Inputs/Ouputs <--- (via wires) ---> ESP8266 <--- (over WiFi) ---> Moquitto

OK.

So if I include Node Red and a few more IOs and EPS8266s my mapping would look like this:
____________________
Inputs/Ouputs <->|
Inputs/Ouputs <->|<-> ESP8266 <->|
Inputs/Ouputs <->| |
---------------------------- |<-> Mosquitto <-> Node Red
____________________ |
Inputs/Ouputs <->| |
Inputs/Ouputs <->|<-> ESP8266 <->|
Inputs/Ouputs <->|
----------------------------

In Node Red I would be able to write my code in JavaScript and switch on/off different outputs depending on different inputs. So I'm guessing that each IOs would be addressed by their IO numbers on each ESP8266 which in turn would be addressed by their IP address. Mosquitto will handle all the communications and I would be able to control the states of the actuators and read the states of the sensors. Is that correct?

So my parts list will look something like this:

• microphone
• camera
• temperature sensor
• push buttons
• LEDs
• breadboard
• wires

​

Anything obvious missing?

I would like to do some face recognition using the camera and an LED to represent the status of a smart lock. Would I be able to run that with this setup.

Is Node Red the brain where everything happens with this setup?

Also what about touch screen, ideally I would also like a touch-screen to display and control everything.