The smart home sector is one of the fastest growing markets in the consumer electronics world – part of an ever more automated and integrated world at home as well as work, writes Camilla Kirkham, Director of Sales, Security and AV, Nimans.
More sophisticated software via smartphone interfaces is pushing the technology boundaries, combined with advanced hardware solutions. The next big step is from artificial intelligence (AI) where cameras can differentiate between humans and cars for example, whilst not being distracted by irrelevant environmental factors, such as leaves or birds. This improves the camera efficiency as well as giving the end user a more accurate and reassuring experience. Accuracy and reliability are key to winning the minds of consumers. For this reason, I see the many uses of AI in ‘Smart Homes’ to become the key driver and development for the immediate future.
The ‘Smart Home’ is moving into other lifestyle and activity areas, such as smart vacuums, pet feeders, curtains, and door locks. Some of these technologies have been developing for a while, but now we are beginning to see signs of critical mass adoption. Consumers are now fairly astute to smart homes and what they offer with security one of the top categories. According to some statistics, 87pc of burglaries occur via the front door, mostly happening at the times when people are at work or on holiday. The rise of video doorbells has been a great deterrent, with the ability to receive motion detection alerts via a smartphone.
This leads on to the exterior of homes where monitoring rear gardens and front/side areas are also key zones to consider. Camera security should not just be about capturing, but it should have an element of deterrence and prevention. Outdoor Floodlights not only provide a great lighting solution; they can also deter suspicious behaviour which you can either set automatically or manually via smartphone apps. Our lives will be so different in ten or 20 years as automated and robotic technologies improve lifestyles and potentially health of people. With all of the integrations and adaptations I cannot see a limit to the market, but what I do know and from what I see is is growing and accelerating fast!
