I have all sorts of thoughts about all sorts of subjects.  Today’s thought was spawned by me being really cold.  I was sitting in my house with a hoodie watching TV and reading an ecomoics book while trying to keep my hands warm.  Then when Boston Legal (which I taped) was over, I decided to go up stairs and get on the computer.  Earlier, I had opened my window upstairs.  Mistake! Although the air outside is in the high fifties and can’t really be considered that ‘cold,’ my body didn’t want to adjust.

That’s when I had a thought: a house should adapt to those living in it, follow user trends, and even be able to suggest things to or influence the people living in it based on environment, weather, etc.  So the overall idea is not very new, but then I narrowed it down to heating.  There should be a tracing device of somesort–mayeb you want to hang it on your keyring, or maybe it’s in your cell phone or where ever as long as you keep it on you–that interacts with the house, telling it your preferences.  In this way the house could adapt.

For instance, say I like a warmer environment than my sister.  When I am in a specific room, the house can adapt to me.  If I like to live in a 72 degree room, then it should heat up or cool down the room to fit me specifically.  Same for my sister–say she likes to live in a 68 degree environment.

Now if we came into the same room, the house should be smart enough to average our temperature preferences–to meet a “democratic middleground” if you will.  I think we could both survive in a 70 degree environment with out too many complaints.  More people could be added depending on whom/how many you live with.

The tracking device could also be implemented to keep track of how much light you enjoy–if you have lights on dimmers–at what heat you like your water for a shower or bath, at what times you wake up in the morning, and the list could go on and on.

This really is starting to remind me of Drexel University’s Smart House.  I truly think this is the way of the future and we will see it become standard in the next 10-20 years.  Right now, I think I will just go turn on the heat.

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