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'Smart Houses' to Keep Elderly Independent
Newsreels from the 1950s often fantasized about the space-age "homes of tomorrow," where high-tech gadgets did all the work. Engineers in England are developing an updated version of the futuristic house, but they have a more practical purpose in mind. Their "smart house" is being designed to suit the needs of a growing elderly population, many of whom no longer live with children or relatives who can make sure they're getting along well. A feature from Britain's Electronic Telegraph explains that the house uses motion sensors to locate the residents. It can tell if the resident has left the stove on, left a door open or forgotten to eat. A computer-generated voice reminds the person of the problem. There won't be a shortage of high-tech appliances for the talking house. Another Telegraph story describes the first washing machine that can download new wash programs off the Internet.
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