Smart Home's new gadgets are full of energy

The Smart Home at the Museum of Science and Industry has been automated since it opened a few years ago, controlling heating and air conditioning, turning televisions and lights off and opening and closing window coverings.

But there are a few new gadgets you will want to hear about.

•In the new kitchen countertop is a cutting board that can heat meals, run appliances and charge cell phones.

eCoupled from Fulton Innovation in Michigan won't be fully functional for homes for about five years, said Steven Beasley, director of digital media for the museum.

Today you can buy a low-voltage pad, which will charge mobile phones and other small appliances that have special cases to communicate wirelessly with the system. The pad quits sending energy when the appliances are fully charged.

Manufacturers must get onboard before the high-voltage side is very functional, although it works like an induction cook top. It can boil water in a special pan, and it operates appliances like a blender that are constructed so they communicate with the control system.

•Power Smart Tower from IGo, Inc. of Arizona is a smart power strip. You can plug several battery-operated devices into it, and each outlet powers down when the phone or computer plugged into it is fully charged. This reduces standby power by up 85 percent.

•Elston Messenger Bag from Noon Solar of Chicago has photovoltaic film on the front that collects energy and stores it in a battery so you can recharge your iPod when you are away from energy sources. It does not produce enough energy for a laptop.

•Beasley is excited about the wireless technology of FitBit, a little clip that reports calorie use, number of steps taken and even the quality of your sleep to your computer.

•It's a good companion for the wireless scale from Withings of Delaware, which sends information like your weight to your computer and also displays it (anonymously, of course) on the Smart Home Web site.

•The roof of the home is covered with photovoltaic film, which makes electricity more efficiently than solar panels. and electricity is also made with a wind turbine from Southwest Windpower of Arizona on the property.

-Deborah Donovan