| What will homes be like 100 years from now? No | | | | will you first notice as you enter your house? For |
| need to get out your crystal ball. Here are a couple of | | | | starters, it's the perfect temperature for you and the |
| predictions, based on current home automation trends: | | | | ideal humidity, and there's a gentle wafting aroma of |
| Homes will be "smarter" and homes will be | | | | freshly baked apple pie (or whatever desirable |
| "conservers". | | | | fragrance you prefer.) Your house will be able to |
| Smart homes already help us conserve energy and | | | | "self-diagnose", analyze its own air quality, and adjust it |
| live more comfortably. Lighting control, such as motion | | | | accordingly for temperature, humidity, air exchange, |
| sensors in closets, automatically turns off the lights | | | | airflow, and filtration. |
| when the door is closed. Programmable zone | | | | As you walk through your house, the technology |
| thermostats save both natural resources and utility | | | | system creates room ambiances, so that as you enter |
| costs, and some thermostats today are even | | | | different rooms, lighting, climate control, music, and |
| programmed to respond to relative humidity. | | | | fragrances will automatically adjust to your personal |
| Undoubtedly natural resources will be less plentiful in | | | | preferences. Window blinds open or close, fans switch |
| the future, so alternative energy solutions and energy | | | | to high or low settings, appliances turn on or off, all |
| conservation will be an integral part of architects' | | | | depending on your exact predetermined settings. |
| designs. So continue to think green, think environmental | | | | Tired of the scenery? Want a quick get-away? |
| impact. | | | | Something different? At the touch of a button, a flat |
| Technology of the future will further increase our | | | | screen drops down in front of each window, and you |
| comfort and amenities levels. The media-savvy | | | | can enjoy the beach or mountains or pastoral settings |
| generations of future homeowners who are | | | | in any country of the world, along with self-selected |
| accustomed to instant personal gratification, already | | | | weather and appropriate sound effects for rain and |
| demand more "on demand" services. Technology will | | | | wind. |
| incorporate and integrate unprecedented and almost | | | | You can modify settings by accessing inset control |
| unlimited control, convenience and flexibility. | | | | panels located throughout the house. Or, you may |
| Security will be more elaborate and will be embedded | | | | prefer voice activation instead. How about some |
| with technology. So how will you get into your house? | | | | major modifications? Want to move a doorway? |
| Certainly not with an outdated key or key pad! Think | | | | Redecorate? Eliminate a wall? Change the digital |
| scanners. Biometric technology today has already | | | | artwork? Add a fireplace? Presto! It's done. |
| eliminated keys, codes, and worries by giving us | | | | How does all this happen? Software. Smart talk. The |
| fingerprint scans. In the future, retina scans, along with | | | | home's multiple components and systems "talk" to |
| breath, voice, and bone scans, will all enhance security. | | | | each other to keep equipment operating at its optimum |
| Centralized wireless systems will integrate and | | | | set level of performance. Embrace home technology! |
| automate everything from lighting to air quality. What | | | | It's the wave of the future. Are you ready for it? |