Thanks to technological advances in a number of different fields we have seen gigantic leaps forward in home automation in recent years. We have seen connected control in areas, such as surveillance monitoring, home security, communication and environmental systems. The digital age of interfacing remotely with appliances in our homes is here, but what can we expect to see next?
The Smartphone is the Key:
The mobile phone of today and other mobile devices are the key to unlocking this home control revolution. Many devices using the Android, Apple, and other operating systems can host simple apps to control these new household systems. This eliminates the need for special remote control units to program a host of separate devices. WiFi controlled appliances can be updated on the go from virtually anywhere in the world in real time. The controlling apps can be updated regularly with software patches that can include fixes and even new features. This level of flexibility and the almost universal take up of mobile devices is to key to moving forward.
Central Control via Thermostat:
As this technology sector becomes more quantifiable, it appears that a central control unit would be desirable. This hub within the home would act as the point of contact between the user’s smartphone and the device being controlled. It would appear that many industry insiders believe that a WiFi thermostat unit would be the best choice. Communicating with a central hub would be even easier than at present as a single app could be used to control multiple devices.
Enter Google:
Whenever Google enters the marketplace, it is time to sit up and take notice. Last year, Google purchased the home automation company Nest, and this has been followed up this year by the $555 million purchase of Dropcam. Dropcam is a company that produces an unobtrusive WiFi camera with a low light capability that can be used for monitoring and security applications. This camera is also equipped with a microphone and speaker allowing for interactions where it is located. It is already being used by pet owners to stay in touch with their pets when they are away from home. It is believed that Nest (Google) are working on a way to integrate Dropcam into their technology to create a new home automation system.
An Advanced Learning System:
Although this technology is still in its infancy, it is quite easy to speculate on where it will lead us as homeowners. The latest WiFi controlled thermostats already have learning systems that will begin to understand your habits. Forget to set your desired temperature on your smart phone before heading home? No problem, this system will know your favorite temperature and set it for you. As this kind of intelligence evolves, one could reasonably expect to see a system that detects faults in the home such as a defective refrigerator. Energy efficiency will improve significantly as the system will turn off lights in unoccupied rooms and heat the home in the zones required.