In 1999, Microsoft crafted their vision for a smart home on Retirement Living TV. A family acted out a typical afternoon and evening in the home, taking advantage of all its cool technological features for pretty much every activity imaginable. While not all of the advancements came true exactly as they're shown, many of them exist in some way today.

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It's funny to watch the segment about the Microsoft home or to revisit movies like Disney Channel's Smart House which show the dark side of artificial intelligence in a domestic setting. Google Home and Alexa have shown that voice technology in the home is here to stay. What else did Microsoft correctly predict about smart home capabilities?

Predicted: Managing A Door With Face Recognition

The biometric security system that unlocks the front door in Microsoft's connected home video

Not everyone uses face recognition widely throughout the home. However, it is quite possible to enable such a system for one's front door to unlock it, as seen in the 1999 video. Some of the set-ups are more expensive, but there are also keyless smart door deadbolts for under $200. These can include night vision and a facial recognition log. Data collection is a potential concern with more widespread face recognition in home security products, but some homeowners have embraced the biometric security method as a safe way to keep unwanted intruders away. It still helps to have multiple functions on a device to lock and unlock the door.

Missed The Mark: Scanning Food Products In Fridge/Trash For Grocery Shopping

A woman throwing away garbage next to an image of the trash barcode scanner GeriCan

When the mother in Microsoft's video starts to make her grocery list, she scans the barcode on a carton of eggs in the fridge, and the word "eggs" is automatically typed into her list. She can also throw away an empty item for it to be instantly detected and added to her working list. While creative and not unheard of, these methods are a bit odd and haven't quite taken off yet.

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Adults use technology to keep track of their groceries, but opening the fridge and scanning products (or letting the trash can scan them) might not be the preferred way. In the time it takes to do that, a person could simply speak their food needs to a voice assistant like Siri (or Astro, the one in the video). Another reason the scanning method isn't the most mainstream is that people may not want the exact same products from week to week, so it wouldn't always make sense to scan them.

Predicted: Smart Appliances Throughout The House

Modern Family: Mitchell smiles by the smart fridge

The smart appliances throughout the 1999 home were a good prediction. The stove in the Microsoft video can send notifications to other devices with cooking updates. Kitchens have quickly become a prime location for smart technology. More and more, refrigerators with touch screens are being advertised, along with stoves that can connect to smart devices for temperature control. Smart washers and dryers can also be controlled via apps, and this technology shows no signs of slowing down.

Predicted: Keeping Up With Family Via GPS Tracking

iPhone app location services/tracking (map in background)

GPS tracking is shown in the 1999 segment when the mother wants to see where her husband is. As he travels home from work, his exact location is easy to pull up on the kitchen computer. The spouses are then able to have a phone conversation, just in time for the dad to pick up some more garlic for dinner. Smartphones have offered similar features for years, and users are in charge of how they want to set up location tracking for themselves and loved ones. The technology has also proven helpful in the case of a lost smartphone.

Missed The Mark: Letting Strangers Leave A Message Outside

Ring Doorbell Hacked Hacker Security

One of the more concerning parts of the '90s smart home is the fact that anyone can leave a message for the homeowner outside with that face/fingerprint recognition system. By pressing the button to leave the message, a stranger can record whatever comes to mind. This feature could be fun for friends who stop by, but not so much with people a homeowner doesn't even know. The door messages are finally a viable option with products like the Ring doorbell in conjunction with Alexa, but the thought is still kind of creepy.

Predicted: Schedules, Lists, Communications Online

schedule send illustration on android

Computer-savvy people have had ways to make schedules on their devices for decades, and Microsoft accurately highlighted the future use of that skill. The mom in the video uses her kitchen computer to check the family's schedule and is able to send a note to her daughter, who carries around a pocket PC and can send a quick response back. Online communications through text and voice technology have grown by leaps and bounds over time, and the video reminds viewers how integrated those capabilities are in everyday life now.

Missed The Mark: Checking The Weather On The "Web Phone"

1999 web phone used as a smart device

One of the funniest parts of the video is when the dad takes a look at the weather forecast on a "web phone." The contraption is a hybrid between a tablet and a home phone, and it's another way to control the security system.

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In an age where not everyone has a landline anymore, the web phone looks more dated than anything. It's a fun, retro memory for people who now use their smartphones to pull up the weather app whenever they need it.

Predicted: Controlling Everything From One Device

An image of an illuminated living room next to an image of someone using a tablet to control their lighting

Controlling home settings in one smart device is at the heart of the 1999 smart home. The convenience of keeping everything together on a user-friendly interface cannot be overstated, and it's interesting to find that tech creators felt that way so long ago. For example, the mom is able to adjust the house's heat, air, and ventilation from the comfort of her PC. She can even pre-set the lighting to her liking so that it's ready to go when she gets home from work. After a long day, it is nice to be able to sit and relax with all those controls just one click away.

Predicted: Electronic Devices For Nightly Reading

The Kindle with a background of cases

While the dad checks his web phone, the mom enjoys reading a book on her wireless e-reader. Stand-alone e-readers like the Kindle and Nook found popularity in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Those devices still exist and function, but many people have simply transferred the e-reader model over to their phones and tablets. Nook, Kindle, and other reading apps help transport people to all kinds of worlds through the power of reading. The visionary smart home predicted how reliant people would be on home technologies. Reading a book, writing a list, and sending a note are all doable without pen or paper (though some people still love those trusty tools).

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