Sunday 29 March 2009

imagine...

Just imagine, it is early in the morning....
It is 6 O'clock, half an hour before you normally get up. The thermostat in the bedroom already informs the boiler to adjust the temperature of the bedroom and bathroom to a pleasant 21°C. At twenty past six the coffee machine turns itself on, while the towel and floor in the bathroom are warmed.
At six thirty your favourite morning radio programme can be heard through the loudspeakers in your bedroom. Simultaneously the bedroom lamp turns on at 5% capacity. Within 5 minutes the light has become progressively brighter, like during sunrise. As soon as your feet touch the ground beside your bed, lamps leading you to the bathroom and kitchen automatically switch on. You proceed to the bathroom, where the shower automatically starts to spray water at your desired temperature.

On the way to the kitchen you pass sensors that turn on the kitchen lights automatically. You push a button, resulting in news headlines appearing on a screen. During breakfast you read the news that has been selected according to your interests.

On the way to the front door you push a button that informs your home that you are leaving: all the lighting is switched off, curtains automatically open, the coffee machine turns off, the heating lowers a few degrees in temperature and the security alarm automatically switches on.

Just imagine, in the evening....
At sunset the lighting system gradually introduces a warm and safe atmosphere to the various rooms of your home. Just before you drive into your garage, a sensor has recognised your car and has automatically opened the garage, turned on the lights and started to increase the temperature in your home by a few degrees. Of course you can also inform your home from work that you are about to leave work, so that it is already warm by the time you arrive home.

It has been a long day and you would like to relax awhile. You sit yourself in front of the "home theatre" with a pizza you picked up on the way. You touch a touch screen and the audio-video system turns on, the lights dim and the video screen automatically appears. You decide to watch your favourite programme that commenced screening live half an hour ago. However, you are able to watch the programme "live" from the very beginning, because the server was familiar with your favourite programmes and had already started recording it. The programme is therefore being displayed while simultaneously being recorded.
After dinner and a spot of relaxation, it is time to do a bit of work. Using a terminal and high-speed connection you are in direct contact with the computer at your work.

It is time for bed. All you need to do is push the "goodnight button". Your home enters the night setting: all lights are turned off, the heating is lowered by a few degrees, curtains and/or blinds are closed and the alarm is automatically set.