When people buy new homes, they usually buy the latest gadgets and technologies to make them more efficient, environmentally-friendly, and convenient. By 2050, those will include advanced robots, AI, 3D printing, augmented reality, and computer screens in every room. These will change how we live and where we live. And in many cases, these advances will not just be found in our house but built into them.
“Every surface in the home could be transformed into a touchscreen that operates different tasks, walls can turn into windows on demand and your house could double as a food-growing farm,” reports The Daily Mail.
Augmented reality could beam a virtual chef into your kitchen, taking you through meal plans. For example, if you wish British chef Gordon Ramsay were around to offer cooking tips and suggestions, augmented reality will beam a holograph of him into your kitchen and make your wish come true.
Homes will have amazing futuristic designs not available now, and will be built with materials that make them stronger and better able to withstand higher temperatures and very powerful storms. Surfaces of counters and tables will be able to turn into screens that allow residents to easily manage the various tasks that need to be done.
Your Wish Is My Command
This will make life easier, as there will be fewer chores for people to attend to. Walls, floors, and ceilings will be capable of using nanotechnology to transform themselves into huge monitors and TV screens. And humanoid androids will be in charge of all of this to make sure everything in the house functions as it’s supposed to.
Although it will take years until these technologies are perfected, prototypes of humanoid androids are already showing up. Tesla and 1X are two of the companies that are entering this very new (and potentially immense) market, and many are sure to follow.
According to The Daily Mail, “by 2050, experts have predicted (androids) will be capable of cooking, cleaning and even child care.” That would free up a lot more time for work, leisure, learning and other interests.
Fun And Games
Augmented Reality (AR), a computer-generated technology that combines real and computer-generated images, will make even ordinary chores enjoyable and much simpler.
Ian Silvera, editor of Future News, said that “AR will fundamentally change entertainment. AR-enabled wearables could also bring the home, its fixtures and devices to life.” Silvera says these technologies will be available sooner than people realize.
The Daily Mail adds that homes will also be equipped with entertainment “pods” that will offer people privacy while they relax with the entertainment of their choice.
Mike Ralphs, Head of Digital Technology at build-to-rent home operator Quintain Living, said that walls in the home of the future will do much more than separate rooms and hold up ceilings. They will be able to “transform their appearance with a touch or a voice command.
“With the use of nanotechnology and AR, surfaces could display different colors, textures, or even project images to personalize the home,” he said. “They will also serve as interactive screens for virtual communication or displaying information.’
These amazing new technologies will also usher in social changes. A report by the NHBC Foundation Futurology predicts that as prices continue to increase and people live longer, homes in 2050 will be more crowded as more family members will be living together. And amongst them will be a growing number of elderly and others who are homebound for a variety of reasons.
Changes Are Coming
Not only will the technologies used in homes be dramatically improved but so will the actual homes themselves. Many will be built using 3D printing. Even with current technology, some builders already can complete a structure for just $10,000 and in only 24 hours.
As this technology continues to evolve and economies of scale kick in, costs will decline significantly and so will the time needed to build a 3D home. And even before 2050, this technology will be used not just for very small, inexpensive homes but for large, stylish ones as well.
Modular designs and building techniques of the future will enable buildings and even neighborhoods to be built so they can adapt to changing demand. Since they will be adaptable to how residents live, Ralphs believe they will also be able to be rented easily. Prospective residents will be able to decide what suits them best: a one-bedroom unit or a large home with many bedrooms. And that will be ready quickly and easily.
Cleaner And Greener
Homes in 2050 will not only use efficient energy systems, but actually be made of energy-harvesting materials. These technologies will be so efficient that rather than drawing power from the grid they may be able to add power to it.
Even with all these advanced technologies, aesthetics will not be ignored. Homes decorated with a variety of multi-colored plants and foliage will be common. And according to Rebecca Armstrong, Managing Director at Making Energy Greener, residents may actually be able to grow their own food inside their homes. Roofs will not just shelter us from rain and wind but literally be green, featuring grass and other greenery.
Amazing advances of AI are already showing up in the workplace, in entertainment, and in health and business, but these just hint at what’s to come and will pale in comparison to what AI will offer by 2050.
At that time, “AI assistants will anticipate residents’ needs and manage energy consumption,” Ralphs said. “Voice commands and gesture recognition will replace traditional switches and buttons.”
Energy efficiency will be the standard in homes. “Innovative solar windows will change sunlight into electricity, transforming windows into energy-producing assets, maximizing energy efficiency in our homes.”
These new technologies will make life so much easier – and give new meaning to the phrase “Home sweet home.”
Sources: dailymail.co.uk; futurenews.com; nhbc.co.uk
Gerald Harris is a financial and feature writer. Gerald can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.