In 1995’s , Bill Gates gave some details about how his futuristic home. Located on Lake Washington outside of Seattle in Medina, the gadgets inside the 66,000-square-foot compound (which was completed in 1997) sounded like sheer wizardry 20 years ago, but mere mortals can now afford some of the technology Gates boasted about — though the seven bedrooms, 24 bathrooms, and six kitchens are still likely out of reach.
“He wished the technology to be as invisible as possible,” architect Peter Bohlin, who designed the compound, along with James Cutler, told Philly.com in 1995. ”He and his wife wanted the spaces to be even more domestic. He intends to make it high-tech, but by magic. It’s invisible.” Even the outlets are hidden, according to U.S. News & World Report.
The house was outfitted with fiber optic cables and each room has its own touch pad to control lighting, music, and temperature. (Wink now makes similar products for $200). “First thing, as you come in, you’ll be presented with an electronic pin to clip to your clothes. This pin will connect you to the electronic services of the house,” Gates wrote in The Road Ahead. “The electronic pin you wear will tell the house who and where you are, and the house will use this information to try to meet and even anticipate your needs — all as unobtrusively as possible.” At the time, Gates speculated cameras might one day supplant the pins, as they’d be able to do facial recognition. He explained that the house would learn your preferences and adjust to your needs. Your affinity to dimmer lights, R&B, and Monet paintings would mean the lamps, music system, and screens would all adjust when you enter the room. A handheld remote helped you choose your settings, and while there’s no shortage of smart-home remotes today, it’s possible phones have replaced them in the Gates home. If you want the ability to adjust your artwork with the touch of a button or swipe of your hand, lots of digital frames can make your home a little more Gates-esque.
“A decade from now,” Gates wrote in his book, “access to the millions of images and all the other entertainment opportunities I’ve described will be available in many homes and will certainly be more impressive than those I’ll have when I move into my house in late 1996. My house will just be getting some of the services a little sooner.” We’re finally playing catch up, but since Gates is pretty mum about the current state of his abode, who knows how many decades he’s ahead of us all by now.
Outdoor security cameras are not always practical if you live in an apartment or rental. Drilling into an exterior wall may be off-limits, while pointing a regular indoor camera through a window can create another problem once reflections start showing up after dark.
Baseus is trying to solve both issues with the new PrimeSentinel W1, a $69.99 security camera designed specifically to monitor the outdoors through glass. It mounts directly to a window without drilling and uses a 4K Starlight sensor with an F1.0 aperture for full-color monitoring during the day and at night.
This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Best Buy.
Technology evolves every day, transforming how we live and work. Our devices are becoming more than tools we use. They are increasingly capable companions that help streamline day-to-day routines and spark creative ideas. If you have been waiting for the right moment to upgrade your tech setup, the Discover Samsung Shopping Event offers an opportunity to explore what connected, AI-powered living can look like.
With AI progressing so fast, it's only a matter of time before we start getting AI companions like the ones we used to see in movies like R2-D2, Wall-E, or Baymax. Now, Singapore-based OKA Technology has unveiled Mori, a cute little AI companion that looks less like a conventional home robot and more like someone turned the Pokémon Foongus into a table lamp.
Mori isn't meant to clean your house or control your smart home, but to serve as what OKA calls a "Nature Companion." It uses subtle movements, warm lighting, nature-inspired sounds, and small reactions to make its presence around the house feel calming rather than distracting. Mori can sit quietly while you read, sway along to music, welcome you when you enter a room, or encourage you to slow down for a moment without requiring a screen or a conversation.