Now we get to the software side of this project.
In a new micro-SD card, I installed the latest version of Raspbian, expanded the fs to use the whole card, connected the system to my wifi and then run the following commands:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt-get install python-dev
sudo apt-get install python-rpi.gpio
I also installed and configured samba to simplify transfer of files to the device.
I connected the rpi to a Marmitek CM15 X10 module, as some button combinations will activate X10 switches in the room (lights, monitor power cables etc).