The Home of the Future....circa 1999.

Coke Robot

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Watch Microsoft's smart home of the future, from 1999 - Neowin

Utterly fascinating! This was Microsoft's take on what the home of the future would be back in 1999 and wow, they were spot on! Problem is obviously they were ahead of their time and didn't implement anything like that until recently, but still.

Very interesting I found was the smarthome UI design because it looks awfully similar to the Zune's metro UI design. This is back in 1999.

Astro, as the AI is called, that's today's Cortana except you can call up Astro by saying its name.

It seems like a lot of what was conceived up back them is barely being implemented today with Xbox One, Windows Phone, and the Windows PC. All that's missing is Cortana controls, and the smartphone main console device. Interesting to see if that pans out...
 

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Here is a home of the future from the 1980s. You know it's from the future because instead of a fireplace it has a monitor in the wall with a video of a fire on it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlQTtHwISg0

We drove past this relic every day on a long ago vacation to disney world. The whole family would recite "Xanadu - home of the future!" and giggle. Sadly, it succumbed to the bulldozer sometime since.
 

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lmao.

WIFE: Hey get me some garlic, you're 2 blocks from the grocer. While I am on the phone stalking you, do you have a new client called brothel? Is he a big account because you seem to be there allot.

HUSBAND: Astro, release chloroform.

It was scary then and its scary now :p
 

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    This one time at band camp ...
A "smart" home is an interesting concept but I don't think I would make use of 90% of what they showed in the video.
 

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As a builder I know this is nothing new. The Gates' mansion on Lake Washington near Seattle was remodeled with a lot of this tech, although I think I remember that family members wore a chip. When one walked into a room lights, temp, music, etc. would personally adjust. I think this was the early 90's.

We are seeing more and more of this in building as time goes on. e.g. Smart light bulbs, TVs, garage door openers, thermostats, coffee makers, alarm systems, etc. one can control via smart phone apps. To build a system initially was expensive for every implement needed a control box. Now they're being built in, so consumers can buy one at a time. I think it will eventually catch on now that smart phones and/or pads are becoming more sophisticated along with the cloud.

Thing is that I read the thread, watched the video (without lagging), and posted this all on my Lumia phablet while having after-breakfast coffee at a restaurant using complimentary WiFi. Really not even possible 10 or so years ago. And what I'm holding in my hand would've taken a garage full of electronics..oh, what?...35 or so years ago? Absolutely amazing, really.
 

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Maybe it's just me but when I hear "smart" I think of more of a schedule house. Appliances that can be turned on at specific times ( such as lights turning, or an air conditioner turning on at 5pm so when you get home at 5:30pm it's nice and cool in your room!)

There are some voice activated products in houses now also though. In the house makeover show I used to watch this guy got a house that was activated for his voice so he could turn on lights, open doors etc cause he couldn't walk and had limited motor skills.

Schedule a door to open/close at certain times, to lock the front door at 11pm. Geez these are amazing ideas.
 

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I want all of my light bulbs on the network so I can adjust their color temperatures to match my mood or the task at hand.
 

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Here is a home of the future from the 1980s. You know it's from the future because instead of a fireplace it has a monitor in the wall with a video of a fire on it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlQTtHwISg0

We drove past this relic every day on a long ago vacation to disney world. The whole family would recite "Xanadu - home of the future!" and giggle. Sadly, it succumbed to the bulldozer sometime since.

looks like a foamed Zome house, a version of a geodesic house.
 

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