By Peter Muller
With my last
mobile phone upgrade I received a small TV set for free. Plugging the telly in
at home I began to think how much longer before we can buy one super computer -
assuming we can afford it - from an online 'technology shop' that will work
every electrical appliance at home. It's not as improbable as you may think as
futurologists have long predicted a connected future for us all. If and when
the time comes then count me out.
Shame about
the internet fridge. Launched in the dot.com bubble of the 1990s, it was
announced as the future – a fridge that could connect to the web, tell you when
the milk was low, perhaps even order you some more. It was a total flop.
In fact, it
was such a failure it became the butt of many a technology expert's joke. No
surprise there.
Today's
technology is brilliant with the web, mobility, ipads, satnavs and
smartphones an indispensable part of our
lives. So would we benefit from the clever technology futurologists are
predicting? Not as much as what's on
offer today, I'd say. Much of what's coming up has potential to stop us getting
out of our armchairs and thinking for ourselves.
The experts
are saying we can expect the technology to monitor energy usage and manage
other systems such as water, lighting, heating and home security.
It will know
when to switch on the garden sprinklers or harvest rainwater. It will activate
alarms, alert emergency services and guide you to safety.
It will
monitor your diet, check your health and remind you to take your medicine. It
will monitor your transport: prompt you to get petrol, put your electric car on
charge or advise you to take the bike – having checked the weather.
It will even
feed your cat - and yes, our fridge will know when the milk is getting low and
order some more.
Of course,
none of these systems will beyond our control – no doubt there will be an
assortment of override buttons. But let's face it appliances will, in effect,
know our homes better than we do!
Our home
will be seamlessly connected saving us time, energy and money. We will live our
lives smarter, healthier and safer. Well I've done okay so far without it and
reckon I'll do so in future – and I'll be better off financially too.
Right. Time
to put the kettle on for a cup of tea.
