- 31/01/2017
- Category: Commentaries
Connectivity and integration are now parts of our primary needs. Humans are used to having everything separately. Name it: mail, phones, calculators, calendars, or alarms. These are now integrated into a single device through smartphones—where the data can be stored and accessed from almost anywhere. Today, the connectivity and integration have invaded our next private space: homes.
The Smart home is a new and growing trend. Berg Insight predicted 68 million homes in Europe and North America will be smart by 2019.[i] It means hundreds of millions of people will have their door locks opened by a single finger tap, their garages automatically opened then welcoming them home, and perhaps the best part: be able to command their “personal assistant” like Amazon Echo/Google Home, to operate their domestic devices by voice. Plus, since the “personal assistant” is connected to the Internet, it can also update the owners on recent news, for example, the progress of Donald Trump’s wall or answer a random question about Justin Bieber’s mom’s birthday.
This trend makes sense. The smart home is not only about the satisfaction over the experience of adjusting the colors of the light bulbs or closing the curtains by using a smartphone, but also for more pragmatic reasons, such as security. A report conducted in 2015 showed that 90% of those who have purchased a smart home system have put security as their top reason.[ii] Installing surveillance cameras on our doorstep might reduce the risk of our house being intruded by thieves or robbers. And even if it happens, the police will have some leads from the records to solve the case. A study observed that car parks gained a 51% crime rate decrease—showing the practicality for CCTVs to reduce crimes.[iii] The technology can also protect us from non-conventional threats, such as gas leaks which would be detected instantly.[iv]
Talking about energy efficiency, technology in smart homes may be a concrete solution. A significant amount of the electricity bill can be reduced by a thermostat (automatic temperature regulating system); a set of lamps that turn themselves off when we are away or when the sunlight is enough to light the room; fans that turns on/off based on our presence; or simply monitor the electronic devices’ energy consumption through apps.
This emerging lifestyle indicates that the benefits of society’s interaction with the digital technology are now expanding to be more “real life” and practical. And the good side is, the possibility is endless. If a smart home technology can notify us about our bad sleeping behavior today (because of too much giggling through 9GAG at late night), who knows if it will transform into our personal digital doctor in the future?
Nevertheless, the same old rule still applies. Technology promises a better life for those who can afford the price. For a middle-class family, installing smart home technology today—even though it is claimed to save much—could drain their pockets for a while. A set of 2 smart light bulbs can cost hundreds of dollars, compared to its conventional counterparts which cost only around $8 each. But we never now what the future holds. The smartphone was a luxurious commodity a decade ago and it is in everyone’s pocket today. The trend is very possible will get cheaper as the time goes by in the distant future.
The technology also faces some updated challenges, such as smart thieves that can use their hacking skills to outsmart smart locks. Not to mention the peril of letting our furniture go online. It is equivalent to handing our personal data to third parties—blurring the line between privacy and security. One day, when smart technology penetrates more and more homes worldwide, it is possible for us to witness another USA Patriot Act-like debate. When that time comes, would it be too late already?
Subsequently, the final—yet classic—challenge could be how to provide a more affordable price for this smarter technology, so the joy of living in a home that could think for itself could be more inclusive.
picture: pexels.com
[i] Smart Homes and Home Automation [2014] (M2M Research); 1.
[ii] State of Smart Homes Report [2015] (iControl Network); 4.
[iii] Skelly, K. (2016). Does CCTV Actually Prevent Crime?. SiteSecure, [online]. Available at: http://satsecure.uk/blog/110-does-cctv-actually-prevent-crime/ [Accessed 27 January 2016].
[iv] Prindle, D. (2014). Detect Natural Gas Leaks Before They Become Dangerous with Kepler. Digital Trends. [online]. Available at: http://www.digitaltrends.com/home/kepler-like-nest-protect-gas-leaks/[Accessed 27 January 2016].
