Experts at Mckinsey predict most people will live in a smart home filled with smart devices in the future. Homes will be run by bots (virtual assistants doing tasks like ordering takeaway meals) anticipating our needs and acting like the ‘brain’ of the house.
A study conducted by Juniper Research found 55 percent of American households (or 70 million homes) plan to use a smart speaker like Amazon Echo in the next 4 years. Tech-loving Australian homes are not far behind. By 2021, Australian households will have more than 30 smart devices in every home.
Advances in computers and artificial intelligence
The McKinsey report mentions that the smart devices market is fragmented which means the devices don’t talk to each other yet and can’t detect human emotions perfectly.
With advances in computers and artificial intelligence, the report estimates that it could be two years before the first ‘brain’ or tech ecosystem arrives in your home.
As technology becomes more sophisticated, it will integrate with anything you can think of –from your fridge to your doorbell to your shopping lists. The ‘bots’ will control everything in your home reducing the hassle of routine tasks and anticipating your needs.
Before the bots arrive though, smart devices are the next best thing offering users convenience, automation and security. We’ve listed the different types of smart devices in this post. How many of these do you already have in your home?
Robotic vacuum cleaners
These are all the rage as new models zoom their way into the market. Newer models have intelligent features. For example, LG’s Roboking Smart Robotic Vacuum Cleaner has in-built sensors to detect corners so it can clean better.
It’s fitted with a camera so you can monitor your home remotely and detect movement in your absence (it sends pictures to your phone). The Roboking smart vacuum cleaner costs over $1200 and is one of the many smart models on the market.
Smart Bulbs
Gone are the days when you needed to jiggle the dimmer switch to create the right ambience for that special date. The Philips Hue smart bulbs connect to your Wi-Fi doing this automatically.
The Philip Hue system calls itself your personal wireless lighting system because it takes the guesswork out of trying to select the right light intensity and tone. You can also switch on lights remotely as a security measure when away from home. Need a night light for reading in your bedroom but a brighter light in the living room? It can do that too.
If you can customise your meals using apps, why not the lights in your home?
Smart TVs
Technology has revolutionised entertainment and the smart TV is the pioneer. A few years ago, the idea of recording live TV or watching catch up TV seemed impossible. Smart TVs do all this including reminding you when your favourite program is about to start and switching channels automatically.
With Wi-Fi connectivity, you can sign up to subscription services like Netflix in minutes or connect your phone to your TV to watch YouTube videos or scroll through photos on the bigger screen.
You can watch movies in 3D or 4D in the comfort of your living room instead of spending money at the cinema. Hook your TV up to smart speakers, issue instructions to Google Home and watch a movie all without lifting a finger.
Smart locks
Devices like Lock Smart provide a keyless entry for you and guests using an app on the homeowner’s phone among other features. It allows creation and sharing of multiple digital keys and shows who accessed your home and when. Want to stop someone’s access to your home? Simply delete their digital key from the Lock Smart app.
Smart speakers
This post would be incomplete without mentioning Google Home, and Amazon Echo that uses Alexa. One device controls all of your home’s smart devices. It acts as a personal assistant and is always ready to turn off lights, switch on TVs or answer whatever random question pops into your head.
What do people ask Google Home?
A survey by ComScore found the following common requests were made of smart speakers – answering general questions to controlling smart appliances, ordering food and streaming music.
Americans have embraced smart speakers enthusiastically with tech loving Aussies not far behind. According to a new study, Australia’s Internet of Things industry will be worth $4.7 billion by 2021, and households using 311 million internet-connected devices, or more than 30 devices in every home.
Technology is becoming more sophisticated by the day. It won’t be long before you’re controlling everything in your home from your phone while sipping a latte in a New York Café, one you ordered using an app on your phone so you don’t have to wait in line!
While we wait for the bots to takeover our homes, why not outsource your home cleaning and book a cleaning service with UrbanYou? It’s an automated booking system and takes only 60 seconds.
Have a question? Speak to the chatbot on our site.
