By 2050, home technology will be mainly invisible and discreet. Artificial intelligence (AI), robots, and virtual reality (VR) will all become common household additions, acquiring everyday jobs and providing endless entertainment. Tomorrow’s generation will spend less time cooking and cleaning, but more time socializing with their full-resolution life-sized 3-D friends, who are only virtually present.
Matalan’s online-only furniture team has worked with Dr. Ian Pearson to create a collection of graphics, visualizing socializing, sleeping, exercising, decorating, and leisure in the home of 2050, all of which are streamlined and enhanced through the means of technology.
Virtual Decorating
For home aesthetics, 46 percent of people currently only decorate their home every five years or more. By 2050, fabrics will have the ability to change appearance, colors, patterns, and textures enabled by intrinsic smart yarns. Additionally, active contact lenses worn in the home will allow people to change their décor frequently, a simply decorated room could look elaborate and luxurious – all this combined will make redecorating an easy everyday option. Ian highlights: “Furnishings will often adapt to our body shapes to make us perfectly comfy. Visitors’ personal profiles will be used to adapt furniture to them too”.
Sweet Dreams
For the 36 percent of people in the U.K. who only get five hours of sleep per night, the sleeping environment will be enhanced through anti-sound technology, removing unwanted noise, pollen, and virus filters. Beds in 2050 will adjust fabric textures, rigidity, and temperature for a personalized, well-rested night’s sleep.
Virtual Vacations
With over half (54 percent) of the nation having 1-2 holidays per year, VR will substitute some travel allowing people to explore the world and experience the full sensation through virtual environments, within their own home. A bonus for the 64 percent of people who say time and money are the main barriers to going on holiday.
Leisure and Robots
Ian predicts that by 2050, 98 percent of people will also use VR as a means of recreational activity, a change for the 73 percent of people who currently spend all their leisure time watching 2D TV.
As for cooking, robots will do most of the work. People will rely on them for food preparation and cooking, with 3D printers providing food faster than takeaways. Robot duties will even extend to the cleaning and home maintenance, with androids as tools, cloths and robot vacuum cleaners. 33 percent of people currently spend 1-2 hours cleaning each week, which will become newly acquired spare time as robots regulate the chores.
Pete Gould, chief marketing officer for Matalan furniture comments: “We always strive to provide our customers with interior predictions, including up-to-date insight on the latest trends. Home technology is constantly evolving and after speaking to Ian, it’s apparent our product offering will be completely different by 2050 – a true insight for our customers on what to expect in their home, within the next 40 years.”
This information was excerpted with permission from the report ‘2050 Home Life’ by Ian Pearson
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