A home smarter than its owner

From LED powered heating to a virtual stylist, Panasonic flirts with the future through its Wonder Life-BOX, a Japanese concept that will soon become a reality.

- Ursila Ali

Efficiency like minimalism is not just important in Japan, it is a way of life. In fact, their seat warming, self-cleaning WCs or fancy automatic doors can put sci-fi movies to shame. Forget jarring and blinding hues, instead get ready to be welcomed by earthy tones that dominate the colour map of the country. Functionality trumps superficial interiors across Japan. Now, Panasonic is attempting to change the rules with a smart home of 2030.

YOUR WISH IS MY COMMAND

With Panasonic your home can become a companion that enhances your lifestyle. They call it Akari or ‘light’ in Japanese, an artificial intelligence software that follows you around the home as a personal assistant, reminding of upcoming meetings, regulating electronic appliances, connecting to the web, warning during disasters and safeguarding the home from strangers, through simple voice commands. Ask Atari the dinner menu, she will tell you the ingredients kept in the refrigerator and give you a range of the best recipes from the web.