SMART HOMES – A BRAVE, NEW WORLD

Decades ago, they were pontificating on what life would be like in the new millennium – truth is, we’re not all that far off from George Orwell’s “Brave New World.”

In today’s top of the like technology, you can announce, "I'm home," as your door parts like the Red Sea. Lights go on, music plays. The flat screen TV wall comes to life. The refrigerator takes inventory of what’s there, and searches an online database for suitable recipes.

The technology is possible, but it’s a couple of steps behind HDTV – standards have yet to be decided and manufacturers are still studying what’s worth the trouble and the expense of product development. In an attempt to define the smart home, companies like Cisco Systems, Panasonic, Sears Roebuck and Whirlpool have formed a nonprofit coalition called the Internet Home Alliance (IHA) to identify technologies that people might actually want.

“I like gadgets, but if I were designing a new home I don’t know if I’d want all of this untested cutting edge gear in my walls,” notes Alex, who’s looking to buy a newly renovated home in Venice. “You know those ‘80s household intercoms that are in the walls – they’re obsolete eyesores. So are some alarm systems. I want gadgets I can use and then dispose of if and when they become obsolete. It’s better if I can run them through my computer.”

Already there’s plenty of voice-activated gear for the house on the market; ranging from a $30 light switch to a $318 home automation kit named HAL (Home Automated Living) that runs on Windows and will respond to commands like "Computer, warm the hot tub at 7 p.m." or "Call Dad at the office."

Studies are showing that the 21st-century smart home is evolving on two fronts. First, instead of one big network controlling everything in your home, smaller, independent networks are being developed to control each system: communications, entertainment, home office and home infrastructure systems like heating and cooling, lighting and security.

Second, appliances are being designed with just enough intelligence to make chores less tedious. Today's kitchens are all about utility. Current trends indicate a desire for warming drawers that keep the family dinner at just the right temperature until the second parent comes through the door. Small waist-high beverage doors that a child can open to pour his own juice. And appliance garages so that you can hide your toaster, coffeemaker and Cuisinart.
Cabinets come equip with spice racks, knife blocks and lazy Susans. Kitchens have islands, so that your houseguests can watch you cook.

Most houses with smart appliances have structured wiring, high-grade wiring
for digital media, telephone, power and cable access all bundled together and built into the walls. In the basic version, your incoming cable signal, Internet and phone service are routed through a central control box and then throughout your house, terminating at jacks located in virtually every room. The result is a convenient way to network all your home computers and peripherals, manage various phone lines and pipe high-quality audio and video into, say, the family room, bedroom and kitchen. Shelling out a few thousand bucks more connects your heating and cooling, lighting and security systems together, all controlled from a PC or wall-mounted keypads.

About 16% of new homes built in 2001 had structured wiring installed, according to Parks Associates; the number is projected to increase to 22% this year and to 50% by 2005.

"I run a lot juice – if I’m going to renovate, I’ll put in structured wiring. If not, I’ll opt for a strong wireless setup is essential to my households needs,” declares Alex. "Either way, I just have to have enough power to do what I do."

Of course, with an existing home, upgrading to premium wiring means smashing through a lot of drywall. Instead, most people are going the wireless-network route, long a popular choice with tech mavens. Industry experts expect that the rest of us will soon follow, motivated by the desire to connect our DSL or