Alexa, Can You Walk Backwards? Adventures in the Not-So-Smart Yet Progressing World of Home Tech

This morning Alexa TOLD ME to ask her what animals can walk backwards. So I did. Twice. Both times, I got these results:

…and I’m still wondering what animals can walk backward. She also doesn’t understand my husband’s Brazilian accent. Ever! But Alexa’s failings are part of the process, and with every new generation, we’ve seen her become better and, for the most part, smarter.

The same is true for other smart home technologies. In our household, we pride ourselves on being early adopters, yet I'll candidly admit that some of our initial forays into smart tech appliances have felt more cumbersome than convenient. Somewhere along the way, however, a tipping point has been reached.

A convergence of functionality, affordability, and user-friendliness has elevated smart technologies from exclusive features of luxury residences and movie sets to sought-after essentials across the housing spectrum. Nowadays, homebuyers of every budget are placing a premium on properties outfitted with sophisticated home systems. Here are some key trends in home tech we're seeing today:

Integration: Each generation of smart home technology is becoming easier to use and permits a higher degree of integration. The idea is to create a seamless network of devices that enhance convenience and functionality. Tech like Google Home speakers and Philips Hue lighting systems can be bought from Amazon or BestBuy and installed without the help of professionals. Devices across multiple rooms can work together, enabling control over your entire home from a single point, or even from your smart phone.

Artificial Intelligence (AI), Sensors, and the Internet of Things (IoT): Voice assistants have made many familiar with basic AI functions, but AI's capabilities are rapidly expanding, enhancing the way we interact with our homes through smart thermostats, speakers, lights, door locks and more. Sensors are used to detect motion, temperature, and light. Meanwhile, the IoT concept, which connects everyday objects to the internet, is making strides in smart home innovation, especially in kitchen and bathroom technologies, making everyday tasks simpler and more efficient.

• Touchless Technology: Initially gaining traction before the pandemic, touchless technology has seen a surge in interest driven by health and safety considerations. Innovations like touchless doorbells and app-controlled devices minimize the need to touch shared surfaces, reducing the spread of germs.
• Smart Thermostats: Among the most popular smart home devices, smart thermostats offer customization and convenience, allowing for remote temperature adjustments. They're celebrated for their eco-friendly and cost-saving benefits, with companies like Nest reporting significant savings on heating and cooling bills.
• Health Tech: The pandemic accelerated the focus on health-related smart home technology. Devices now offer features like humidity sensors for air quality improvement and smart air purifiers. My favorite combo at the moment is the AirThings air monitor in conjunction with an aromatherapy air purifier. It’s fun to watch the particulate matter readings go down when I’m filtering the air – and it's kind of terrifying to see the results of not changing the filter as often as needed. Additionally, some smart doorbells now include temperature checks, and smart toilets are evolving to offer health insights through waste analysis.
• At-Home Fitness Technology: The closure of gyms during the pandemic boosted interest in tech-enabled home workout solutions. Products like Mirror, Samsung’s Smart Trainer, and fitness apps that integrate with wearables like the Apple Watch are on the rise, reflecting a growing demand for convenient, at-home fitness options.
• Home Office Innovations: With the rise of remote work, smart technology for home offices is expanding. Innovations range from noise-canceling windows to AI video call filters, catering to the needs of the home-based professional.
• High-Speed Internet: The future of smart homes relies on high-speed internet connections. Mesh Wi-Fi systems, like those from Asus and Eero, eliminate slow speeds and connectivity dead zones, ensuring seamless operation of smart home devices throughout the property.
• Advanced Security Systems: We’ve all seen how Ring Doorbell has been used to deter or catch package thieves. Smart security systems like Vivint and SimpliSafe are advancing to protect homes more effectively, offering interconnected devices that allow homeowners to monitor their property remotely and control security features from afar.
• Enhanced Privacy: Smart home tech embodies the essence of modern innovation. However, understandable concerns arise when one considers the potential for cameras to be hijacked for surveillance, microphones to be tampered with using lasers, and entire security frameworks to be breached through a single smart device. These vulnerabilities might give one pause before integrating their home with the internet. In response, smart home companies are addressing potential vulnerabilities by developing advanced privacy protections to assure users that their information and personal lives remain secure.

The vision of smart homes depicted in media (go watch HBO Max’s The Girl Before!) is gradually becoming our reality, facilitated by the advancements in AI, sensors, and IoT. This evolution is not just enhancing the convenience and security of our living spaces, but also offering significant health benefits and a level of interactivity with our environment that was once deemed futuristic.

While there may be hurdles, such as the nuances of language and accent recognition, the journey towards fully integrated smart homes is both exciting and enriching, promising a future where our homes are not just places of residence, but dynamic environments that adapt to and enhance our way of life. 

Good reads:

Protect Your Home from Smart Hackers

Everything You Need to Build Out a Smart Home

The Ultimate Guide to Setting Up Your Smart Home