William Henry "Bill" Gates' home built in the late '90s could still go head-to-head with the most modern homes of today. In his book entitled 'The Road Ahead,' which was published in 1995, Gates allowed us to peek inside his not so humble abode.
Bill shares in his book that his house was equipped with a touch pad in every room that allows residents to control lighting, music and temperature. As you enter the house, you will be offered an electronic pin that will allow you to enjoy the different electronic services of the entire home. Gates writes, "The electronic pin you wear will tell the house who and where you are, and the house will use this information to try to meet and even anticipate your needs - all as unobtrusively as possible." The system has a way of remembering individual patterns, so that each time you visit the house, it will already know your personal preferences, like how bright the lights need to be when you are reading, or what songs to play when you are working out.
Gates predicted that eventually, other houses would be able to have the technology that his already had. Fast forward to two decades later, and most modern homes are not even close to having his abode's unbelievable amenities.
It is interesting to note that even though the co-founder of Microsoft is one of the world's most tech savvy people, he does not want his home to look like it. In an interview with Philly.com back in 1995, Peter Bohlin, architect of Gates' home, shares, "He (Bill Gates) wished the technology to be as invisible as possible. He and his wife wanted the spaces to be even more domestic. He intends to make it high-tech, but by magic. It's invisible."
Gates' house back in 1997 had seven bedroom, 24 bathrooms, and six kitchens. Apart from its high tech features, it also boasts of amenities like a 60-foot swimming pool with an underwater music system, a 2,500-square-foot gym, and an elevator.
