The evolution of home technology holds the promise that Le Corbusier's dictum, "the home is a machine for living in", will be less of a design philosophy and more of a literal reality.
But some home occupants are living a smarter life than others. Developers operating at the top of the market are fitting homes with state of the art cabling, and offering wealthy buyers all the techno-toys their money can buy. In the social housing sector, landlords are recognising technology's ability to improve quality of life for a diverse tenant base, and investing in care and security devices.

Between those two extremes are Mr and Mrs Average Buyer, whose homes have neither security devices nor techno-toys. Until mass market homes start to get smart, technological evolution will remain slow, customer acceptance will be hard won and costs will remain high. More housebuilders need to smarten up their act if technology really is to deliver its promise.

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