The Home of the Future

Technology will continue to transform life at home. Here's a preview of what home life may be like 10 to 15 years from now, based on reports from the staff of Kiplinger Business Resources.

By Mark Sfiligoj, Deputy Managing Editor, the Kiplinger letters

Peter Goldstein, Senior Economics Editor, The Kiplinger Letter

January 15, 2008

Home sweet home, circa 2020 or so. Picture yourself waking up in a highly energy efficient home that you bought in a suburb of a major metro area. The dwelling uses half the energy consumed by a similar-size house today, partly because government regulations are enforcing energy saving home construction.

Prominent features of your new digs:

• Passive solar design included in the home's layout. Windows and walls will let in more sunshine in cold months and insulate against it in warmer months, saving you money.

• Sensors to control everything. Windows will dim and brighten, depending on information they receive from temperature gauging sensors.

• And a green roof to help control temperatures. Made of what? Grass, most probably. Moreover, genetic tweaking is likely to eliminate the need to mow, not only your "lawn" up top, but also the larger one at ground level. Scientists have already found the molecular path of a key growth hormone.

Light emitting diodes, or LEDS, illuminate the home and grounds. LEDs use up to 90% less energy than incandescents or fluorescents. They're powered by solar cells that line the edges of the roof. Photovoltaics are becoming much better at pulling from the sun, and in 10 years or so, will be cost competitive with the electricity grid. Smart power meters guide major appliance use, tipping you off on when to run your dishwasher, clothes washer and other machines, based on real-time price information showing when electricity is cheapest.

Ready for that first cup of java? Just say "coffeemaker on," and your home's voice activation system will start it brewing. Other voice commands will trigger lights, video and sound systems and more.

On to the bathroom to interface with your medicine cabinet. This device uses face recognition to identify who's in the mirror. It's you and not your spouse, so the cabinet, knowing of your allergies, tells you the day's pollen count and reminds you to take your medication. It's a nice day out, so you may opt for the outdoor shower, shielded behind a wood partition adjacent to the master bathroom. (You got the idea for the alfresco facility from your last spa vacation -- adapting the pleasures of resort life to the home is all the rage.)

Meals at home often provide a chance for virtual quality time with friends and relatives. Though they may live in other states, that's no barrier to communication. Pop-up screens built into dining tables allow everyone to see each other as they talk. You also use the screens for other types of conferences. Connections are Web based, but they don't require any computer know-how.

Robot assistants are a big help around the house and away from home, taking care of scores of menial or logistical needs. At home, they do everything from setting the table to letting the dog inside from the backyard. How did we ever get through the day without them?

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