By Dave Nemeth
The past few years have seen technology leap forward, with major advancements happening almost on a monthly basis. And its having a major impact on absolutely everything. I currently refer to this dynamic shift as “living in an app world”.
When we want to banking, make a reservation, find a recipe or get transport, we simple,y pull out our smartphone or tablet and tap on the relevant app. We communicate seamlessly in real time through social media, and get updated worldwide news coverage of events as they happen.
This technology has been incorporated into activewear, for monitoring fitness levels, and into baby grows, which now replaces baby monitors. So it’s inevitable that the way in which we live in our homes will also start to see dramatic changes due to technology.
Our everyday appliances will communicate with us, allowing us to control them remotely and keep tabs on how they need to be serviced; there are already “intelligent” fridges on the market that will inform you what items are running low and what needs to be ordered, based on daily usage. Just imagine getting an SMS on your smartphone that asks you to pick up milk and butter on your way home from work, so there are no ugly surprises in the morning.
Home automation systems have been around for many years, yet remain generally very expensive, but, like all technology, will become more affordable as time progresses. There are already inexpensive security devices overseas that are the size of a 500ml cool drink bottle, which you position in the corner of a room. These devices notify you remotely of temperature changes, smoke alerts, movement of loud noises; surely it is only a matter of time before the common lightbulb has these functions?
technology has also had an impact on the actual aesthetics of an interior space, with electronic picture frames. These have allowed people to load hundreds of family images, obviating the need for space for a large display of photos. Some homes have even added large screens to walls, which rotate their favourite digital artworks.
LED lighting is quickly becoming the norm, due to its power-saving capabilities, long lifespan and constant reduction in price. It now comes in a variety of other formats, making it really easy to convert everything from kitchen cupboards to plasma units into modern, up-to-date statement pieces. The LED technology also allows for colour changes, as it works on a RGB colour mixing system. This means a feature wall or bulkhead can now be lit instead of painted, and colour can be changed to suit the mood, creating a subtle yet effective ambience
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