Interesting Article from the July Issue of Builder Magazine:

PCBC keynote speaker identifies five high-tech advances that will shape home building’s future

BY JENNIFER GOODMAN

Q: Technology is exploding these days, faster than builders can keep up. What top five technologies should they pay attention to? My top five technologies for builders might seem like a strange list since some of these technologies are not specifically related to home building. That said, they are important for builders to understand. Here’s why:

3D Printing

This technology has made significant leaps and bounds in the past few years. In the first quarter of 2016, Oak Ridge National Laboratories showcased the first viable, fully 3D printed home suitable for everyday living. 3D printing will continue to improve and soon it will be possible for anyone to print just about anything. In the not-too distant future, I fully expect to see every house have a 3D printing room that will be used to print everyday objects like plates, cups, towels, etc.

Wireless Power

Imagine a world without cords or outlets, where devices of all shapes and sizes are able to operate continuously, and, as needed, have their batteries charged. This is the future of wireless power. And the future is much closer than people realize. Attendees at the PCBC conference in June got a peek into the future of home building courtesy of keynote speaker John Ellis. A former executive with Ford Motor Co. and Motorola, Ellis is the managing director of Ellis & Associates, a management consulting firm that serves clients in the automotive, consumer, connectivity and software fields. At PCBC, Ellis planned to address new technologies that are poised to influence the building industry such as the internet of things, 3D printing, nanotechnology, and more. Before the show, BUILDER talked with Ellis about his vision for the future. (For more on what the years ahead hold for home building, look for BUILDER’s August feature that will forecast the jobsite of the future.) One company promises commercially viable products before 2020. If that happens, it will have a profound impact on how homes of the future are built.

Nano-Particle Paint

This new technology is poised to revolutionize the world. Exceptionally hardened surfaces, self-cleaning surfaces, and dynamic-color changing surfaces are just a few examples of what is possible with nano-particle paint. We can imagine future homes that are never dirty, resistant to mold, mildew, and other such destructive forces, and able to change colors at the whim of the owner.

Autonomous Cars

While not directly related to the materials for home builders, autonomous cars are set to change the home building experience forever. The narrative goes as follows: As autonomous cars permeate the market, people will become more accustomed to the vehicle as a utility rather than a thing to own. Over time, the idea of personal ownership will be replaced with on- demand services. When that happens, there will be no need for garages, driveways, and maybe even streets. A future home in a world that is fully autonomous will be dramatically different than today’s homes.

Drones

This is yet another technology that is not directly related to home building, but it will have profound impact on the home of the future. We are moving quickly to a place where individual ownership of drones will be commonplace. Imagine sending your drone to the local Target or Costco to be loaded with goods that you purchased online and then it returns to your home. The future home likely will have a drone-pad similar to a helipad today.

Q: Your background is in the automotive industry. What can builders learn from the way cars are built and designed?

One of the biggest changes in the auto industry is the introduction of 3D printing. Once fully commercialized, it has the potential to fundamentally change the entire supply chain. No longer do we need to expend significant energy and cost to bring together thousands of parts from hundreds of companies. So, too, in the home building industry. When 3D printing is fully commercialized, home building will be changed forever.