Home of the Future

31 January 2012

TX: Tuesdays from 2nd February, 7pm, Channel 4

 

What happens if you ask a normal family to boldly go where no-one has gone before - to live in the future? A new Channel 4 series, co-funded by one of the UK's leading energy companies E.ON, and produced by Twofour, transforms the lives of a family, filling their home from top-to-bottom with futuristic technology and gadgets.

As well as having cutting-edge technology and gadgets to play with, the Perera family in Sheffield will be challenged by scenarios likely to come in the next twenty to fifty years.

Overseen by expert Chris Sanderson the Pereras will discover how we may work, rest and play - as well as eat, travel, stay healthy and power our homes.

The series looks at the effects of working from home and living in multi-generational households and asks: what will we eat when cheap food is gone and mass-produced meat is unsustainable? And the family face being shamed by their bin if they don't recycle enough and being banned from short car journeys (electric and hydrogen-powered, naturally).

But the future is not all bad news as the Pereras discover mind-controlled games, domestic power stations that slash their bills, robots they can control from the other side of the world, waterless washing machines, cars, lawnmowers and vacuums that drive themselves and the joys of growing your own fish supper.

Chris Sanderson said: "I spend my time hypothesising about the future so it was fascinating to be able to test it with a family. Seeing how quickly the family adapts. It was hugely exciting, especially seeing how it brought the family together.  It is also interesting to see how different generations adapt to technology - for example, to watch grandson Lucas was fascinating.

"The highlight, for me, was the moment the 3D printer arrived at the house. It was like the moment a TV came to a village for the very first time. To come face to face with it and get a real glimpse. It was hugely exciting to be able to design an object and see it being made in front of your eyes."

Joel Perera said: "The experience has made me think about the future consciously. I've learnt about pressures of the future I haven't thought of before. It's changed the way we live. Actual keys? You can do it with your fingerprints. Keys seem so old-fashioned now!"

 

Production company
TwoFour Productions