Are you a technophile? If yes, then 2022 is going to be your year!
Technology is spreading its arm into every aspect of our lives, from education to health, and the recent times in running our homes. Smart homes, a place furnished with the latest IoT connected with your smartphones, have become the trend.
The pandemic has escalated the already advancing technology, and home automation is leading the race. So, here are the top five home-automation tech trends to look out for in 2022.
What is a Smart Home?
An intelligent home consists of smart appliances and connected devices that create a more livable environment. For instance, consider a typical CCTV surveillance set up in your house. It is no longer necessary to drill miles of cables, drill deep holes, and store data on computers with high-end cameras. Instead, you can now get a smart camera and hook it up to a power source, and you’re good to go. All the data is stored on a secure remote server and is accessible through your home Wifi. In case of an unexpected event, it can even alert the law enforcement authorities.
It is possible to connect appliances and devices to a home in today’s tech era, making it truly smart. The technology behind it is called the Internet of Things (IoT). Your home can be programmed so that the things you use every day perform their duties simultaneously. Through smart speakers and smartphones, these intelligent devices can communicate with each other two-way, and their activities can be monitored and controlled even from a distance.
How Home Automation Tech Makes Your Life Easier?
- Convenience- There is no doubt that smart houses are more convenient than traditional houses. You can automate all commands to suit your needs, whether it’s adjusting the temperature before you get home in the evening or syncing media devices in different rooms.
- Energy savings- Smart homes help you save energy in two different ways. To begin, you may choose your preferred temperature and lighting control settings. Smart appliances can also avoid consuming energy at times when demand is high. According to SmartGrid.gov, this can be done by responding to utility company signals.
- Safety– Smart wireless systems offer security and surveillance for your home with a variety of motion sensors, cameras, and other advanced features.
- Accessibility- A smart home can offer accessibility features such as voice-command locks, lighting controls, and even computers. Because of their versatility, they are an excellent choice for elderly or disabled people who suffer from completing their day-to-day chores.
- Higher Value- Smart home features are more likely to increase the market value of your home.
Home Robots
Robots in the home have been on the horizon for quite some time, and single-purpose devices such as vacuum cleaners are already among the most common. On the other hand, Amazon says, Astra is the first general-purpose home robot to be released. Different manufacturers will surely follow, similar to when Amazon introduced the Echo, the first AI-based home assistant.
The robot can also act as a security bot, watching out for people who shouldn’t be there, or as an “Alexa on wheels,” appearing when you get a call or an alert. Furthermore, it has a personality so that it can provide general entertainment or keep you company. There are also other robots that will either hit the market or appear as prototypes that will help with household chores, monitor elderly residents living alone, or teach.
Security and Access Control
Automated home security is the future. This is one of the essential features of a smart home. Companies are developing simple-to-use, yet sophisticated, security systems that can withstand even the most calculated cyber-attacks.
We can expect to see lighting, alarm, and closed-circuit camera management consolidated into a single interface in the coming year.
The features like remote arming and motion detection are expected to become standard as alarm systems evolve more sophisticated. Another exciting feature we hope to see growing in popularity in the coming year is light simulations in a home to depict someone’s presence.
Smart Things
There are many options for the smart device available on the market that either has their own apps or are part of a particular ecosystem. The device establishes a connection with devices in its vicinity through the apps. However, the plethora of choices in the market can be a bit overwhelming. Therefore, we recommended you start with one or two smart devices to get a sense of how things work. Then, once you are comfortable with their functionality, you can add more.
Look at a variety of product categories, and then pick the one with the most convenient features. The device might be a smart speaker, a CCTV camera, or a door-lock. Further down the lane, continue adding devices to the range like smart lights, CO detectors, water sensors, etc.
Occupancy Sensors
Sensors monitor occupancy devices can activate lighting and heating as necessary when the space is occupied. In addition, they can detect when an area is unoccupied and automatically turn off the lights and other gadgets.
From 2022 onward, occupancy sensors are expected to be able to recognize different individuals based on movement patterns. As a burglar detection feature, this can be included in security systems.
Health Technology
2022 will see smart homes able to detect and monitor changes in our health.
With the integration of sleep monitoring devices into smart homes, early indications of depression can be detected. One thing the Covid-19 pandemic taught us is that our body temperature can be a strong indicator of many health conditions. So, there is also a possibility of temperature monitoring systems being included as standard equipment in smart homes.
In the year ahead, our fitness gadgets will also be able to track our body changes and offer advice on an appropriate diet as we advance.
Get Started With Your Smart Home
There is a wide variety of options available on the market, most of which have their own apps or are part of a specific ecosystem. Applications provide a gateway by which devices can connect to other devices in their vicinity.
However, with the plethora of smart home-automation devices available in the market, choosing the right one for your need can be a little overwhelming. That’s why we recommend that you begin with one or two smart devices. Then, familiarize yourself with how they work before adding other smart devices.
Then, filter down the choices by picking the features you need in the device from different product categories. For example, a smart speaker, intelligent CCTV camera, or even an intelligent door lock could all be examples of such devices.
Conclusion
Smart homes are the future. To create energy-efficient, sustainable, and data-protected devices, original equipment manufacturers are racing against time. Intelligent homes will almost operate autonomously in the future.
Smart homes are expected to handle all of the tasks without human interference, from security and access control to preparing delicious meals. The future is bright and filled with more comfort and security than ever before!
