quickly evolving to offer lucrative possibilities for programming pioneers

Emerging dev platform: The electical grid

In much of the Western world, electricity is so stable that it's boring. Plug your device into the wall and it works. A month later you get a bill, and after you pay it -- as they say in the country music business -- the circuit remains unbroken.

There is no reason why we can't enjoy a much richer, more sophisticated electrical grid with flexible pricing, self-healing circuits, and an app market full of opportunities.

Filtrete, for instance, offers a programmable thermostat that is Wi-fi-enabled and ready for remote access.

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