Many of the futuristic technologies we see in science fiction movies are so amazing that it's hard to imagine if they will one day exist in our homes. In fact, it may already exist. Modern technology has advanced to the point where you can control your TV, lights, and even your thermostat from your smartphone. That's just the tip of the iceberg.
Here are seven future home technologies everyone should know about.
1. Automated robot
We still have a long way to go to fully functional, freely moving, humanoid-like robots. That said, automated robots already exist and are used in many homes today. Devices like iRobot and Neato are designed to autonomously move around your home and clean your floors. In any case, that's about as far as we've come in terms of consumer-based robots.
But don't worry. A prototype robot unveiled by German scientists can do more than just sweep floors. The one-armed, three-fingered device can also pick up items, clean up, operate various machines, and serve drinks to guests. An integrated sensor system prevents the robot from tightening around the human arm. Additionally, it can be controlled via an embedded touchscreen, but also responds to voice commands. It also responds to pre-programmed gestures.
Of course, this is just one of the robots currently in production. It won't be long before we see more automated helpers introduced into our homes.
2. Smart home appliances
As devices such as mobile phones, watches, and even jewelry become increasingly smart, we will all begin to realize the benefits of owning smart home appliances. Imagine walking into your kitchen and having a refrigerator that fills you with delicious water that you order directly from your phone. Think about how great an internet-enabled microwave oven is. You can automatically tweet your quick meals and share them with the world. Okay, that last example was kind of a joke, but you get the point.
You can already buy refrigerators, washers, dryers, and other devices with touchscreen displays and numerous sensors. Some of them are internet-enabled and allow you to install and use apps directly from the appliance.
The most interesting thing about the idea of smart home appliances is that home appliances become increasingly useful and learn the user's preferences to make life easier. However, some questions arise about what big data companies might track, such as daily meal times and such information.
3. Lighting control
Turning on lamps and ceiling lights with a wall switch is now outdated. With the right setup in your home, you can control your lighting from your mobile device, touchscreen panel, or automated system.
NEST, a smart thermostat, can also be programmed to turn on the lights and cool the air in your home as soon as you return from vacation. Imagine being able to program your system to turn on lights at different times of the day and night.
Advanced lighting controls are becoming more common, and many expect this technology to soon become a standard feature in new homes.
4. Power tracking or energy efficient technology
Your car tells you when it needs an oil change, so why can't you tell us this information at home? Consider an air conditioning unit that can send an alert when the air filter needs replacing.
Even better, consider an energy system that can notify you when you're about to exceed your electricity budget for the month. Maine-based company Powerhouse Dynamics has announced its Total Home Energy Management program that does just that. Track a home's energy consumption, associated costs, and carbon footprint minute-by-minute to help homeowners better manage usage. It can also analyze the appliances and equipment used in the home and notify owners when they need to upgrade to more energy-efficient products. Additionally, it is constantly being modified to add new features and make the system more useful.
There are more than a few competitors on the market, and it won't be long before power tracking systems become the norm in modern homes.
5. Smart toilet
It seems a little silly to make your business “smarter”, but it's already happening. In Japan, there are toilets that take a urine test after you finish your errands and tell you whether you have diabetes or are at risk of developing diabetes. This seems to be one of the main uses of smart toilets, keeping us healthy, and when you think about it, it makes a lot of sense. Much can be learned by analyzing stool and urine. In the near future, toilets may be able to tell if a woman is pregnant by analyzing their urine, or if someone has colon cancer by looking at their feces.
Of course, other smart features such as an automatic deodorizer, cleaning system and heated seats are also very useful. Especially the last one, because no one wants to sit on a freezing cold toilet seat.
Although it's a bit of a stretch, Kohler's Numi toilet seat is one of the most advanced and “smart” toilets on the market. This includes an integrated foot warmer, heated seats, deodorizer, air dryer, bidet, motion-activated cover and seat, and of course an illuminated touchscreen panel that supports MP3 music playback. Yes, while listening to music…well, doing your own thing.
6. Centrally managed entertainment and streaming devices
Cable TV these days is overpriced, outdated and quite inconvenient. Slow and buggy set-top boxes are only part of the problem. So it's no surprise that a streaming revolution is happening right now. The future of entertainment lies in centralized streaming systems that provide homeowners and guests with instant access to digital entertainment. Thanks to Internet-based subscription services like Netflix, Hulu, and even YouTube, homeowners can live stream content to their televisions relatively inexpensively. Of course, it depends on a good internet connection, but that's a completely different matter.
That being said, future homes will include more centralized entertainment and streaming systems designed to provide convenience and entertainment. For example, it's time to do away with cable outlets and move to installing a closed Ethernet network in your new home. It will happen soon. please wait.
Additionally, as new technologies emerge, tablet and mobile smartphone-based remote controls will become more common.
7. Closed and private networks
Take a moment and consider how many devices are designed to be used with an active Internet connection. In addition to everything mentioned on this list, its product range will be expanded to include household appliances, tools, monitoring systems, and more.
Future homes will include closed, private network access to connect all these devices and allow them to communicate. Sure, you may have to buy a router to run your device today, but we hope that one day you won't need to. Wireless devices are automatically installed in new homes and open to a closed network.
It works directly with personal home security systems that can be used on private networks. Facial recognition software allows homeowners to gain keyless access to their homes and networks. CCTV surveillance systems allow you to remotely patch in and check on the status of your home while you're on vacation. If something goes wrong, you can activate emergency alert mode via your mobile device. The possibilities are endless.
Featured photo credit: Electrolux Design Lab (via flickr.com)