Moore's Law now a key consideration in home buying/renovating

"Don't embark at this stage on home buying or renovating that will limit your opportunity to reap the benefits of a seemingly avalanche of new technology that is starting to roll down the line and around the corner."

That's my best advice to aspirant homeowners as the impact of Moore's Law continues to gain traction, albeit indirectly.

Moor's Law is an observation that the number of transistors (hence the processing power) that can be placed on an affordable integrated circuit will double approximately every two years.

Put another way, processing speeds - or overall processing power - of computers will double every two years from the 1970s. We are now in the exponential part of the curve.

The potential impact of this phenomenon on the residential property sector is already becoming crystal clear. So much so that the face and pace of South African home design, construction and maintenance is changing faster today than ever before. 

Even newly built, or fully renovated, houses can now easily, and rapidly, become outdated as new inventions, designs, materials and finishes continue to roll out.

Exponential technology

Irrespective of whether they are the latest type of security blind, the smartest LED light fitting, or even a particular organic product (such as a bamboo-based floor covering that looks like wood), the chances are that they could well be the result of new technology in the field of physics, engineering, design and décor unfolding and rolling out exponentially.  

The reality is that creativity has now become endless on the homes front. It is in perpetual motion. And technology is driving it - by way of easy access to information that is now effectively at everybody's fingertips. 

Homeowners need to take that into account when renovating or buying property.

Furthermore, they should avoid spending to the maximum on materials and finishes. Why? Because, within two to four years, there will be new products that will far exceed those that were regarded as the most expensive - and the best - at the time.

In fact, it is quite amazing just how much cheaper and better top notch security systems are these days as a result of the rapid advancement of technology.

Convenience platforms

Against that background, buyers and renovators should bear in mind that, within the next three to five years, more and more home appliances and systems will be run by online 'convenience' platforms.

They will drive lighting, security, heating, refrigeration, cooking, cleaning, entertainment, and even certain routines, such as feeding of pets, watering/feeding gardens, pool maintenance, certain child care chores, transport arrangements, and connectivity to family and friends.

This all comes together as a process that ensures that your home is enabled and geared not only to see the future but to cope with it as well.

The reality is that the future is arriving very fast. And it adds a whole new dimension to the process of choosing and buying a home.

A giant leap    

It is quite understandable that many homeowners - both existing and aspirant - may well feel overwhelmed by the prospect of this, clearly must-do, giant leap into modern-day technology - and the speed at which it has become necessary.

My advice to them is to put the plumbers, carpenters, painters and bricklayers on hold for the time being - in spite of the key role they play on the home front.

Instead, bring a high-powered technical guru into your home to assist and guide you on the high-tech path you could, and should, consider taking - and how and when to take it.

That's the springboard!