Voice-activated music. Touch-screen powered appliances. An omnipotent, but friendly, virtual assistant providing homework help. When “Smart House” debuted on the Disney Channel in 1999, its portrayal of a family living in a home run by artificial intelligence seemed far-fetched. Watching it 20 years later, it’s a surprisingly prophetic portrayal of how technology has become fully incorporated into our everyday life.
Today’s Tech Compares to the enduring Disney Movie
For those who missed this made-for-TV masterpiece, the plot is easy: A family wins a home featuring an artificial intelligence (AI) system named P.A.T. (Personal Applied Technology). P.A.T. is designed to take care of everything from house cleaning to meal prep, and can help coordinate outfits, give basketball advice and throw an epic party complete with mood lighting and cleanup. Chaos ensues, though, when P.A.T. is frighteningly overprotective after being reprogrammed to serve as the family’s maternal figure.
Honoring the 20th anniversary of “Smart House,” here’s some of the technology covered in the film and just how it compares to today.
Yep, homes can be controlled by AI
Much like P.A.T., smart speakers like Amazon Echo and Google Home can control everything from music to lights with a couple voice commands (and strategically placed smart plugs, if needed). But whereas P.A.T. was portrayed as the home’s central operating system, today’s smart homes are often more of a mixture of apps, gadgets and high-tech appliances.
The benefit is that homeowners can customize the technology to fit their lifestyle. Additionally, it means the tech can typically move with homeowners if they relocate.
Safety technology gives smart-home owners peace of mind
Any time a misguided P.A.T. tries to lock the Coopers inside indefinitely, she blocks the windows with steel and adds an electrical force field to the home’s doors.
True, smart-home technology can greatly enhance home security, but it’s far more subtle.
For instance, the If This Then That app has the capacity to trigger an empty home’s interior lights when the owner approaches. The Ring video doorbell helps residents monitor (and chat with visitors to) the front door. And many new home security systems, smoke alarms (check out Home Advisor’s breakdown of options), garage doors and surveillance cameras include a virtual assistant integration, meaning they can be controlled and monitored by a phone app or smart speaker.
Even our pets are avid technology enthusiasts
Seeing that keeping pooches happy is probably the primary reasons millennials buy homes, the movie’s inclusion of pet technology (the family dog is entertained by P.A.T. while the family’s away) is spot on.
One piece of especially buzzworthy pet technology is Furbo, an interactive pet camera that tosses treats to pets stuck at home. Then there are the pet doors that open only if triggered by an ultrasonic signal emitted from a special collar, blocking access to intruders. The doors can even be programmed to remain locked at specific times of day, keeping Fido and Fluffy inside for the night.
Technology can create the ideal mood
One of P.A.T.’s coolest features in the movie is her use of virtual reality to transport the Coopers to Cape Cod or a serene farm including a rooster’s wake-up call. While VR technology gets more sophisticated each and every year, full-screen virtual experiences don’t come standard in homes at this time. However, several pieces of smart appliances can help affect the mood in your home.
Philips Hue is a line of smart lamps and light bulbs that can be timed to adjust from bright to softer lighting as the day goes on, mimicking natural daylight patterns. The Nest thermostat automatically sets the temperature in your home to your desired preferences, turns the temperature down when it senses you leave the home, and can be controlled from an app for on-the-go changes.
One pitfall with smart home technology? Energy drainage. But there’s even a “smart” solution for that. The Emporia Vue system helps homeowners monitor their energy usage via an app on their phone to minimize monthly costs and identify potential issues before they need major repairs.
Even while our lives become increasingly inseparable from technology, a home is much more than its futuristic appliances. If you’re trying to find a home, working with an experienced professional is a smart move.
Have a questions or concern? Nick, Cindy & Nicholas Davis with RE/MAX Premier Group are here to assist you with all your Real Estate Needs. We are always available at 813-300-7116 to answer your questions or you can simply click here and we will be in touch with you shortly.
Need to get started with your mortgage process? You can contact Kyle Edwards with Iberia Bank at 813-495-5131, or simply click here to start your online application.
Ways Our Family Can Help Your Family
