Technology streams ahead
Perhaps it’s the stories we are doing here at Australian Smart Home Ideas but technology seems to be developing some pretty ‘out there’ appliances and devices these days.
You’ll see what I mean if you go to our story on futuristic kitchens this issue. Our contributor Steve Freeth has researched the new technologies for kitchens and it seems — all our problems are being solved.
For instance, there’s the Rockpool Dishwasher from Electrolux — not ready for retail sales yet but it uses carbon dioxide instead of water and chemicals — something which could come in really handy over the next few years.
And another stylish example of space-age technology is the Aion concept kitchen by French industrial designer, Antoine Lebrun (see page 43).
This kitchen has plants (developed by the aerospace industry so they are space-age) growing in its hood and these plants act as a natural filter — they even provide vegetable soap to clean dirty dishes when the hood is closed. Talk about inspired design!
You may think all these technological advancements are never going to see the light of day but that’s just not the case. For example, Tefal has recently launched the Quick Cup — it’s like a kettle but it can heat a cup of water in three seconds, cutting the energy you’d normally use by nearly 70 percent! That’s some new technology — and it’s in the shops now.
Obviously, technology is streaming ahead in more areas than just kitchen appliances. Mobile devices are literally blowing us away with what they can achieve. In Japan, just about every mobile phone has a GPS tracking device built-in, so parents know where their children are at all times — so they know when their child has arrived at school each morning.
GPS devices have made many other new ideas a reality. For example, you can use a GPS device to find the grave of your loved one in Australia’s latest eco-burial site in bushland near Lismore Memorial Park Cemetery. (We have three other eco-burial sites in Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia.)
The concept behind these eco-burial sites is that the deceased are able to naturally become a part of the site by being buried in biodegradable coffins (made of woven wicker, plantation pine or recycled cardboard) in more natural bushland surrounds. In the case of the Lismore site, they will be buried between gum trees in a protected koala sanctuary.
When relatives and friends come to visit the graves, they will be lent a satellite navigation device to make sure they arrive at the right area. You can choose the site, there are no graves within five metres of each other and yes, you can pick a headstone — but it’s made from natural rock.
If that’s not high-tech and green enough for you — how about tattoos which can slither across the skin of the human body and vanish just as easily? This has to be one just for the parents!
Philips Design has been researching this and the company’s senior director, Clive van Heerden says, “Addressable ink is feasibly inserted by using a tattoo needle. Theoretically, you can create a conductive grid with the layer of skin.”
Sure, van Heerden admits this technology is still 15 to 20 years away but Philips is also looking at data such as your heart rate — and how this could be reflected in the clothes you wear.
I’m not sure I’d like everyone to know when I’m embarrassed or stressed out — there are some things everyone likes to keep to themselve! But some of these new technologies will become a stable part of our lives over the next few years, that’s for sure.
Cheers
Pamela Connellan
Editor
Smart Home Ideas Winter 08
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