Intelligent, interactive systems are being widely developed specifically
for use in the home environment. These include video recorders which
learn to record programmes automatically based on previous user
preferences, fridges which reorder items automatically via a built-in
Internet connection, doors which lock automatically when shut,
voice-activated lighting controls, and cookers which automatically
calculate cooking times and temperatures. These systems rely heavily on
internet, mobile and telecommunications technologies. There has been
coverage in the press recently of the 'Orange at Home' project in
Hertfordshire - one of the most high-tech residences in the world which
contains over £2,000,000 worth of state-of-the art technology.