If you took off your skin and laid it flat, it would cover an area of about 1.9 square meters, making it by far the body’s largest organ. Covering almost the entire body, skin protects us from a variety of external forces, such as extremes of temperature, damaging sunlight, harmful chemicals, and dangerous infections. Skin is also packed with nerves, which keeps the brain in touch with the outside world. 

   The health of our skin and its ability to perform its protective functions are crucial to our well-being. However, the appearance of our skin is equally – if not more – important to many people on this planet. Take skin color for example. Your genes determine your skin’s color, but for centuries, humans have tried to lighten or darken their skin in an attempt to be more attractive. In the 1800s, white skin was desirable for many Europeans. This color meant that its owner was a member of the upper class and did not have to work in the sun. Among darker-skinned people in some parts of the world, products used to lighten skin color are still popular today. In other cultures during the 20th century, as cities grew and work moved indoors, attitudes toward light skin shifted in the opposite direction. Tanned skin began to represent leisure time and health. In many places today, sun tanning on the beach or in a salon remains popular, even though people are more aware of the dangers of UV rays.     Just as people have altered their skin color to show wealth or beauty, some cultures around the globe marked their skin to indicate cultural identity or community status. Tattooing, for instance, has been carried out for thousands of years. Leaders in ancient Egypt, Britain, Peru and other places wore tattoos to demonstrate their social importance or bravery. Today, among the Maori people of New Zealand as well as cultures in Samoa, Tahiti, and Borneo, full-facial tattoos are still used to identify the wearer as a member of a certain family and to symbolize the person’s achievements.

   Imagine coming back to your place to a smart home after a tiring day at work. Doors and windows open and close automatically, your favorite music plays throughout the house, and dinner cooks itself. These sound like science fiction, but more and more homes are outfitted with such capabilities. 

   Smart homes can be controlled remotely through smartphones or portable computers. Often there are also computerized panels on different walls of the home, with various functions for the house owner to choose from. Most smart homes are equipped with controls for lights, heating, air conditioning, and electronic devices. The owner may also decide which other features to include. 

   For example, people who travel frequently might be concerned about security. With a smart home, they can check cameras in and around their house from anywhere in the world. They can turn lights on and off to see better and can even get instant alerts when motion sensors are set off. For other people whose priority is convenience, a smart house might take care of feeding pets and watering plants, or it might have a smart refrigerator that can trace its contents, suggest meal options or even order groceries when they are used up. 

   Smart homes are also a great helper in saving resources. They can reduce energy consumption and manage renewable energy systems or recycling programs. They can actually calculate how much money they save for their owners each month. These modern homes provide advantages for the elderly and disabled, too. 

   They can increase quality of life by making sure people are safe and comfortable at home. They are a wonderful alternative to round-the-clock care at institutions. The smart home of a dementia patient, for example, can remind its owner about daily activities like showering and eating. It can also monitor and give medications. The house can even contact emergency services when necessary. 

   Smart home technology presents exciting opportunities that are changing the way people live. Although they are limited to some basic capabilities at this point, they are believed to be able to do almost anything in the future.