The technologies shown at Microsoft Research’s annual “TechFest” science fair aren’t typically ready for public use. But one that emerged last week, dubbed Mayhem, is available for download, it’s an open-source project, and it has some interesting implications for how we use our devices in our lives.

Mayhem is a Windows-based application lets people set a series of inputs and outputs (or “events and reactions”) to complete custom tasks without knowing how to write code. Examples in the video above include the ability to use an Xbox button to control a PowerPoint presentation, or a phone to control a media player, or voice to turn on a light. Here are some of the other examples cited on the “Make Mayhem” project page …

  • Receive an email reminder to winterize your house when the temperature drops below freezing.
  • Add an auto-save feature to a program that doesn’t have it.
  • Pause a video automatically when you leave the room.
  • Automatically update your Facebook status to “I’m rich!” whenever Microsoft stock hits $50 a share.

Gotta love their sense of humor.

The company has donated the project to the Outercurve Foundation open-source group, formerly the Codeplex Foundation, which was spun off from Microsoft a few years back. As a result, the capabilities of the project are expected to keep growing as open-source developers continue to work on it.

A “Make Your Own Mayhem” Contest is running through April 30 to encourage further development of the project.

Like what you're reading? Subscribe to GeekWire's free newsletters to catch every headline

Job Listings on GeekWork

Find more jobs on GeekWork. Employers, post a job here.