Museum of Science and Industry

In 2009, WIRED magazine again served as the technology and automation advisor for the Smart Home, helping to identify and secure new "smart" systems and fun gadgets with a focus on energy efficiency, homeowner awareness and great design. The result is a Smart Home that is responsible, responsive, cutting-edge—and makes life easy.

• A home-automation system operates the home’s climate, lighting and entertainment features, which are all controlled by touch-screen panels located throughout the home.
• Occupancy sensors monitor activity and will automatically turn off lights, the television and music when no one is in a room.
• When homeowners enter, the residence now vocally greets them, filling them in on what’s been going on with the house while they’ve been gone—from climate control, to energy usage and more.
• Parents, wear hip-mounted infant monitors no more—the home automatically sends live audio from the baby’s room to wherever mom and dad are located. Wall-mounted touch video screens in the master bedroom and on the first floor can serve up a live “cribcast” at the touch of a button.
• The energy monitoring system tracks electricity and water usage on a real-time basis, with an Internet energy pricing feed to provide costs and savings figures as well.
• A “hibernation” mode will lower shades, turn off lights, turn down heat/air and bring energy usage to a minimum when residents are leaving for the day or longer. These settings can also be adjusted remotely by cell phone or internet.

Behind the scenes or front and center, smart technology is making it possible for the Smart Home family to live smart and go green.