Technology and Home Design: Striking a Balance
As technology finds its way into every aspect of our lives, questions naturally arise as to how much is too much. Everyone agrees that technology in many ways makes daily functions faster and more convenient. But does it become a crutch and can it harm personal relationships?
One specific type of technology is especially worth looking at: home automation. Should technology take over the home, or should the home be a sanctuary from the bright lights and fast pace of the outside world? Many people have found that, like many things, it’s all about striking the balance.
The harms of technology
Parents may be some of the first to see the effects technology can have on family relationships. Its no longer normal for kids to sit down and watch TV anymore. They also have to be texting their friends, reading tweets, playing the newest smartphone game, or posting on someone’s Facebook wall all at the same time.
Technology addiction is more than just a phrase; there is also evidence that suggests it is a real problem. Researchers at the University of Glasgow conducted a study in which half of the students reported checking their email once an hour, and others up to 30 or 40 times in the same time frame. It hard to pay attention to the people around you when your face is constantly stuck in a smartphone.
But does technology have to be a time-wasting, relationship-busting problem?
Technology in the home: Home Automation
One recent form of technology that many have found to be more of a benefit than a burden is home automation. While some technology wastes time, home automation products are designed to save you time. Imagine being able to throw a load of clothes in the washing machine on the way out to work and start the load from the car. Remotes controlled appliances are only one of the many benefits of such technology.
Home automation is also useful in protecting your home. Automated security devices from Vivint or ADT include things like remote controlled door locks, security feed accessible through smartphones, glass break detectors and much more. On top of all of this, home automation can save you money on energy expenses. Smart thermostats can regulate temperature based on your habits and preferences, lighting can be adjusted from a remote location, and even solar energy can be integrated into the main control system.
These forms of home technology are designed not be distractions, but give you time for the things in life that really matter.
Some good examples
A recent article in Electronic House gives a detailed description of what one automated home looks like. The home is an example of how automation can be integrated without being overbearing. To store all the electrical components of the system, this homeowner built a wooden hutch. From the outside, it impossible to know the kind of technology that hides inside. The lighting in the home, which looks like normal lighting, changes automatically according to the patterns of those that live there. Even the drapes and shades are attached to motorized rollers so the owner can open and close them without ever getting up.
From the outside, this home doesn’t look like a futuristic spaceship. It is designed to look like a normal comfortable home. Not only does home automation not have to be intrusive, it almost designed for the homeowner to never notice it even exists.
What the people are saying
Regardless of where you draw the line, there is no question that more and more people are finding home technology beneficial. According to some of the most recent data, in 2012, the value of the home automation market sat around $19.15 billion. By the year 2018, it is expected to reach $48.02 billion. While home automation has been around for a long time now, the most significant growth has occurred in the last several years. This is very much the result of products becoming more affordable and more user friendly. As the numbers seem to suggest, word is spreading about just how helpful home technology can be. Popular opinion shows it to be a benefit rather than a burden.
