13 Strange Home Technologies from the ’60s That Would Seem Futuristic Now
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It was a wild innovation and bold vision time in the 1960s. Asides rock music, moon landings and colourful fashion revolutions, inventors were cooking up home gadgets and technologies that were decades ahead of their time. Today, we know devices like smart thermostats and digital assistants, but people back in the ’60s had their own creative answers to what a better future at home could be. Some were quirky, some genius, others bizarre. But even today, you may be surprised at how futuristic some of these ideas still seem.
These gadgets may be relics now, but their ideas live on in many of the high tech solutions we enjoy. We’ll take a look at some of these almost forgotten inventions that would still blow us away today.
Intercom Systems
It was in the ’60s when home intercom systems began to rise, allowing families to communicate between rooms without having to shout up and down the stairs. It was a high tech, elegant feature for bigger homes, where parents could call kids to dinner or ask where the missing items were. We’ve since texted each other in the same house, but this early tech set the precedent for more connected households.
Wall-Mounted Hi-Fi Systems
In the 1960s, music lovers would blast their tunes around the home using wall mounted hi fi systems. The sound systems were sleek, built into walls to save space and easy to control music from room to room. Today’s multi-room wireless speakers demonstrate that people have wanted seamless home audio experiences for decades.
Automated Home Kitchens
In the 1960s, the dream of an automated kitchen was born: prototypes had conveyor belts that brought ingredients to your prep area. Some of the models even had built in cooking systems that took care of heating, serving and so on. We might laugh at these clunky machines now, but they allowed people to get a taste of what a kitchen with no endless labor could be. Fast forward to today we have automated coffee machines, robotic cooking assistants, as well as devices that can chop and dice.
Radiant Floor Heating
Heated floors are now a luxury addition to many homes today, but the technology is much older than you might think. In the ’60s, radiant floor heating was tried as a way to provide the even warming of homes. The idea was to circulate warm water in tubes under the floor, so toes would stay warm in winter times. These were quiet, subtle heaters that brought heat to a room without the noisy fans of traditional heaters.
Slide-Out Appliance Cabinets
Slide out appliance cabinets were the ’60s way to maximize kitchen space. These were cabinets that would conceal blenders, toasters, even microwaves, until they were needed. Homeowners liked how it cleared the counters of clutter. This was a small, but important step towards the more minimalistic, functional kitchens we catch sight of today.
Rotating Closet Racks
Rotating closet racks, inspired by dry cleaning racks, allow homeowners to access more clothing in smaller spaces. Clothes would circulate with the press of a button, making clothes easy to get to that might get lost in a traditional closet. This is a concept that still appeals today, particularly for small space living, and it does a great job of optimizing closet functionality and the dreaded “lost favorite shirt” problem.
Closed Circuit TV Surveillance
In the ’60s closed circuit television (CCTV) for personal use took home security to a new level. Even though it wasn’t available to everyone, wealthy homeowners could buy cameras to watch entrances and see visitors. That was a breakthrough, as an alternative there was only a peephole in the door. Since then, CCTV has become the mammoth home security industry we have today, but back then it was grainy black and white monitors in suburban homes.
Weather Control Devices
It’s true, weather control was a goal as far back as the ’60s. And some companies even sold devices that claimed to regulate humidity, remove allergens, and lower indoor dust levels, in the name of a healthier home. While a bit too ambitious for the tech of the time, these early air purifiers set the playing field for modern devices that keep indoor environments comfortable and clean.
Refrigerated Drawers
Refrigerated drawers were in the high end kitchens long before smart refrigerators came into existence. Instead of a large refrigerator, homeowners could have these smaller cool compartments for different food items spread around the kitchen. The ability to store food more conveniently in proximity to cooking areas and a more balanced kitchen arrangement were advantages. The basic idea is still surprisingly similar but today’s versions are better.
Color-Changing Mood Lighting
Color changing lighting was already being tested as a home mood enhancer before LED smart bulbs could shift from blue to red at the tap of a screen. The concept was simple but effective: In every room they used different colors to create different atmospheres for different mood or time of day. These were still a creative way to set ambiance with the flip of a switch, although they were not app controlled. You have no idea how far back some people would install these to match their parties or their emotional states, a forerunner to what would later become smart home lighting.
Central Vacuum Systems
The 1960s were already a step ahead, and if you thought central vacuums were a modern luxury. Built in to houses back then were vacuum systems in walls, which homeowners could plug in a hose to and vacuum each room without having to lug around a huge vacuum machine. Installation was an expensive endeavor, but was a huge deal for cleanliness fans. Despite that, central vacuuming was considered the epitome of convenience, especially in homes with a lot of space.
Voice-Activated Appliances
According to ICS.AI, voice activated technology was being explored in the 1950s, long before Alexa or Siri. Basic voice activated systems were installed in some high end homes and could turn on lights or kitchen appliances. It wasn’t sophisticated, in no way, and was a tantalizing taste of what could come. I can imagine someone in the ’60s commanding their coffee maker to start brewing—very futuristic vibe back then!
Hydraulic Beds
Even bedtime was all about convenience in the 1960s. The hydraulic beds could be raised or lowered at the push of a button to an adjustable custom sleeping position. In particular, it was popular among the elderly or the mobility challenged. Today’s high tech beds with memory foam and posture control were set to be a result of this adjustable design, always remembering that comfort in bed is a priority.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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