Intel showcases automated tiny home in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A tech company with a big vision built a home that's only 210-square feet.

Tucked away in a San Francisco parking lot, a realtor might describe a house as cozy, very cozy.

Built by chip maker Intel, it's an exhibit that's just a little bit smaller than San Francisco's real-life micro apartments.

Kyle Schuneman designed the house, which doesn't feel tiny.

"This is how millenials are starting to live. This is how we're all starting to live. Cities are getting more populated and so people are choosing tiny over big," Schuneman said. "We have an office, we have a bedroom, we have a living room, we have a kitchen, all in this tiny little space."

But there's one thing it doesn't have, a doorbell. With facial and voice recognition, everything in the home is automated through a tiny central computer.

"Basically the heart and brains of the home," Schuneman said.

Now, all of this is not to say that Intel wants to get into the home building business, quite the opposite. They want to simplify the process of making a home smart so that home builders can focus on building homes.

Intel's Smart Home director showed off some household headaches.

"And let us do the unsexy work of the plumbing that goes along with that infrastructure," said Intel's Smart Home director. "The tablet recognizes the leak. We select a plumber, have the ability to book a date."

Detected and cured with a click.

There's no need for a burglar alarm. The computer knows the sound of breaking glass and the sound of an ordinary smoke detector. Because if city dwellers are doing more with less, shouldn't technology do the same?