The Hindu : Front Page : Home sweet, techno-home

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Nov 04, 2007
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Front Page

Home sweet, techno-home

S. Nagesh Kumar

A full-scale model is all-in-one solution for security, safety and convenience

— Photo: Nagesh Kumar

ECO-FRIENDLY: A universal design house offering a futuristic lifestyle friendly to people and the earth.

HYDERABAD: Can a marriage between technology and ecology ever be harmonious? From the huge energy demands that gadgets make, to their safe disposal and recycling when they are past their utility, the contentious issues are many.

An ecological and universal design (Eco & UD) house addressing these concerns is open for people to visit and feel at the Panasonic Centre in Tokyo, Japan, which this correspondent visited recently. It offers “a futuristic lifestyle friendly to people and the earth.” The full-scale model is all-in-one solution for security, safety, convenience and comfort of the household.

The key is a “central home safety control panel” that networks PCs, TV sets and other household electrical appliances using the Internet protocol. To help conserve energy, a small sensor is attached to each branch circuit indicating power consumption for individual rooms and appliances. It can also be monitored on a TV in the living room or even on a mobile phone. Another sensor near the entrance detects every visitor. Family members carrying mobiles with Radio Frequency Identification tags can unlock the door automatically. For others, the door can be opened using an ‘entry phone’ after checking the images from the camera outside which draws power from wind and sunlight.

Inside the living room, a lead-free 103-inch Plasma TV screen serves as a ‘life window’ for the household. Dad can check news and traffic information before driving to work. When grandmother is seated, the screen automatically displays larger characters for her. When the kids go out to school, grandma can check their whereabouts using the community networks. For the mom, the kitchen will be the centre of activities from where she can access information or control equipment around the house through a monitor. The home-office has a Web conferencing facility, with a monitor equipped with a facial identification system.

Home theatre

In the evening, a home theatre provides relaxation. It is operated by a controller, which can operate the plasma display, a Blu-ray disc recorder, surround sound equipment, even lighting.

Night-time can be a most pleasurable experience. A unique controller moderates the lighting, the bed and the image and sound on the TV while a sensor perceives if someone is there in bed or not and also detects a drowsy state to crate an environment suitable for sleeping. In the morning, the bed gradually reclines from the set position and the mattress gives an air massage to relax the body.

Where does energy for all these screens come from? While the eco house does depend on the city’s power network, the energy is mainly drawn from a home fuel cell co-generation system: A photovoltaic and wind-generation system and a highly energy-saving carbon dioxide heat pump water heater. Although these cost money, it is a small price...for this futuristic house will not only minimise greenhouse gas emissions but also improve the quality of life.

It may not be available in India right now — but the relentless (and borderless) march of technology will ensure that many elements of this vision of the future will be offered here — sooner rather than later.

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