I don't know about the future, but maybe a bit easier for the average consumer, companies are working out plans to integrate storage easier within home networks. When you think of it, what is the central point in your home network? It's your router, gateway, or even your set-top box. Well vendors will be working diligently this next year to somehow integrate home storage equipment with your routers and gateways. Wouldn't it be easier to just plug in a storage appliance where everyone could make use of it? No more running your USB device between computers, no more network administration, and we might even get some built in intelligence that would handle downloads from the Internet while no computers are actually connected.

Extended read at : Oxford rolls controllers for home storage boxes