Museum of Science and Industry

The Smart Home leads a secret double life behind the wood and drywall.  There’s a digital nerve center built in to the home that works constantly and automatically to save homeowner’s time, reduce energy consumption and life more fun and entertaining!

With the help of key participant Wired magazine, you’ll be introduced to some incredible “smart” technologies.

• A home-automation system controls heat, lighting and window coverings to reduce energy consumption.
• The motorized skylight in the ceiling opens when detectors sense a cool breeze (saving air conditioning) and digital electronics in the plants send voicemail when they need water.
• When the doorbell rings, a touchscreen reveals a wireless video feed from the front entry. 
• An energy monitoring system will track electricity and water usage on a real-time basis, giving homeowners a direct way to see the resources they're using by the day or week. 
• And alarm clocks are a thing of the past when the entire home is programmed to rise and shine.  You’ll learn more about the automation system that clicks on the lights, raises the shades and cues wake-up music from the digital music server.