It is obvious from the passage that ....... .

Also called the "intelligent home", an automated house is an appliance-controlled dwelling made
possible by computers, microchips, television, voice synthesis and solid-state circuitry. All the
appliances in such a home are interconnected. They respond to voice commands and they are able to
communicate with one another. A dishwasher, for instance, could relay a message to a water heater
to produce more hot water. The whole electrical system of the home is electrically controlled by a
computer and activated by a telephone. A homeowner can relay commands from a distant computer
or telephone to his or her house. Repairmen can be called automatically if some appliance breaks
down. The chief obstacle to automated homes becoming widespread is not technological; it is the
high cost of the equipment required to build them.