The wired household: Teletext services pave the way for a variety of useful monitoring and control features in the home

Information retrieval is not the only capability that advanced electronics can offer to households. Other, more complex chores can be performed by specialized terminals that combine microprocessors with relatively conventional hardware. Three experimental systems now in the laboratory would do the following in homes: 1. Control the use of electricity to avert overloading at utilities that can lead to blackouts. 2. Turn the television receiver into a programmable information/entertainment center. 3. Use the telephone at idle times for meter reading, alarm reporting, and the remote monitoring and control of lighting, heating, and air-conditioning.