Thanks to the growing expansion of IoT (the Internet of Things), more and more homeowners are orchestrating their home devices and appliances with a simple push of a button or a voice command. From home security systems to lighting, heating, and much more, home automation has certainly become a reality – but how long before it’s an inherent part of the modern household?
Well, the answer might be much sooner than you’d expect.
The smart home product market has widely expanded. Not only are we seeing more product categories emerge, but increasing competition has also ensured that they’re not as expensive as they used to be. They’re much more accessible to a larger number of people and thus becoming more widely embraced. In this article, we’ll look at the major ways in which smart home technology is currently impacting homes both on a larger and smaller scale.
Smart home trends/ Improving home security
Even the least tech-savvy are willing to embrace the technology that will make their homes safer.
A Houzz survey from 2016, which included nearly 1000 homeowners, showed that security was the primary motivator for embracing smart home technology. Security gadgets have remained the most prominent on the market. Some of the most popular security and safety devices include fire and gas alarms, home locking systems, surveillance cameras, motion sensors, as well as breakage sensors for doors and windows.
Naturally, more advanced home surveillance systems are a significantly larger investment and not as widely embraced in the average home. However, people are finding appropriate alternatives in more affordable security solutions. Simpler systems such as wireless doorbells now have increased operational ranges, while some have strobe lights to improve effectiveness in larger spaces, and they remain prevalent over expensive video doorbell systems.
Stock pic by Stanisic Vladimir
Smart home trends/ Gadgets for more comfortable living
Many of the smart home devices are controlled via smartphone or tablet. But with the growing popularity of smart assistants, people are also utilizing central operating hubs via smart speakers, such as Amazon Echo. The most popular in the range of smart home technology, these devices can also be connected to the smartphone in order to orchestrate the entire home automation system by connecting to other hubs and controlling smart gadgets.
The range of use is really fascinating here, and we have yet to see how far smart home technology can take us and shape the way we interact with our homes. Virtual assistants are being used to perform tasks such as checking the weather, booking appointments, streaming music, and making online purchases. They’re also helping people control lighting and temperature in their homes, run smart kitchen appliances and vacuuming robots, and even cultivate their lawns using smart sprinkler controllers and automated lawn mowers.
Well, if helping is the right word, because they are literally doing all the work. You just need to say the words and they’ll take charge to get things done. Either way, you’d still have an impressively automated home without a smart speaker system, if you take on controlling any of these things via phone, laptop, or tablet.
Smart home trends/ The green factor
Aside from making our lives cushier and giving our homes a lifelike ability to interact with us, smart home technology is proving to be vital to reducing energy consumption. Smart thermostats, which ensure optimal temperatures and preserve maximum energy when homeowners are away, are one of the biggest selling points. Along with temperature control, smart indoor and outdoor lighting present another set of systems that are making homes more energy efficient – and making homeowners increasingly more eager to embrace home automation.
Smart home trends/ Smart homes are shaping real estate trends
Smart home technology has already left a profound imprint on the real estate market, and it is already regarded as a fantastic selling point for privately rented properties. As the Houzz survey shows, more and more people are embracing smart technology when renovating their homes – and it’s certainly playing a fundamental role in increasing the value of the properties.
In the United States, renters and homebuyers have shown a definite readiness to embrace technology, not only in regards to home automation but also during the process of choosing a home.
A survey conducted on over 3000 adults in the US shows that VR (virtual reality) is the next big trend in real estate, helping people visualize the listed homes. In this survey, the majority of participants claimed that they would like to take VR house tours before actually visiting a prospective home. Not only that, but they anticipated another way to utilize VR, saying they’d like to be able to use VR to visualize how their furniture would fit in a property they’re considering to buy.
Remotely controlled homes are no longer a futuristic dream or a luxury for the tech-minded. They’re establishing their position in the everyday reality of modern living, as a growing number of people embrace smart gadgets to secure their homes, save energy, and improve their quality of life.
Fortunately, none of this is at the expense of interior design. Although the concept of home automation might bring to mind images of futuristic pods, a smart home is a home like any other – furnished to reflect your identity and provide a sanctuary. And thanks to growing trends in technology, our sanctuaries can now make life easier when we return home after an exhausting day.