Last month the Internet Alliance Home Research Council announced the results of a study citing which technology innovations homeowners want most to add in the future .
A survey of 602 homeowners revealed that the kitchen functions as the nerve center of the house, with most families doing much more than just cooking and eating there. Popular activities in the kitchen include doing homework, paying bills, planning schedules, entertaining friends, talking on the phone and leaving messages for family members.
It’s not surprising that the primary kitchen user is also the person in charge of keeping the schedules. Which is why a digital calender is the most requested item. Respondents stated they want a large screen calendar that allows users to add appointments or post notes that anyone can see from either the kitchen or the internet.
The next most requested item is a recipe projection system. Consumers reported wanting a wireless recipe projection system that would allow them to look up a recipe on-line and then have the recipe projected onto a surface in the kitchen from a small cabinet-mounted device keeping countertops clutter free.
Homeowners did not show much interst in refrigerators or pantries that scan barcodes; instead they cited wanting a control hub in the kitchen. From there they want to be able to monitor and adjust the household systems. Specifically, they requested a screen where they can view the temperature inside and outside of their home, adjust the thermostat on a touch pad and view live video of both the front and back of their house.
Other requested items included wireless internet access and charging stations for charging 3 phones or PDAs at the same time regardless of brand.
Microsoft is beginning work on the first of a family of customized Windows platforms designed for specific rooms around the home.
I came across a blog written by Peggy Deras, CKD, CID about choosing a compact flourescent bulb that will cast flattering light. This is referred to as CRI or color rendering index.