CHICAGO — I see the future, and the future is now.

That was the message of Kevin Henry, president of Group42, an industry think tank of designers and thought leaders based in Los Angeles, CA. Henry presented his design ideas during his “The Connected Kitchen” seminar at KBIS 2010, held recently in Chicago.

He explained: “The ‘Connected Kitchen’ is more real today than ever before. At the present, through your iPhone, you can check your home security through your security camera feeds, as well as lock and unlock doors. You can also turn on lighting throughout the home and raise and lower blinds and curtains.”

Henry also pointed out that many smart homes are quite eco-friendly, as they allow clients to monitor their energy consumption, therefore promoting energy efficiency through the use of less water and control of natural light.

“Eventually, the kitchen itself will become one huge, computerized appliance that reads lifestyle patterns, anticipates needs for food, lighting, entertainment and cleanup, and performs automatically – all without an explicit human command,” he predicted.

Staying Connected

For generations the kitchen has served as the heart of the home and, as Henry described it, has now evolved into something much more: The pulse of the home. After all, it is not only a place to connect family members, or homeowners with their dinner guests, but also a space where busy clients with busy lifestyles stay connected to their personal and professional needs in an intuitive, technological way.

“The kitchen will continue to be the heart, if not the hub, of the modern home – an essential element in our daily lives that touches and affects us both physically and emotionally, a place where we seek communion, rejuvenation and sanctuary. Tomorrow’s kitchen will continue to provide us with a unique outlet for creation and self-expression,” he offered.

To that end, Henry predicted that networked appliances will be the next big thing to hit the kitchen, with “wi-fi” technology slowly creeping into home electronics.

“It will only be a matter of time before our kitchen becomes the central core to all home activities,” he concluded.

Home Smart Home

Indeed, the concept of a ‘smart home’ has evolved over time, he pointed out.

“[In the past], the idea was that the home could be operated by a remote system, much like operating your TV with a hand-held remote. That could include controlling temperature, lighting or music, for instance, throughout the house from a wall monitor located in every room,” he explained.