As Disneyland in California today unveils its vision of the home of the future, it has coined a new word, ‘innovention’.
Hideous portmanteaus aside, the Innoventions Dream Home showcases Disney’s take on the kitchen, living room and bedroom of tomorrow using Microsoft’s Surface and HP’s TouchSmart technology, amongst others.
Inside this new home, the fictional Elias family work new technologies into their everyday lives, using Surface to browse and select recipes on the kitchen countertop or customising a child’s room with the Neverland theme by adjusting surround sound, lighting and visual effects to be immersed in the world of Peter Pan.
Some of the technologies come from Microsoft’s prototyping lab, including a countertop that can recognise ingredients as they are laid on the surface and a magic mirror that projects different outfits or hairstyles onto the user which move naturally with the body.
“We’re constantly visualising how tomorrow’s software will transform how we’ll work, play and communicate,” said Craig Mundie, chief research and strategy officer at Microsoft.
“By partnering with Disneyland, we can show people how technology can enrich our lives today, and offer a glimpse of the technologies that will revolutionise homes in the future.”
Other technologies on show at the Dream Home include Windows Mobile, Media Centre, Home Server and the Xbox 360, as well as HP’s Voodoo gaming machine, iPaq wireless smart phone and the TouchSmart desktop PC.
By Marie Boran
Pictured: The Elias family have fun with the Magic Mirror at Disneyland California
