National Geographic Kids USA - November 2017

T

T

STAY CONNECTED

Whether your future home is an urban skyscraper or an underwater pod,

all buildings will one day be connected via a central communications hub.

“Buildings will be able to ‘talk’ to each other by passing certain informa-

tion back and forth,” Kapusta says. This means you can virtually visit build-

ings located many miles away. Just connect one of your bedroom walls to a

faraway museum to see the same T. rex skeleton other visitors are check-

ing out in person. But you’re not just seeing something miles away—you’re

feeling and smelling the same things too. “If you connected your house to

a beach house’s balcony, you’d feel the same breeze and smell the same

saltwater as the people there,” Kapusta says. Buildings might also share

information about incoming weather and emergencies to keep you safe.

CUSTOM COMFORT

“Soon our homes will recognize us as individuals,” says

Vectorform’s Annie Sommer. Front door sensors scan

your body and welcome you home—no need for keys. As

you walk into the living room, the lighting adjusts to your

preferred setting. Thirsty? Your kitchen can tell, and a

glass of water pops up on the counter. Before bed, you

enter the bathroom and say, “Shower, please.” The water

starts flowing at exactly the temperature you want.

“G

ood morning,” your house says. The year is 2070 and it’s time to wake up—your

house acts as your alarm clock. You step in front of a large video mirror that projects

different clothes on you. After you decide on your favorite T-shirt, a robot fetches your

outfit. No time is lost trying to find matching socks!

“In the future, your home will do simple tasks for you to free up time,” says Ann

Kapusta, director of research at Vectorform, a digital invention company. Chores?

What chores? Get ready for a whole new home life.

BY KAREN DE SEVE ART BY MONDOLITHIC STUDIOS

FUTURE WORLF D

ON LOCATION

Your room has a spectacular view of the ocean ... because your

house is suspended above it. “New technologies will allow us to

build our homes in unusual spots,” Sommer says. “We won’t be

limited to dry land on Earth.” That means one day, your family

could even live in space! In the future, “floating” structures

elevated by supporting poles above water or other hard-to-

access spots (think mountain peaks) will be more common as

cities become more crowded. “Soon these places won’t be so

tough to reach,” Sommer says.

20 NOVEMBER 2017