FutureWire - futurism and emerging technology

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Smart Homes Coming to a Neighborhood Near You

In part because the technology driving them is maturing, and in part to help sell homes in a softening real estate market, "smart homes" are coming out of the realm of theory and testing into mainstream housing construction.

Mass-market home builders, which sell new homes in the $250,000+ price range, are adding sophisticated networking technology to their designs. State-of-the-art home theater systems, pre-wiring for video and data networks, and Web portals controlling the house's lighting and climate are all being integrated into new home models. In the race to provide these amenities, however, home builders are discovering usability and stability issues that have long challenged IT professionals working with new technologies that can still be quirky. High-tech may be a selling point, but in the end, a house has to be Home Sweet Home first.

Source: MSNBC