Taking inputs and sending outputs based on some variable environment... so all processing (automatic tasks to turn on lights, air-conditioning control, security reports to some web service, receiving commands from web and controlling sensors) will be done on this mini-pc.
Maybe i'm thinking wrong on make this? I think it can be done within arduino alone and some shields, but i think programming on a linux env is more easy and provides more power to do anything. As this android mini-pc have wi-fi, android, usb ports, hdmi, and its only 79usd.