By: MarkJ - 23 February, 2012 (1:10 AM) - Score: 935 -

Broadband ISP PlusNet has today published a new report from the Centre for Future Studies, a futurist think tank, which attempts to predict how "smart" internet access will affect our homes and daily lives in 2027. The only real problem is that many of the predictions have already happened.

The report claims to reveal that the internet will become ubiquitous in "many people’s lives and transform the way people shop, eat and run their homes". It's sort of already done that but.. moving on.

One of the other "radical life enhancing benefits" is that future homes will apparently be connected up by a vast neural networking system that links all appliances, TV's, PC's, video, security and remote handheld or Bluetooth-type devices. That sort of sounds like Wi-Fi, doesn't it? I'll get my coat.

The Internet of 2027

The House

• Face recognition software in doors will run strangers faces against a criminal database ensuring complete security.

• Sensors will track all items in your home and their whereabouts so you never lose anything again.

• Vast neural networking system will connect all appliances, TV's, PC's, video, security and remote handheld or Bluetooth-type devices.

• Pre-programmed smart home technology, which can be controlled from smart phones, will take care of day-to-day chores.

Shopping

• E-commerce will become F-commerce - online consumers will be able toenjoy a tailored shopping experience based on Facebook 'Likes'. You will beable to follow the advice from your friends online, see what friends have bought, what they own, even what they want.

• Cupboards will have sensors that tell you when stocks are getting low and send orders directly to shops.

• They will calculate healthy individual diets for you based on each member of the household's personal needs.

Entertainment

• Walls, ceilings and floors will become interactive sensory screens which will take computer games and 3D movies to on another level.

• By combining future augmented reality, virtual reality and mediated reality movies and television will be more interactive than ever before.

• High-definition video will be augmented by realistic surround sound.

• The Internet will enable you to be able to dial up the sensory stimulus or dial down the sensory overload on demand.

• You will just have to think about what you want to see and do in your future home entertainment centre and it will become reality in a nanosecond.

The Home Office

• The ability for everything to always be connected will mean that work will no longer be a place - work will be anywhere the worker is.

• 3D contact lenses will allow you to have all the information you ever need instantly before your eyes.

• 3D holographic conferencing will allow you to be present in any office in the world.

Health

• Our health will be constantly monitored in the home of the future through inbuilt sensors to the house and our clothes.

• Doctors will be able to hold virtual consultations in the comfort of your home.

• Toilets will monitor waste therefore detecting any serious illnesses and ensuring early treatment.

There's no mention of robots! How can that be? Surely any futurologist type prediction would include robot slaves that do our house work or the ability to take holidays on the moon? Ideally both at the same time.

Suffice to say that Dr. Frank Shaw's report, which almost randomly suggests that we're "only predicted to be 15% of the way through" the internet revolution, is interesting but best taken with a pinch of salt. A big pinch.