Using another service, Outback Power, Pendl can see how much energy he's drawing from (or sending to) the grid when his 450 watt wind turbine and 800 watts of solar panels are operating. This all being said, the trailer isn't yet fully integrated with smart technoly: climate control and HVAC are still a separate system. "Another nice addition down the road would be to add smart tires to the trailer so that I can monitor and adjust air pressure from afar," Pendl says. "I take the Airstream on some pretty bumpy forest roads—the high desert of Nevada for Burning Man included—and it'd be great to quickly see an adjust tire pressure for better traction."

The company is in the process of training teams around the country on how to install the simple but technologically advanced shades. The just-opened New York showroom is located in the A&D Building in Manhattan, and the Los Angeles showroom is located at 8687 Melrose Avenue.

J|Geiger shades are deceptively simple. Behind their sleek, minimal appearance lies a surprisingly complex technology invented by James Geiger. What sets J|Geiger apart is a patented, "fascia-free" design, which neatly conceals its mechanics. The shades smoothly raise and lower thanks to a wireless system.

bioMASON developed a technology that uses bacteria to form a natural cement that binds aggregate into durable bricks.

With Control4 automation, everything from music to lighting can be managed with the tap of a touchscreen. The Casalis balanced their home’s high-tech features with rich materials including a marble backsplash by Ciot, a wood table from Kantelberg + Co., and quartz countertops by Caesarstone. The casual dining area features Kartell Masters chairs and an airy Triumph chandelier by Eurofase.

OneButton chose Definitive Technology’s DI 6.5S models for their superb sound quality and matte-white finish. A Corian grille hides the subwoofer.

“First, determine a technology budget, then pick the most important features to have,” Raizin advises. “Many want a fully integrated, ultra-high-tech home, but the cost for that can be in the six-figures.”

Plugging a cord into a socket or inserting a battery may seem like the easiest way to power a small appliance but it's not the only way. Italian designers Francesco Castiglione Morelli & Tommaso Ceschi designed the Timeless Garden concept clock as a demonstration of the way in which a few simple scientific principles can provide you with self-sustaining electricity.

The Type 75 Mini Floor Lamp is a sophisticated floor light that is designed with small spaces in mind. The lamp is defined by its classic Anglepoise looks—it features clean lines and a simple shade—and a thin profile. Shown here in bright red, the lamp is also available in other colors including black, white, grey, and light blue.

The Stop2Go Watch from Swiss Company Mondaine takes the classic Swiss Railway Clock and reimagines it as a sophisticated wristwatch. Modeled after the Swiss Railway Clock designed by Hans Hilfiker in 1944, the watch captures the clock’s classic red second hand, along with its subtle twist. The red hand sweeps a full circle in 58 seconds—instead of the typical 60 seconds—and pauses for two seconds at 12 o’clock so the black minute hand can advance.

“The entry fee for the Lowe’s Iris home technology management system is under $200 for a starter kit, and it’s easy to add to it. Iris allows security system management, door locking, and light on-off control all from a mobile device.”

Kohler's simple designs make for a more efficient cooking experience. Case in point? The brand's Sensate touchless faucet that enables easy hand-washing.

The goal of J|Geiger is to create shades that seamlessly integrate into a modern environment. The designs block out light without overpowering a space.

Spread over ten city blocks in Chicago’s Douglas neighborhood, IIT’s main campus contains the world’s largest concentration of buildings designed by Modernist pioneer Mies van der Rohe, who served as director of the university’s architectural school for nearly two decades. More recent additions include the Rem Koolhaas-designed McCormick Tribune Campus Center, a slinky, futuristic structure built under and around the elevated train tracks. The campus is easily accessible by public transportation via the Green Line’s Bronzeville stop. Photo by: Bo Mackison

If you are like us, you probably have a tendency to check email or Facebook on your iPhone before you settle in for the night. Also, your iPhone probably doubles as your alarm clock. This alarm dock is the ideal bedside companion piece. The dock is made of sustainably harvested new-growth beech wood and is a modern nod to those faux wood grain casings we remember all too well. Download the free Areaware Alarm Dock Clock app on your iPhone (available on iTunes App Store). Early morning has never looked so bright!

Solid Con 2014—a conference promoting "software, hardware, everywhere"—arrives in San Francisco on May 21, 2014, and presents a range of speakers from Google, MIT, and more.

Daniel de Bruin’s THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY is the world's first analog 3D printer, made of metal parts, weights, and a single bent wire that is "coded" to make different shapes. It is an ironic foil to computerized 3D printers that make things swiftly and efficiently.

Custom manufactured and installed, J|Geiger shades are designed to complement modern living spaces with their streamlined appearance.

The system has a main hub and comes with six sensors to install around the house. Power comes from batteries that are designed to last ten years. Each of the sensors use copper wiring as a signal booster, which relays their findings to the central unit, which is connected to your home Wi-Fi network. Set the sensors in a bathroom, basement, or any other room, and press a button to activate it.

The legend behind the headphones' creation is that founder Amar Bose was dissatisfied with the airline-issue headphones provided on a flight he took in 1978. However apocryphal, he is said to have written down calculations before landing, and those plans led to the first noise-canceling headphones that came out years later.

The LED lighting in the slide is just one of the high-tech elements in the house that can be adjusted from a smartphone or tablet. A computer system in the basement controls the screens in the house as well as the security and heating systems.

A collection of buildings, The Morgan Library & Museum began as the private library of financier J. Pierpont Morgan (1837–1913). As early as 1890 Morgan had an assemblage of illuminated, literary, and historical manuscripts, early printed books, and old master drawings and prints.

Click and Grow Back-to-the-land types may decry the Click and Grow, a sleek Scandinavian-designed assemblage of microchips and NASA-inspired Smart Soil that can help grow plants and herbs indoors all year round. That’s OK, though; when you’re enjoying fresh basil or berries in the middle of the winter, they can go outside and try to forage some root vegetables. Photo by Andres Keil

For your extra hour of sleep, rest your head on a supportive pillow. The E3 Memory Foam Pillow is specifically engineered to provide airflow while sleeping and it's crafted from hypoallergenic, anti-bacterial, and dust resistant materials.

When Pendl wanted a second home for road trips, Airstream was the clear choice: it matched his own love for modern and industrial aesthetics. He picked the International Sterling model for its especially contemporary interior, what he calls "a sleek...interpretation of that classic Americana style." But there was a hitch: this retro-futuristic dwelling couldn't support present-day security systems. Due to due to liability concerns, security companies won't typically install their products homes on wheels. Luckily Pendl already had some experience with smart technology systems: "Home automation has been on my radar for quite a while. Initially I was drawn to just the ability of being able to turn things on and off remotely, then I began to play with...[making] a smart home." In 2014 he learned about Wink, an app that lets users manage their smart home devices like Nest, Honeywell, Canary, and Phillips Hue. He set about improving his home in Seattle, first with just a few smart light bulbs then "I organically grew my ecosystem of products from there."

Foodini And for the ultimate product in futuristic, small-space kitchen appliance design, the combination 3D printer and oven system, currently a prototype being developed by a company in Barcelona, will help “print” different types of food.

Damn You Autocorrect features technology-induced foibles.

Quirky and GE announced seven new smart home products that have been under development in the two years since the companies announced their partnership. The initial ideas for the products were submitted by members of Quirky's crowdsourcing platform and were brought to market by the tech startup.

Green machines The E+ Home uses 95 different green technologies. Here’s our guide.

This Memory Foam Mattress features E3 Sleep Products’ three-part comfort system, including a two-inch top layer of cool gel infused memory foam, a middle two-inch layer of cloud memory foam, and a bottom six-inch high-density support base. The three layers are specifically engineered for comfort and support and create a medium firm surface for therapeutic sleeping. Available in sizes from Twin to California King, each memory foam mattress includes a handcrafted, removable cover.

20V MAX* Lithium cordless drill with AutoSense Technology by Black + Decker, $80 It’s not an app that makes Black + Decker’s new drill smart; it’s an automatic driver that stops when it senses that a screw is flush with the surface. Your DIY and home-improvement projects will look polished the first time around.

Lebbeus Woods, Center for New Technology, Montage 1, 1985.