For us older ones the world has and is changing rapidly. Not just in the social interaction and attitudes of the younger generations or the fact that the world population is getting near to full. Its how life and landscapes have changed and how we live today.

In The UK so many fields, that once were the focus of farmers, ramblers and keepers of the earth, have been concreted over and had unimaginative boxes placed on them. These boxes are small, over-priced, cheaply constructed and the bare minimum of technology put in them.

Compare our homes to our cars, computers, phones and any other aspect of our lives and they are still in the middle ages apart from the fact that they are smaller and worse built.

Why do we put up with it? Why buy these faceless cardboard eyesores?

The fact is that life really could be so much easier and simple if we demanded technology and forward thinking in our homes. Our homes also could be made so we could enjoy them for longer without being forced out because we no longer can cope.

For example:- Voice activated sockets and switches not only allow one to control lighting they can control anything that is plugged into the mains or can interact using Bluetooth. Doors and windows can be locked, ovens turned on, lights dimmed or brightened (along with on  and off), alarms set, music played on  demand and heating adjusted.

Just imagine if you were a bit unsteady on your feet or just were recovering from a broken leg. Being able to turn lights on, lock doors, close curtains and adjust the heating either by voice or via a smart phone or pad. Less having to get up and fewer chances of falling or being in pain.

Smart alarms to notify important bookmarks for the day like medication, walk the dog, water plants or change the bed.

Sadly, most new homes don’t even get equipped with WiFi or broadband let alone Smart technology. The New housing estate near me didn’t even have fiber broadband until the residents got together and campaigned for it to be retrospectively installed and even then it was only to the cabinet.

The government keeps banging on about making us world equals but we live with technology which is worse than some Third World countries.

Yet there doesn’t seem to be any way of improving things.

I’m not saying we all need robots and full automation. Far from it. Many live very happy lives (possibly happier) without modern technology. However, many more could not live without light, heat, WiFi, Bluetooth and the modern trappings offered by our ever-growing automation providers.

Robots could help again with the sickly, disabled, old and dependent ones in society and automation could delay having to go into a nursing home but more importantly take away the demands levied on carers and family members who struggle to cope from day-to-day. They would also ensure a decent level of care was given even when not being watched.

For the modern generation smart devices and automation are common place and they have grown up knowing little else as nearly every home has a smart phone, tablet, computer and tv. But take us older ones and the modern home (equipped at the expense and efforts of the owner not the huge rabbit warren estate builders) is a far cry from the houses we grew up in before the millennia.

So I for one am looking forward to being able to live in my little house, on my own, in relative comfort with my robot “Frank” and labour saving devices (that hopefully are labour saving and not just  faddy gadgets) with the knowledge I am safe and cared for.