Remember when magazines, newspaper articles, books and movies took a stab at predicting what the dawn of the 21st century would be like? The jet-cars, robot servants – the transporter (what happens if you transport through volcanic ash, I wonder)? Well, 10 years ago in this newsletter I took a stab at it:
“Imagine if you will…
“It’s 7 a.m. on Monday morning, and you wake to a loudly ringing alarm (or music, or a voice telling you it’s time to get up). Wandering into the kitchen, you pour a cup of coffee (it’s set to brew so that it’s just ready as you walk in) and head over to the computer.
“Now click the shower icon and head into the bathroom. You can simply climb into the shower because you know the water is set to the exact temperature you prefer (rather cooler than your spouse’s preference).”
It goes on to forecast the rest of your day (car warmed up, route scheduled according to traffic, meetings approved, moved or cancelled due to arrival time, etc.) in a fully directory-enabled world, noting that most of the technologies discussed are already available – they just need to be directory-enabled. Then I waxed lyrical about a new development that would bring about this new age:
“Sunbeam’s Thalia products division took the first step in that direction by joining the Universal Plug and Play forum. Sunbeam has committed to make its new line of Home Linking Technology (HLT) appliances ‘talk’ with other smart appliances and electrical devices throughout the home in an open, simple and reliable manner.
“Among the nine HLT smart appliances from Sunbeam are three, Internet-ready Thalia-branded products: the HomeHelper kitchen console, HandHelper personal digital assistant and TimeHelper alarm clock. Each of these products act as gateways, or primary controllers, of HLT smart products in the home – including the six Sunbeam appliances: a coffeemaker, an electric blanket, a smoke detector, a stand mixer, a bathroom scale and a blood pressure monitor.
“The biggest advantage of HLT smart products is the way they work together. The Thalia TimeHelper clock can be used as an everyday alarm clock, as well as a household assistant. It sends and receives commands to and from other smart products and appliances with HLT. With the TimeHelper clock, these products talk to each other automatically, without any special programming or wiring.
“When one of the HLT products needs your attention – for example, if you forgot to put water in the kitchen coffeemaker – the TimeHelper clock in your bedroom alerts you with a message. And in the case of an emergency – when an HLT smart Sunbeam smoke alarm sounds anywhere in the house – the TimeHelper alarm sounds at the bedside and displays the location of the active smoke alarm.”
Sadly, it wasn’t to be. The Web site for these future products is for sale, and appears to have been for some time. Perhaps they were just too soon.
