The Internet of things (IoT) is on the rise and it is the future we are headed to. Projections suggest that there will be 50 billion IoT devices by 2050. These devices have added convenience and efficiency by penetrating deep into our daily lives.
One such way they have transformed our lives is by changing our ordinary homes into smart homes through automation. Smart home automation has changed the way we live and perform our household chores and other activities. It has enabled us to control devices, appliances, lighting, heating, ventilation, and other aspects with a single device. In most cases, the adjustments are made automatically and correctly without our interference.
This has led to a rise in demand for home automation in recent years. And it is well worth the hype around it. With changing times, the trends related to home automation keep changing. This is due to the advancement of technology and new applications and use cases being introduced with each passing day. So, here’s a look at the best smart home automation trends for 2022.
1. Self-Sufficient Home Office
Work-from-home is here and most likely, it will stay forever. There are various home automation devices that will be catered to providing the best home-office experience to individuals.
For example, smart desks are gaining popularity as they help improve productivity and also promote healthy living.
Smart lights and smart binds can adjust automatically depending upon the time of the day to ensure the most productivity.
2. Smart Bathrooms
Automation will enter our bathrooms too, further enhancing our leisure time experience. Firstly, voice-controlled digital assistants like Alexa and Siri will let people adjust the smart lighting in the bathroom to enhance the ambiance. Similarly, they can be used to change the music, or increase and decrease the volume of the smart speaker.
Moreover, we can see the rise of smart bathtubs. These bathtubs will be similar in design to the regular clawfoot bathtubs we have today. However, they will have enhanced functionality. Smart bathtubs will have LED lights around the rim that will change color automatically. Similarly, the bathtub will be equipped with inbuilt speakers that will transform it into a giant audio speaker. Individuals can change the music and perform other actions with a mobile app or voice commands.
3. Rise of Voice Assistants
In the earlier days, controlling smart devices relied upon using a mobile app. But, this is changing with the rise of voice assistants and voice commands. Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Apple Siri are some examples of voice assistants that have further simplified device control.
For example, you no longer have to take out your smartphone, open an app, and then manually dim your Philips Hue smart voice-activated lights. You can just say, “Ok Google, Hi Alexa, or Hey Siri, dim the lights by fifty percent, and the lights will do it.
The use of voice assistants is only going to keep on increasing as it improves convenience. They are expected to become the de-facto way of controlling smart devices in the future.
4. Updated User Privacy and Security
Using IoT devices also increases cybersecurity risks. User data leakage and stealing can lead to severe consequences. It can also lead to many losses for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
Businesses are taking the necessary steps to provide the highest degree of cybersecurity. This is necessary to retain their user base. Moreover, users are also becoming aware of the importance of data security. They are taking steps to maintain it from their own end.
5. Energy-Efficient Devices
We are moving towards energy sources that are efficient and better for the environment. The smart homes of the future will be built around the concept of energy-saving. Concepts such as smart grid technology can lead to a more sustainable and responsible life. For example, the technology offers energy efficiency, energy savings, and controlled power storage.
We can see smart solar power cells that can maximize the panels’ exposure to sunlight by automatically moving in the direction of the sun and help produce more electricity. Moreover, smart sensors can be added to regular solar panels that can help track and manage operations remotely. This helps cut operational expenses.
6. Advancements in Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence capabilities are only going to increase further in the upcoming years. This will lead to increased implementation of AI at the front end and back end of the smart devices. This will result in increased applications of smart devices. Furthermore, the devices will be able to perform the tasks with higher accuracy and efficiency.
Moreover, artificial intelligence and machine learning will be used to improve user security. The technologies learn about user behavior patterns and can block an activity that seems suspicious without human intervention.
7. Robot Assistants
As mentioned earlier, voice assistants are on the rise. These are nothing but robots who happen to dwell in your smartphone or smart speaker. Similarly, robots in other forms are going to gain prominence.
For example, autonomous robotic vacuum cleaners will become more common in the upcoming years. Robots that can help with cooking, trash cleaning, and even babysitting, too, will gain popularity in the future.
The future that we saw in movies where there is a robot available for every imaginable task will soon become a reality.
8. Improved Health Management
Smart health monitoring devices are gaining popularity among the average user. Devices such as Apple Watch let the user check their heart rate, track blood oxygen levels, and have a fall detection feature that helps improve health management.
There are also fitness trackers, temperature monitoring, sleep monitoring, and other devices that help users stay on top of their health information.
Key Takeaways
The home automation space is ever-expanding. As technology becomes more advanced and affordable, we can see smart homes becoming commonplace. Moreover, we can see user privacy and security taking center stage. IoT device manufacturers will take stringent measures to protect them.
In the distant future, we can see more convenience and efficiency being offered by smart home automation tools. It is very much likely that future smart homes will run on auto-pilot. There will be zero to least human intervention required to manage the daily functioning of a smart home. The future of smart home automation is truly exciting!