Smart homes, smart features and smart appliances are exploding in popularity and will soon be the norm everywhere. With more manufacturers pushing the envelope in smart home design, homeowners can expect a fully connected home in the not-so-distant future. “Smart home” can mean a lot of things, such as a home that only has programmable light bulbs, or a home with a smart thermostat or one where the security and entertainment systems are controllable with an app.
Most smart homes also have a central hub that allows one device to trigger actions in another without user intervention. For example, a connected smart home can give you the power to (all at once) lock the door, turn off the lights, adjust the thermostat, activate a security camera and more. However, there will be more in store for smart homes and the “home ecosystem” such as intelligent kitchen surfaces and washing machines that set clothing aside for donation. For example, as a way to expand on the popular digital cook top, one prediction is a concept cooking environment with a fully connected social media hub that syncs devices and all of your kitchen appliances. One possible innovation is an interactive backsplash with the potential to connect to social networks, websites, play music, store and save recipe cards in a digital format, track refrigerator inventory, create grocery lists, send reminders when you’re out of an ingredient, and keep tabs on expected guests with GPS. Further, the appliance maker Whirlpool also anticipates the debut of thoughtful appliances that work for homeowners and the greater good. Laundry, for example, could become an act of charity with apps that automate donations for every load. Washers may also come equipped with at-home quiet modes triggered by a smartphone, and varied cycles for specialized clothing, active wear, infant clothing or handwash fabrics. Purchasing a home with smart technology can be exciting, and right around the corner there will be even more appliances and devices that will make life around the home easier and more enjoyable.
Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2018. All rights reserved.
