The 5 Biggest Smart Home Trends

While traditional homes were designed for ownership pride, safety, and investment, smart homes are banking on one aspect of homeownership more than the others - comfort. If the location of the home is a comfort factor, the intelligence of the home unit is also one. The ability to control one’s home from anywhere, whether at the office or a vacation destination, has empowered homeowners like never before. To be able to tune our home to our preferences and to make it an extension of our technological lives is an enticing proposal to all.

The smart home segment has faced science-fiction-like innovation in the past few years, but that is only the tip of the iceberg. With nearly 175 million smart homes in the world currently, the smart home device market is expected to reach $174 billion in 2024 from a meager $55 billion in 2016. This curve is expected to steadily rise over the next decade and is set to be the next big technological advancement after smart homes.

It is safe to say that smart homes are the domestic version of the Internet of Things that is only starting to evolve faster and take on more powerful forms. Starting with the domestic favourite TV, we have begun connecting everyday devices to smart devices. The air conditioning, refrigerators, security systems, etc. have all got a cutting-edge facelift and the home automation technology is only expected to grow. It is now only a matter of time before artificial intelligence gives us smarter, innovative, and intuitive home assistants who make our lives easier. With the technology underpinning the smart home revolution developing faster than ever, let us take a look at some of the trends that are set to rule the smart home segment in the coming years.

1. One size fits all standardization

Connectivity is the heart of smart home appliances. But a headache all smart home manufacturers have to deal with is putting together a home with a competing range of standards and technology platforms. Top smart home service providers like Google, Apple, Amazon, and Samsung have a varied customer base. An interested home buyer may not be in favor of the technology provider, jeopardizing all the parties involved. They may fear being ‘tied’ to one service provider who may not be compatible with the devices they own. Also, homeowners may end up needing a whole set of apps to control the various devices in their homes and that could be a hassle. Relying on different platforms for different needs also causes security vulnerabilities. Technology giants recognized this as a real problem and have come together to create a holistic set of standards that make smart homes safer and simpler. This trend towards standardization will not just be an improvement in the smart home sector, but will also improve their adoption among the masses.

2. A smart home that is actually alive

The ‘smart’ in smart homes is only at its primitive stages now. Automatic window blinds, automatic temperature control, smart-phone controlled lights, etc. may have seemed like a big step a couple of years ago. But they are obsolete technologies now considering what is to come. Smart homes are set to become living and breathing extensions of their homeowners, thanks to machine learning. Refrigerators that can ‘see’ its contents, smart thermostat systems that ‘train’ themselves to the habits of the home dwellers, facial recognition-based security systems are all just some of the technological advancements in the smart home sector. The analytics derived from these technologies are aimed at improving our living standards. For instance, homeowners can gauge energy wastage if any, and shift their focus to a more sustainable lifestyle. Smart refrigerators can send timely reminders for groceries based on their contents and can also be trained to order in replacements.

3. Robotic assistants at home

Though humanoid robots are still a distant future away, robotic assistants are already a reality in many homes. Robotic vacuum cleaners and lawnmowers are growing in popularity and are replacing domestic help in many homes. Artificial intelligence is evolving at a rapid rate and is set to provide robotic assistants who can cook meals, clean the house, provide companionship and healthcare if need be. Robotic home assistants can carry out day-to-day tasks freeing us from chores and helping us spend time more valuably. For the elderly dwellers, robotic assistants could provide much-needed healthcare or call for health services in case of emergencies. Like smartphones, robots, and smart home technology, in general, is expected to become more affordable with time. In the coming decade, mobile robots that can act autonomously will become more affordable, common, and wanted.

4. Smart in-home healthcare

Smartwatches from tech giants already provide a range of healthcare services. From monitoring sleep to carrying out Electrocardiograms (ECGs), smartwatches have helped wearers monitor their health more closely. In fact, smartwatches can even alert wearers about an oncoming heart issue based on their heart activity. These functions can be extended to smart home devices too. For instance, smart in-home healthcare devices can help us connect to h healthcare providers remotely, diagnose illnesses by means of symptoms, give us timely reminders, and call for help if an elderly person suffers a fall. Smart homes can provide useful insights into a resident’s lifestyle, eating habits, and sleep habits when there is a need for the data.

5. The impact of faster network

With the launch of the 5G network and WiFi6 technology, the internet is set to take a leap globally. Faster networks will finally be able to keep up with an increasing number of data-hungry devices and appliances. Smart homes will get more cutting-edge as all devices start working synchronously and at the same fast speeds. Faster networks pave the way for larger and more sophisticated home devices to work seamlessly. Smart homes are set to only get smarter with the rollout of faster internet technology.

Homebuyers have been limited to buying apartments and villas and the options have only stretched to the number of bedrooms. But things are about to get more exciting, thanks to the advent of smart homes. Before you buy a home, explore your options in the smart home sector and ready yourself for a technologically better lifestyle.