Disney to open “House of the Future” in collaboration with tech firms

February 15, 2008 – Disney has revealed plans to re-introduce its “House of the Future” at the Disneyland park in California, in collaboration with Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, software developer LifeWare and homebuilder Taylor Morrison.

The original House of the Future was closed in 1967, and the new 5,000 square foot replacement, called the "Innoventions Dream Home", is scheduled to open in May of this year, in the Tomorrowland area of the theme park.  It is budgeted at $15mn and is expected to feature hardware, software and touch-screen innovations, including lights and thermostats that adjust automatically when someone walks into a room, countertops that can identify groceries set on them and make menu suggestions, and mirrors that can identify clothes and suggest matching outfits.

“It’s much different than a spiel that you would get at a trade show,” said Dave Miller, Director of Alliance Development for Walt Disney Parks & Resorts.  “We won’t get into the bits and bytes.  It will be about the digital lifestyle and how that lifestyle can help you.”

Visitors will see Disney actors playing a family of four preparing for a trip to China, designed to emphasise the cutting-edge features in the home’s two bedrooms, living room, kitchen, dining room, study and back year.

The project will showcase a network designed to make the house smart and follows family members from room to room.   The system will allow users to transfer digital photos, videos and music among televisions and computers in different rooms easily, and according to Microsoft’s Vice President for entertainment services, Joe Belfiore, other applications still in development could include touch-screen technology built into appliances, furniture and countertops.