From the Jetsons’ family condo in the sky to Iron Man’s AI-controlled Malibu crib, we’ve seen what the home of the future might to look like. More than ever, it seems like these visions of the future are right around the corner. Our homes are becoming smarter thanks to “Internet of Things” technology and the speed and reliability of fibre-optic networks. With TELUS’ recent announcement to invest $1B in Vancouver’s fibre optic infrastructure you won’t need to be an employee of Spacely’s Space Sprockets to to transform your home with these smart-home innovations that are on the horizon.
Facial recognition technology gets you in the door and keeps strangers out
We’re used to seeing facial recognition software in movies as the hero gets scanned on their way into the White House or some top-secret hideout. But soon you wont have to be a secret agent to use it. A biometric entry system is the perfect solution for anyone who’s ever come home with their hands full of grocery bags and wished they didn’t have to search for their keys. A smart connected home can keep your family safer and let you say goodbye to that clunky keychain.
Ultra HD and everything on-demand
If you’re only slightly older than your average millennial, you can recall a time when TV was limited to a a 30” tube display and a handful of channels that let you choose from Three’s Company or the A-Team – and that was pretty much it. We were a captive audience.
The future of TV is so high definition that we’re running out of superlatives to describe it. 4k Ultra HD, as it’s known, was once reserved for the movie theatre, but by 2025 it’s anticipated that more than half of US households (and similar for Canada) will have a 4K capable TV in their living rooms.
Even the greatest resolution doesn’t mean much if there’s nothing to watch though. Thanks to blazing Internet speeds and the convenience of on demand programming and live streaming with options like TELUS Optik TV, today’s consumers get to watch the shows that they want when they want, where they want. No more rewinding VHS tapes, simply settle in with your phone or tablet to binge watch House of Cards to your heart’s content. Or get that popcorn popping and cozy up on your sofa (or in your kitchen, or on your back patio – wherever you want) and get your fill of the latest big screen blockbuster on your TV or connected devices.
Working from home has never been easier thanks to virtual meetings
Face-to-face communication with anyone in the universe used to be the prerogative of trailblazing starship captains. Today’s lightning-fast and reliable connectivity means high-definition video-conferencing is available to anyone from the comfort of their home office. Give a live demonstration of the prototype on your desk to an overseas client, get timely medical instructions from your doctor when you’re under the weather, or just stay in touch with loved ones anytime when hearing their voice just isn’t enough. It’s easy to foresee a time coming soon when the video call will replace the voice call as your standard stay-in-touch medium (with the possible exception of that call from your boss when you’re still in your pajamas).
A kitchen that shows you how to eat healthier
Robot chefs might still be a vision of the future, but for those of us who enjoy the fine art of cooking, the smart cooktop is only a few years away. You can get a step-by-step demonstration of how to make a new recipe that will tingle the taste buds. For those of us counting calories, a smart cooktop can instantly calculate the nutritional value of what you’re making. It comes without the sass of the Jetson’s robot maid, Rosie, which makes the experience that much sweeter.
Smart lighting and heating. Get comfy and help save the planet while you’re at it
Never worry about whether you left the lights on when you’re away on vacation or enjoy the convenience of controlling your thermostat directly from your smartphone. We’re just starting to see intelligent lighting and thermostats that learn your schedule and know whether you are home or not – conserving energy while you are away. Living in the future is about convenience that just happens to be green-friendly.
Pretty soon, almost every device in the home will be a “smart” device. With the backing of a powerful network, all this technology and the advancement of it will only make our everyday lives easier, healthier and greener – what’s not to love?
