Intelligent homes of the future


Innovation changes the landscape of our lives at a rapid rate. When we consider the rate of technological advancement, there is no surprise that the predictions concerning what our homes will look like in twenty years are rather exciting.

Our homes and the Internet of Things
The Internet of Things is already creeping into our daily lives.

You can alter the temperature of your heating and control your boiler from an app on your smart phone. You can even book a doctor’s appointment via voice command.

This type of technology will evolve monumentally and will be seen in all aspects of our daily routines within the home.

Work surfaces, walls and mirrors will act as touch screens, which will then connect with each other.

Our homes will become more intuitive and there will be no need for a dedicated computer to be present. The technology will learn about our lives and routines to adapt their behaviour to suit.

Never be late again

Don’t you hate it when your journey to work is plagued by transport delays or engineering works, which make you late? In the future, we can expect our alarm clocks to cross reference with travel updates and choose the most appropriate time to wake us up.

What about those days when it looks sunny in the morning but by midday it’s thunderstorms and you’re caught in the rain without a coat? Well, by the year 2036 our wardrobes will be able to check the forecast and automatically recommend an outfit that will be most suited to the day’s weather.

Interactive rooms

Our homes will also take a proactive approach to everyday life.

If you’re running low on a particular item, your fridge will order it for you. If a particular food is likely to expire soon, it will recommend recipes for dinner to avoid wastage. Holding a dinner party with friends? Your hob will talk you through each recipe, step by step and will give you live updates on quantities and portion sizes based on the guest list.

In your bathroom, your vital signs will be monitored to ensure you are healthy. If there are any concerning results then your GP will be contacted so an appointment can be booked. You can even have a video consultation with your doctor through the mirror.

Is it all a bit too much?

Is there a point where we’ll all just say enough is enough? Will there be a day when technology is controlling our lives and affecting our wellbeing?

These are points to consider, but remember: technology won’t suddenly arrive in our homes. It’ll take years for each piece to be integrated bit by bit into our lives.

The potential benefits for this technology are seemingly limitless.

People are now living longer, this means that memory and mobility problems are likely to be more commonplace.

Intelligent homes will be able to offer prompts, memory aids and care for those who need it the most. This will take the pressure off families or carers giving more independence to those who are most vulnerable.

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