| Now that we have laid a foundation of home | | | | introduction of the television into the home in the |
| automation (HA) lets discuss its advances. | | | | late 1920s. Not many families had a television set |
| Electricity is no longer an exciting innovation and it | | | | in the 1920s, but it quickly became a coveted |
| is something that we generally take for granted. | | | | item in the following decades. Not long after the |
| It is also hard to be enthusiastic about using a | | | | introduction of the family owned television came |
| record player or even the telephone because by | | | | the introduction of cable TV, bringing more |
| today's standards they are relics of the past. So | | | | channels into the home. TV had become an even |
| what did the people of the early to mid-Twentieth | | | | bigger part of home entertainment. Technology |
| Century consider modernizations? For the second | | | | was advancing at a rate faster than anyone had |
| part of the Evolution of Home Automation series | | | | seen, but it was no match for the degree in |
| we will discuss the advances and changes the | | | | which technology advances today. It wasn't until |
| home went through during this time in Home | | | | the late 1940's that another invention of |
| Automation History. | | | | entertainment came about: the video game. |
| With the emergence of a new century, | | | | These games simulated a missile firing at a target, |
| home-owners began to demand more from their | | | | exciting stuff for the 1940's crowd. |
| home. No longer satisfied with a single light bulb | | | | Technology was just beginning to change the lives |
| hanging in the kitchen or cold running water | | | | of families; nothing exemplifies that more than the |
| flowing from the faucet, the American people | | | | invention of the TV dinner. The simple |
| wanted more. With the growth of the middle and | | | | convenience of preparing a quick meal to enjoy in |
| upper class people began to want the latest | | | | front of the television was novel to families of |
| gadgets and regarded them as status symbols. | | | | the 1950s. Suddenly their lifestyles were changing |
| This new era in home control saw more | | | | according to the technology in their homes. This |
| advancement in entertainment than in practical | | | | was just the beginning of transformation the |
| use. Amid the change in the economic status of | | | | home was about to go through. |
| the middle class technology was beginning to | | | | The late 50s and 60s brought advancements that |
| impress the public with its advances. | | | | would have a tremendous effect on not only the |
| The twentieth century was a time of great | | | | home but our lives. The computer, probably the |
| technological advances and H A was no exception. | | | | most significant technological advancement, was in |
| A significant change in the home came with the | | | | its beginning stages. While these early models |
| introduction of the water heater. Bathing and | | | | weren't initially in the home their creation paved |
| washing became effortless. These, of course, | | | | the way for modern home control. Now think |
| were luxuries reserved for the upper class but as | | | | about the exciting advancements yet to come in |
| we have learned, most home automation | | | | home automation. That is what we will discuss in |
| advances begin as a luxury items and eventually | | | | the next article in the Evolution of Home |
| become a necessities. This is the nature of home | | | | Automation series. We have only laid a foundation |
| automation. | | | | for the home automation industry. This early era |
| More importantly, American's were interested in | | | | of home automation paved the way for all the |
| entertainment, which was satisfied with the | | | | modern conveniences that we enjoy today. |