The future of living belongs to smart homes. The technology, which is also known as home automation or domotics, is intended to offer homeowners increased security, convenience and energy efficiency.
This is made possible by the intelligent household appliances that characterize the Smart Home concept. Frequently controlled and networked via a smart home app. As part of the Internet of Things, intelligent household applications communicate with each other and automate certain actions, depending on the individual preferences of the residents.
Possibilities of the Smart Home Distribution
But the spread of smart home devices is still very low. Homeowners often do not yet see the added value behind home automation. Ultimately, therefore, an advantage must be created for the consumer himself. Currently, there are too many different suppliers on the market that are not compatible with each other. This multitude of smart home ecosystems is extremely deterrent to most potential users and therefore prevents them from modernising their own homes. What they are looking for is a unified solution that is offered as a package by a central provider, for example. It can therefore be said that simplicity, security and control are central to the success or failure of smart home technology.
The easiest way to integrate a new technology is to build on something that already exists. As a result, some utilities now offer a smart home gateway, apps and compatible devices on a 24-month contract basis. By combining it with the power connection and other services, the entry barrier is much lower than before.
The use of smartphones to control devices via a central platform is also a step in the right direction. Since mobile phones now play a central role in most areas of our lives, it is only natural to actively integrate them into the control of smart home devices.
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In a few years, this will be complemented by language assistance systems. Skills for Alexa and Google Home, which control the various smart household appliances, are already very popular today, but are still at the very beginning of development.
New business models thanks to Smart Home
The technological penetration of the networked household will bring with it many applications that are currently not even considered. For the insurance industry, too, the higher the security standard of the Smart Home is, the greater the opportunities for the consumer to benefit from tariffs for the household equipped with sensors. Currently, the still very limited availability of corresponding sensors poses a hurdle, but in a few years’ time this will no longer be the case.
In all scenarios, however, it is essential that the consumer is convinced that all networked devices and services are secure, trustworthy and efficient. Smart home applications need to improve the lives of homeowners and be useful. This way, they can also convince the general public.
