In Part 1 of this 3-part series by Silicon Labs, an expert overview is provided on what it will take to transition widespread use of smart home products into a mass market.
Why Consumers Need Smart Devices
The smart home is still in its infancy. To date, only 4.2% of homes have a smart appliance. To transition the smart home from the early adopter stage into a mass market, OEMs need to not only make “cool” technology but also deliver real value at a reasonable cost.
Convenience
One of the key selling points of the smart home is to make life easier. Currently, smart home ecosystems like Amazon Alexa and Google Home enable users to control connected devices using a smartphone and even their voice. However, the next generation of smart devices promises an even greater potential for convenience and flexibility.
For example, energy-harvesting technology has reached the point at which it can be cost-effectively deployed in the home. Energy harvesting converts energy in the environment into electricity that can power low-energy smart devices. Standards like Zigbee Green Power greatly simplify implementing energy harvesting in smart devices.
One of the initial applications employing energy harvesting is the smart switch. Traditional switches have to be installed into walls and may involve costly running of electrical wires to power and connect the switch.
Smart switches based on energy harvesting are standalone devices that do not require wired power. Nor do they require a battery. When the switch is pressed, this movement generates sufficient power for the switch to communicate wirelessly with the home network.
Installation of a smart switch is simple as well. After an initial pairing session, the smart switch can be installed anywhere in the home simply by adhering it to a wall. In addition, the home control app can define the capabilities of the switch to activate other smart devices in the home to turn on lights, open blinds, or even turn on the coffee pot. And, as smart switches can operate on the order of 1M presses, there is no maintenance required.
Efficiency
Much has already been written about the efficiency enabled by smart devices. With increased intelligence, the efficiency made possible by smart devices is only going to increase. Lights will turn themselves off when no one is in the room. Sprinklers will not turn on if rain is predicted for later in the week to conserve water. And dishwashers will turn themselves on when power rates are lower to reduce energy bills.
Safety
Smart devices can also improve safety around the home. Traditionally, home safety has employed door and glass sensors to determine if someone has broken into the home. These systems require users to manually turn the system on and off when they leave and enter the house. Furthermore, these sensors are limited to monitoring the inside of the home.
Smart devices enable safety systems to expand their reach outside the home. For example, a camera could track activity on the front lawn to detect if someone is loitering around the house. With artificial intelligence, these cameras could also differentiate between a person and a pet that is passing by.
A high-profile safety application is smart locks. A current trend is that millennials are willing to take advantage of services like housekeeping and grocery delivery when they are not home. Emerging smart locks will employ facial recognition so that only people the system recognizes can enter.
Assistance
One of the primary early markets for smart technology is assisted living. As the baby boomer generation grows older, they need increasing help caring for and looking after themselves. With the high number of Covid-19 deaths taking place in elderly facilities, adult children are actively seeking alternatives to care for their elderly parents.
In this context, smart technology is all about enabling elders to stay in their homes longer, thus continuing to maintain their autonomy. In a smart home, caretakers can remotely access non-intrusive wearable devices that track basic vital signs like blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen levels to confirm that all is well.
With continuing advances in AI, smart technology is beginning to automate monitoring of these devices. Elders often forget to take their pills, never mind take and write down their blood pressure. With smart devices, doctors can remotely assess the health status of elders. Devices can give reminders to take pills and alert caretakers if pills are not taken. Sensors can also track barometric pressure to see if an elder has fallen down, unconscious, or is otherwise unable to press an alert button to seek help.
Embedded AI will enable devices to monitor even complex behaviors and patterns and take proactive action if necessary. For example, monitoring systems will be able to verify that an elder got out of bed, made coffee by 9:00 a.m., and is safely sitting on the couch watching TV.
The technologies needed to enable the smart home to reach the mass market are here. By focusing on user convenience, efficiency, safety, and assistance, OEMs can deliver high value to consumers, establish a firm footing in the emerging smart home market, and create lasting brands.
Part 2 of this series will look at the barriers to successful smart device design.
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