In his second lecture, Professor Gareth Roberts looks at the science and inventions that have made our homes safer, stronger, better to live in, and more secure.
Watch all the lectures in this series here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbnrZHfNEDZxIKFcbo3Wu7hUyQi2Jkd_S
Watch our newest Christmas lectures here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbnrZHfNEDZyQJZLPMjwEoOLdkFBLU2m1
This lecture was filmed at the Ri on Tuesday 20th December 1988.
--
An excerpt from the 1988 programme: Ever since man began building in stone, mud, wood, ice or brick, walls have had to be strong and thick enough to take the weight of floors and a roof. Architects and civil engineers now have codes of practice to cover foundations, materials and factors such as weight distribution which account for the natural resonance of a structure. The development of the float glass production system a quarter of a century ago made available large-area, high-quality, strengthened glass at very competitive costs compared with other materials. Surface coatings and sealed double-glazing units are now available which help regulate the influx of visible and thermal radiation. Active, 'smart', windows are being researched the transparency
of which is controlled by small electronic pulses applied to electrochromic coatings on the glass. Glass is used in many other ways in the home; in cooking utensils, lighting systems, television screens and for decorative purposes, to name but a few. Access to buildings continues to be dominated by locks and keys. The popular Yale key invented in 1850 was the first to be mass-produced and machine-made but is based on a principle first used in ancient Egyptian locks. More sophisticated physical access control methods are now being demanded. The increased requirement for effective security systems has also stimulated interesting advances in fire and article protection and intruder detection research.
--
Professor Gareth Roberts (1940-2007), then of Thorn EMI plc and the University of Oxford, and later Sir Gareth, presents the 1988 CHRISTMAS LECTURES titled 'The Home of the Future'. The impact of modern developments in electronics, materials and communications technology is becoming increasingly apparent in the home. There are numerous examples of innovative products that have arisen due to a combination of scientific progress and market demands. Many other exciting ideas are now emerging from industrial and academic laboratories and will play a significant role in homes during the next decade. These will be discussed in this series of lectures together with classic discoveries and inventions in related areas.
--
Join this channel to get access to perks:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYeF244yNGuFefuFKqxIAXw/join
Subscribe for regular science videos: http://bit.ly/RiSubscRibe
The Ri is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/ri_science
and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalinstitution
and TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ri_science
Listen to the Ri podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ri-science-podcast
Donate to the RI and help us bring you more lectures: https://www.rigb.org/support-us/donate-ri
Our editorial policy: https://www.rigb.org/editing-ri-talks-and-moderating-comments
Subscribe for the latest science videos: http://bit.ly/RiNewsletter
Product links on this page may be affiliate links which means it won't cost you any extra but we may earn a small commission if you decide to purchase through the link.