As the new year approaches, we anticipate seeing advancements in smart home automation that will become increasingly popular with consumers. These trends build off the growing trend towards connected devices; in fact, we will have an estimated 20.4 billion connected devices by 2023 that work to streamline your lifestyle, provide comfort, and secure your home. Here are Origin Hi-Fi’s five smart home trends that will impact automation in the coming year.
1. Smarter AI and Voice Assistants
Voice assistants and AI are increasing in number throughout households. Many homeowners are looking towards their Amazon Echo and Google Home to operate thermostats, lights, and music in their homes. Smart home platforms are also including more AI-powered features that allow you to ask about the daily forecast or adjust your thermostat once you leave for work. As features like these are more prevalent in smart systems, more homeowners will opt for AI. Over 70% of smart home device users express interest in operating the home through a voice interface, and virtual assistants offer a streamlined user experience via hands-free control.
2. Energy-Efficient Sustainable Building
Did you know America uses more energy than every country in the world except China? Whether we’re using water or energy, homeowners are interested in lowering their usage to preserve the climate. The good news is that technology can help. We're seeing a drop in solar energy and storage battery prices as homeowners opt for renewable resources and speed up a necessary transition to clean energy. More homes and businesses are sporting solar panels on their rooftops and more new builds and aiming for sustainable construction certifications that reduce environmental impact.
LED lighting and smart thermostats also help us curb energy waste when we're sleeping or away from home. Smart thermostats operate on automated schedules and certain devices can sense when someone is home so they can adjust the temperature accordingly. As these devices learn and adapt to our routine, we can use less energy without much effort. Smart lighting can operate via motion detection to cut down energy bills as well.
In terms of water usage, low-flow faucets and showerheads are becoming popular alongside smart home systems that track water usage so homeowners can see where they can make necessary adjustments to save water. Lastly, more homeowners are installing rainwater harvesting systems to use for watering plants or flushing toilets, a perfect option for homeowners who often have high water bills or tight restrictions.
3. Helpful Household Robots
By the end of 2023, an estimated 10% of American households will have a housekeeping robot, an assistant that can be programmed to keep an eye on the household and perform daily chores like cleaning a variety of floors like wood, tile, and carpet. Some can detect when we depart the home to sweep or map, while others are equipped with cameras to check on your pets, avoid bumping into furniture, or stay free from getting stuck in a corner. For homeowners with gardens, devices like Eve Aqua can automatically water your lawns and veggies but knows to pause the schedule when there’s rain in the forecast. Household robots that can intelligently learn and adapt to your home will be the future.
4. Convenient Wearable Technology
One of the highest levels of convenience can be achieved through wearable technology. Homeowners can remotely monitor and manage their smart systems through mobile apps on wearable tech, whether they want to arm their security system, unlock and lock a door via a smart lock, close their garage door, shut off the lights, or view live video feed from their surveillance cameras. When properly installed, these automated solutions help homeowners stay connected to their homes. If you forgot to close or lock a door, or leave a light on, your system can send a message to prompt you to secure the home or save energy. These advancements are improving security, convenience, and comfort for homeowners across the nation.
5. Smart Kitchen Devices
Automated systems have been dominating the lighting, entertainment, and security sectors of the home, but in recent years, we've seen smart solutions begin to gravitate into the kitchen. When it comes time to replace an aging appliance, more people are opting for appliances incorporated with smart technology. Tech advancements have increased financial accessibility for more consumers, who seek time-saving solutions that streamline the process of making dinner after a long day at work.
Samsung and LG allow you to operate a smart refrigerator from a smartphone app and have a screen that pans through digital photos. You can opt between solutions like smart countertop ovens that order groceries, Alexa-enabled coffee makers, Google-enabled ovens that allow you to ask for a pre-heat cycle, or LG dishwashers that contact support for problem diagnosis. These devices will help us save time, build our grocery lists, and make a perfect cup of coffee! We anticipate seeing more technology in the future to create delicious meals like a perfectly roasted turkey or poached egg.
These automation trends are here to stay, and their popularity in the home market in 2023 demonstrates that more homeowners want to live in smart homes that make life easier! Whether you’re interested in a smart kitchen, voice assistant, or automated thermostat, you’ll need an integrated system to centralize your operations. Our team at Origin Hi-Fi is prepared to install the best smart systems and devices that will take your home to the future.