BATTELLE FORECASTS BREAKTHROUGHS FOR FUTURE HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS
February 25, 1998

BATTELLE FORECASTS BREAKTHROUGHS FOR FUTURE HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS

Your home in 2008 will have fewer wires, cleaner air, and a gaggle of fun products to keep you healthy, informed and entertained.

In its latest technology forecast, Battelle, a world-renowned technology organization based in Columbus, Ohio, has identified what it expects will be the 10 most important technological breakthroughs in household products over the next decade.

"We're forecasting breakthroughs that will lead to major new benefits for consumers, will give the developing companies a three-year lead in the marketplace, and will create new product lines for growth," says Dr. Stephen Millett, leader of Battelle's Breakthrough Center.

"The technical know-how is already out there to develop these products and have them on the market within 10 years," says Dr. Susan Brown, Technology Access Leader in Battelle's Consumer Products Group. "We're assuming that the investments will be made to bring these products from the imagination, to the laboratory, to the store shelf."

The list of household product breakthroughs follows several technology forecasts Battelle has published over the past four years, including forecasts for top 10 technologies, technological challenges, innovative products, and sports-related technologies.

Battelle's list of the top 10 household technology breakthroughs for 2008:

  1. Disappearing Cords and Cables. Wires will begin to disappear from view in homes as we move toward wireless communication, data transmission and energy distribution. That means more cordless telephones, wireless hook-ups to the internet, and even electric lamps and small appliances that don't have to be plugged in.

    "We'll have an increased use of more powerful batteries, fuel cells, solar and other power sources," says Brown. "We can even envision devices to transfer energy from your outlets to lights, vacuum cleaners, and other appliances without the use of wires."

    Other energy-saving products may include roofing shingles that serve as solar collectors, reducing the need for electricity transferred by wires to homes.

  2. Products for a Healthy Home. "The environmental movement is expanding from the great outdoors to the cozy confines of our living rooms, kitchens and baths," says Millett.

    Bacteria scares and concerns about indoor air quality will lead to products that improve our indoor environment. These products could range from smart filters on furnaces and air vents to localized filtering appliances to new concepts, such as anti-allergen and anti-bacterial surfaces and self-vacuuming carpets that serve as filtering systems.

    The home and yard environment may also be improved with the development of genetically engineered lawns that require fewer or no chemical treatments.

  3. Home Health Monitors. "There's a rapidly growing need for simple, user-friendly medical equipment for the home," says Richard Rosen, Vice President of Battelle's Medical Products Group. "As our population ages, monitoring and maintaining our health at home will be extremely important. Technically, we can do it. We can help people stay at home and stay healthy."

    These relatively inexpensive, reliable, and non-invasive home health monitors could track a wide range of physical functions and analyze nutrition and exercise programs. "They'll serve as your own live-in medical team," Rosen says.

  4. Home Waste Management. Imagine an in-home system that sorts, recycles and disposes of home waste - eliminating the need for hand sorting. We may even see the development of systems for at-home water treatment and recycling.

  5. Highly Miniaturized Communication and Electronic Products. In 10 years, we will have developed wristwatch-size phones and highly specialized, hand-held, wireless computers that will help us perform a variety of day-to-day activities, from managing your banking and investments to planning your weekend entertainment.

    "Millions of grown-up kids will be thrilled to see that the day of the Dick Tracy style wrist-phone is at hand," says Will Kopp, coauthor of the forecast. "We'll also have available to us a variety of easy-to-use, miniature information appliances. One might provide us with a phone directory for the entire country-in the palm of our hand. Another might give us a constantly updated calendar of weekend events and restaurant menus in our community. And we might use another to manage our banking, investing and bill paying."

  6. Affordable, Digital, High-Definition Television. Digital HDTV is here now, but the breakthrough will come in making it affordable to a mass market.

    Battelle researchers predict that future digital HDTV sets will incorporate home videoconferencing, computing, and networking. To hold down costs, many of these more advanced systems will be leased.

  7. Virtual Reality Products. Virtual projections and sound environments will be used to enhance computer games, music systems, video entertainment systems and exercise equipment. We will see a convergence of home entertainment, information and well care.

    "More and more, people want technology to make everyday products more fun. We want to be entertained," says Millett. "Virtual reality will be one of the best tools for doing that."

  8. Electronic Commerce. We will enjoy electronic shopping and banking, including financial transactions that are error-free, secure, easy to use, and low cost.

    "The companies that develop the technology and the products that make electronic commerce safe, secure and simple will have a very hot product on their hands," says Brown.

  9. Voice-Activated Products. Products throughout the home, such as televisions, computers, lights, and other electronic appliances will be operated by voice commands.

  10. Personal Security. New identification systems will take personal security to new levels, including protection of homes, automobiles and other property; security over computer networks; and security for electronic commerce. Brown says these systems may include DNA chips and bio-electronic security.

    For more information about Battelle's Breakthrough Center, which helps industry develop tomorrow's breakthrough technologies, contact Steve Millett, phone (614) 424-5335; fax (614) 424-4260; or e-mail milletts@battelle.org.

    Battelle serves industry and government by developing, commercializing, and managing technology. With a wide range of scientific and technical capabilities, Battelle puts technology to work for clients in 30 countries.