Issue 34.11
If you walk into our living room, you will see exactly one piece of technology – a small video frame that can display a number of pictures of our family and even play music while doing it. No TV. An upright (non-electric) piano. My wife decided years ago that the computers, games, etc, were to be in the family room and computer room so we can focus on each other and on our visitors in the living room and dining room.
By contrast, I was recently in a concept home that was amazing in what it offers. Every room has at least one large screen television (okay, the one in the bathroom is medium size). Everything (almost) has the capacity for voice activation. You can say “computer” (or any other name you want to give the central brain of the home) and you will hear a tone. You can then give instructions such as, “dim lights”, “TV on”, “channel 7”, “DVD”, “music”, “artist”, “Billy Joel”, “Uptown Girl”, “volume up”, “mute”, “temperature”, “72”, “fan on”, “answer phone”, etc. The computer will respond by providing the music, TV show, movie or change in environment that you ask for. You can bring up a picture of whomever is ringing your doorbell or check on the baby sleeping in another room.
The kitchen keeps track of what foods you have in the fridge and pantry and can generate shopping lists, display recipes or call the pizza delivery guy. The home theatre has tiered seating so everyone can see the full-wall video screen with a projection and sound system that rivals the newest commercial movie theatres. The screen can be split into a number of screens so that you can watch one big display but have smaller thumbnail displays of other channels/movies/etc. around the edge. You can switch to a different channel with voice command or remote (fun if you are watching one game or program but want to keep track of other events/programs and switch to them if you want to catch a replay or critical part of the program.
There are probably things the house can do that I didn’t see, but what I saw was pretty amazing. It sounds a little like something out of science fiction or the TV show “Eureka”, but all of this technology is currently available or in development. For a geek like me, it was fun and very cool.
I have to admit, though, that I think my wife is right. Home is about the people in it, not about showing off how much money you make (the electronics alone in this high-tech home cost nearly half a million dollars), or how full of entertainment your life can be. I like the fact that we can focus on people in part of our home and focus on the electronic stuff in other areas.
I do have to admit that I covet that home theatre just a little bit. But remember, no matter the level of technology, have fun, and remember to make sure you have a backup of anything important.
Shaun McCausland has been in the computer industry for 30 years (locally with Musicomp & Bits ‘N’ Bytes) and currently does in-home and on-site computer consultation, service, training and repair. If you have questions, you can reach him through his website at www.bitsnbytescomputers.com or at 668-7118.