From Rosie to JARVIS

When I was a kid, I used to watch a cartoon called “The Jetsons”, which was set in a future where flying cars fold up into suitcases, a dinner table automatically clears away the dishes (by smashing them and sweeping them up), and sassy robotic maids do all the housework.

Although I’m still waiting for my flying car, some of today’s automation technologies are a lot closer to the future world of The Jetsons than you might think.

Insteon has designed a whole host of products that bring you that much closer to owning a “Jetsons” home. Using a wireless mesh network, Insteon enables you to link together your lighting, security, and entertainment systems and control them all directly from a remote device.

You can cascade a number of tasks that happen in a specific sequence automatically. And while they may not automatically clear the table (yet), you can instantly alter the mood of your room, adjusting the lighting, closing the windows, and turning on music with one touch of a single button.

Maybe you don’t quite remember “The Jetsons”. Well, I’m pretty sure you’ve heard about the recent Iron Man movies, where genius inventor Tony Stark has an artificial intelligence (AI) that controls his house called JARVIS. Inspired by the movie, Airocorp is developing a real-life version of “JARVIS”: an AI personal assistant OS to help make your home automation less reactive and more proactive. Imagine a home that can learn from your behaviors and interact with you in real time. Instead of taking commands to turn on music, it can make suggestions based on your mood.

Which format would YOU prefer? A smart home that takes your commands or a friendly home that works with you? We want to hear from you! Cast your vote in our poll and comment to let us know your thoughts.