History of the Smart Home
Ever since The Jetsons cartoon first aired in September of 1962, Americans have been enamored with the idea of “smart homes.” Families across the country started dreaming about having homes that practically ran themselves.
Although the ability to have a freshly prepared meal served at the press of a button is still years away, smart home technology has certainly advanced through the last few decades to the point that what we saw on The Jetsons is now part of everyday life.
But, in reality, America’s pursuit of the automated home started long before that first episode of The Jetsons ever aired.
1933 World’s Fair in Chicago
At the 1933 World’s Fair in Chicago there was an exhibit called the Homes of Tomorrow. The exhibit featured a robot named Alpha the Robot, whose sole intention was to perform his master’s bidding. The robot was designed to respond accordingly to certain voice commands, including shooting a pistol. Unfortunately for Alpha’s inventor, Harry May, the robot would wind up accidentally (non-fatally) shooting him, putting a pause in the pursuit of robotics, at least for a short time.
1939 New York World's Fair
At the 1939 New York World's Fair, the Westinghouse Electric Corporation would unveil what was considered to be the evolution of Alpha. The robot featured in the World of Tomorrow exhibit was certainly more sophisticated than its predecessor in that it could perform a number of different activities on demand, including smoking a cigarette! And, it didn’t shoot anyone.
The Push Button Manor of the 1950s
In 1950, the magazine Popular Mechanics published an article about the world’s first true automated home. The home was designed, built, and lived in by Emil Mathias in Jackson, Michigan. Some of the incredible innovations Mathias came up with included curtains that could be drawn automatically, a wind-powered coffee grinder, a vanity mirror that lit up when the drawer of the dresser was opened, and a series of clocks which time-orchestrated it all.
Disneyland’s House of the Future (1957)
In 1957, Disneyland opened its House of the Future, which was sponsored by the plastics company Monsanto. The entire home was made of plastic and it was meant to depict what the modern home would be like by the year 1986. Some of the innovative features included in the home included an ultrasonic dishwasher, a hands-free telephone, shelves that disappeared into the kitchen ceiling and a smart sink that could move up and down to suit the height of the person using it.
Ford Motors’ Look at 1999 AD (1967)
In 1967, Ford Motors presented a film called 1999 AD which was supposed to show what smart home technology was going to be like by the year featured in the film’s title. Surprisingly, the film was spot on about innovations like digital banking, wall-sized televisions, online shopping, and email. And, the central computer, which tracks everything (including the diets of the home’s inhabitants) is something that is closer than you might think.
Kissimmee Xanadu House (1979)
In 1979, an inventor by the name Bob Masters came up with an idea to build energy-efficient dome-shaped homes using rigid foam insulation. Along with architect Roy Mason, he came up with the Kissimmee Xanadu House, which was not only futuristic looking but also had some interesting smart home features, including a robotic butler, a computer that cooked and monitored the health of the home’s inhabitants, and a host of automated environment and entertainment systems. The plans were to build 1,000 of these homes, but by the time the first was finished, the smart home technology featured was considered “dated” and the project halted.
Microsoft’s Smart Home (1999)
In 1999, Microsoft finally entered the smart home foray with their own vision of what the industry held in store for homeowners. And, even though a lot of the features included were rehashed from previous “homes of the future,” there remained a lot of things Microsoft would wind up getting right, like CCTV security, smart locks, and lighting and environmental controls.
Living Tomorrow Home (2007)
In 2007 in Brussels, the father and son team of Maurice and Frank Belien revealed a home that was designed to show what the smart home would be like by the year 2015 – the Living Tomorrow Home. This home was actually a combined effort that included input from 70 different companies. While the wall-to-wall touchscreens were certainly interesting, not much of the features included in this home have made their way into the smart home industry. But, the team is working on their second Living Tomorrow Home, this one intending to show what smart home technology will be like in 2020.
Interested in Owning a Smart Home in Wilmington NC? Call AcoustiCreations Today!
Smart home technology has changed a lot through the years and every year that passes, it gets more and more advanced. Today, you can live in a home that you can control and monitor from anywhere. It’s no longer restricted for “homes of tomorrow;” the technology is here and you can have it.
If you’re looking for a designer and installer of custom home automation, call AcoustiCreations today at 910-371-2038. We can create a customized smart home solution for any sized installation, from one room to your entire home or business. Call us today and see for yourself why clients call us when they want a smart home in Wilmington NC.
Although the ability to have a freshly prepared meal served at the press of a button is still years away, smart home technology has certainly advanced through the last few decades to the point that what we saw on The Jetsons is now part of everyday life.
But, in reality, America’s pursuit of the automated home started long before that first episode of The Jetsons ever aired.
1933 World’s Fair in Chicago
At the 1933 World’s Fair in Chicago there was an exhibit called the Homes of Tomorrow. The exhibit featured a robot named Alpha the Robot, whose sole intention was to perform his master’s bidding. The robot was designed to respond accordingly to certain voice commands, including shooting a pistol. Unfortunately for Alpha’s inventor, Harry May, the robot would wind up accidentally (non-fatally) shooting him, putting a pause in the pursuit of robotics, at least for a short time.
1939 New York World's Fair
At the 1939 New York World's Fair, the Westinghouse Electric Corporation would unveil what was considered to be the evolution of Alpha. The robot featured in the World of Tomorrow exhibit was certainly more sophisticated than its predecessor in that it could perform a number of different activities on demand, including smoking a cigarette! And, it didn’t shoot anyone.
The Push Button Manor of the 1950s
In 1950, the magazine Popular Mechanics published an article about the world’s first true automated home. The home was designed, built, and lived in by Emil Mathias in Jackson, Michigan. Some of the incredible innovations Mathias came up with included curtains that could be drawn automatically, a wind-powered coffee grinder, a vanity mirror that lit up when the drawer of the dresser was opened, and a series of clocks which time-orchestrated it all.
Disneyland’s House of the Future (1957)
In 1957, Disneyland opened its House of the Future, which was sponsored by the plastics company Monsanto. The entire home was made of plastic and it was meant to depict what the modern home would be like by the year 1986. Some of the innovative features included in the home included an ultrasonic dishwasher, a hands-free telephone, shelves that disappeared into the kitchen ceiling and a smart sink that could move up and down to suit the height of the person using it.
Ford Motors’ Look at 1999 AD (1967)
In 1967, Ford Motors presented a film called 1999 AD which was supposed to show what smart home technology was going to be like by the year featured in the film’s title. Surprisingly, the film was spot on about innovations like digital banking, wall-sized televisions, online shopping, and email. And, the central computer, which tracks everything (including the diets of the home’s inhabitants) is something that is closer than you might think.
Kissimmee Xanadu House (1979)
In 1979, an inventor by the name Bob Masters came up with an idea to build energy-efficient dome-shaped homes using rigid foam insulation. Along with architect Roy Mason, he came up with the Kissimmee Xanadu House, which was not only futuristic looking but also had some interesting smart home features, including a robotic butler, a computer that cooked and monitored the health of the home’s inhabitants, and a host of automated environment and entertainment systems. The plans were to build 1,000 of these homes, but by the time the first was finished, the smart home technology featured was considered “dated” and the project halted.
Microsoft’s Smart Home (1999)
In 1999, Microsoft finally entered the smart home foray with their own vision of what the industry held in store for homeowners. And, even though a lot of the features included were rehashed from previous “homes of the future,” there remained a lot of things Microsoft would wind up getting right, like CCTV security, smart locks, and lighting and environmental controls.
Living Tomorrow Home (2007)
In 2007 in Brussels, the father and son team of Maurice and Frank Belien revealed a home that was designed to show what the smart home would be like by the year 2015 – the Living Tomorrow Home. This home was actually a combined effort that included input from 70 different companies. While the wall-to-wall touchscreens were certainly interesting, not much of the features included in this home have made their way into the smart home industry. But, the team is working on their second Living Tomorrow Home, this one intending to show what smart home technology will be like in 2020.
Interested in Owning a Smart Home in Wilmington NC? Call AcoustiCreations Today!
Smart home technology has changed a lot through the years and every year that passes, it gets more and more advanced. Today, you can live in a home that you can control and monitor from anywhere. It’s no longer restricted for “homes of tomorrow;” the technology is here and you can have it.
If you’re looking for a designer and installer of custom home automation, call AcoustiCreations today at 910-371-2038. We can create a customized smart home solution for any sized installation, from one room to your entire home or business. Call us today and see for yourself why clients call us when they want a smart home in Wilmington NC.
