If your looking for something to do on a personal basis, Crestron is probobly your best bet. There is a great Yahoo support group for dealers and end users alike. You can pick up a older generation crestron system very inexpensively and build your skills fron there.

All you need to get started is an STCP(Can usualy be found for $200-400),and a ST series panel(Greyscales I've seen from $150-500 ST-1500 or ST-1550), and Color from $250-1000 ST-1500C or ST1550C.

Crestron Group