Future could be very similar to science fiction

Homes in the future could look very different with clothes washed in a high-tech waterless washing machine and a bathroom that will tell you if you are sick.

The down side, however, is that there is not much space because much of the population now lives in multi-generational households with property prices soaring to an average of 423,000 pounds.

Such an outlandish vision could come straight from a science fiction novel but it’s actually what life could be like in less than 20 years.

The consumer champion has just published a report predicting what the technological breakthroughs and the social and economic trends could be by 2030, the Daily Express reported.

Most eye-catching of all their forecasts is a Rechargeable Kids System that would go some way to tackling childhood obesity and rising energy costs.

Youngsters in the future could be wearing special trainers that generate and store energy as they run around outside, which would then be used to power electronic goods such as TVs and games consoles.

A shoe rack would double up as an electricity distribution hub so when a child places the trainers on the rack, their energy transfers straight to their bedroom.

The Which? Consumers In 2030 report states: “Data contained within the trainer may also be uploaded into virtual games – telling children and their parents how fast and how far they’ve run.

“The one drawback is that they have to make sure the trainers don’t get too muddy as this interferes with the shoes’ ability to convert sunlight into electricity,” the report said.

Another space-age advance that could have an impact on our lives by 2030 is the “Bathroom GP”.

Sensors in the toilet and sink would take biological readings and screen them for illnesses such as viruses, as well as check for kidney function, glucose levels and digestive health.

The data would be sent to a microchip embedded in a wristband where it is analysed against a users’ medical records and individual DNA patterns

All the analysis would be displayed on the bathroom mirror, which is activated by mobile phone so the user has control of when and where they want to view it.

According to Which?, and think-tank Forum for the Future, which it worked with, “the microchip measures vital signs like body temperature, calories burned, heart rate and sleep quality so all this information is collated.

“It also provides a full consultation and recommendations every month, with an extra option of adding dietary recommendations to your online shopping list to help you plan meals around the nutrients your body needs,” they said.

With the earth’s natural resources running thin, conservation will be the buzz word in 17 years time, Which? predicts.

Water companies, in particular, will start searching for ways to cut water demand to lift pressure on supplies.

One possibility is that customers will be given the opportunity to switch from a traditional water tariff to one that includes a washing machine that cleans clothes by using a chemical solvent and only a tiny amount of water.

By 2030, recycling is likely to be even more prominent than it is today. Scientists could invent a handheld device that scans objects to identify what materials they contain and then offers ideas of what they could be transformed into.