My iPad has a 1GHz CPU, 64GB of storage, location awareness, spatial orientation awareness, wi-fi connectivity and the ability for it’s various apps to work with one another (e.g.: Pages sends to email, email sends to Photos, etc.).

Our cars have dozens of computer chips, miles of cable and intelligent systems that warn us of maintenance needs and system problems. Newer cars even warn you if your tires need air.

Houses generally have a thermostat for heating and cooling and another for hot water. For most of us, that’s about it.

Here’s the kicker: for most people, their house is the single most expensive item they will ever own.

Why should the most expensive thing we buy — and probably our most important possession — basically be a dumb box?

Why doesn’t our house notice that the HVAC system is using more and more energy to do the same task and warn us that it’s developing a problem BEFORE it dies on the hottest summer night?

Why doesn’t it notice that we haven’t change the filters in three months and remind us?

Why doesn’t it know that we left the door unlocked after we’ve gone to bed?

Why doesn’t it notice that there is a water leak somewhere?

Why doesn’t it turn off the AC when we open the windows?

I went to a talk a few weeks ago where a speaker said “Always have a driving problem”. I do believe that my hobby interest in home automation deserves to be raised to that level.

Our 21st century houses are still largely 19th century boxes. How can we fix this?