How does life in e-house look like?

At the International consumer electronics fair (IFA) in Berlin, the first electronic house was presented. Its intelligent network system gives a brand new dimension to residence: more comfort, higher security, and new energy saving opportunities.

"Networked residing is not the future, it is the present. Everything you can see today in the e-house, placed at 100 square meters in seven rooms, is already applicable in everyday life", said the people from the Central German Association for Electronics and Information Technologies (ZVEH).

"Open Sesame" is the motto apparent already at the entrance, at least for those authorized, which is immediately recognized by the finger print sensor placed next to the entrance door.

- When you are away, you can see who is standing at your doorstep thanks to the camera. You can even communicate with the person and tell him or her that you are not at home. Or, if the person is a postman, you can open the door for him, tell him to leave the package on the floor and to close the door behind him - experts at the fair explained.

- It is important to us that you can see and take care of your home via Internet when you are away. Regardless of where you are, whether you are sitting in a cafe in Paris or walking through San Francisco, you can take a look at your house by using a web-camera and even turn on the light in it or something like that - says Petra Smieder from ZVEH.

The whole house is equipped with the latest technology, starting from 3D TV sets in the living room to numerous screens on the walls, which you can touch to get the sketch of all premises and, thus, check if, for example, the kitchen range is turned on, the washing machine is still working, etc. In addition, "smart-grid" technology enables electricity saving - when, for instance, a window is opened somewhere in the house, heating is automatically turned off.

"The aim of this trade fair is to make it possible for common people to get familiar with the electronic house. Consumers expressed a great interest, which makes us very happy, because we get the impression that the networked residing is attractive to consumers", said the exhibitors.