What the home computer really can do for you

Press, 6 January 1987, Page 11

What the home computer really can do for you

Organise your accounts? Yes, it can store all the information, but getting access is time consuming and expensive. Deal with correspondence? Yes, if you have a lot of repeat correspondence, a word processor attachment can make the task much easier. Filing is still best done manually. Educate your child? Yes and no. The micro is a useful supplement to, not replacement for, teaching. Learning to write programs is only useful if the child wants a career in information technology. Do the shopping? Yes, via systems like Prestel, but choice is still limited. Cook? No, no one has yet produced the robot that will turn out the perfect dinner. Even devices which employ the silicon chip, like food processors, are really geared more to accuracy than labour saving. Vacuum? No Hoover have produced a machine with a programmable memory which can do it, but it was so expensive they’ve no plans to market it. Iron? No, we’re stuck with this! Wash up? No, micro could be programmed to switch a dishwasher on, but there’s no clearing facility. Bring you tea in bed? No,

the automatic tea maker is still your best bet. Answer the door? No, the entryphone, which involves no chip, is the closest to it. Feed' the cat/dog? No there’s no simple, effective pet food dispenser, let alone a computer that can do it. Water the plants? Yes, with the help of an electronic computerbased table top robot, like Inter Galactic Robots’ Zero 2 ( £99.95). But fibrous wicks are simpler and cheaper. Enable you to work from home? Yes, but only if your

employer or work allows you to. When tried In America, employees complained of loneliness, but the potential of flexibility of hours for working mothers is enormous.

Run your home? No, in Britain we seem to be some way from the automatic home. But in Japan, Sharp Corporation have built a home with a central console that controls lights, TV, curtains, temperature’ — at the touch of a button — and acts as an intruder/fire warning device.