Afraid your home might be getting smarter than you? You may be right
We might not be driving flying cars just yet, but smart home technology is elevating our homes with devices that many couldn’t have imagined just a decade ago. Artificial intelligence and home automation have combined to provide a whole host of new domestic innovations, with more just around the corner. Here are 10 smart home trends to watch in 2022 and beyond.
While a robotic butler that handles your household management may still be a ways off, robotics are definitely getting their time in the home. The popularity of robotic vacuums has skyrocketed since they were introduced, and they’re getting better every year. But robots aren’t just around for cleaning–companies also are using them to help with a multitude of domestic tasks, including being able to sense when someone has fallen or assisting those who are elderly or disabled with mobility around the home.
While some medical robots cost upwards of $3,000, devices are becoming more common, less expensive, and more accessible every day.
People are living longer and the population is growing. Fortunately, preventative healthcare innovations such as wearables and telemedicine are allowing people to stay healthier without having to leave the house.
While monitoring activity levels is cool, wearable devices have also evolved to monitor sleep quality, track nutrition, and even perform electrocardiograms (ECG) in some cases. They can also monitor for falls and notify the appropriate authorities if you need help.
Over the last few years, LEDs have infiltrated the home landscape–and now they can be controlled by your devices. This allows you to walk into a room and simply command your system of choice to turn on lights all over your house. But that’s not all: you can set programs, dim the lights, and even turn lights on and off remotely from your phone if you’re away from home.
Having a security system is a great way to feel safer and lower your homeowner’s insurance premiums. But tech companies have taken home security up a notch with items like video doorbells, motion sensor lights, and cameras as part of the system. Most of these security systems have some sort of app today, meaning you can arm, disarm, check sensors and cameras, and more from your phone when you’re away.
As with most other tech, companies have set up apps so you can control your thermostat from your phone, making it easy to turn up the heat if it’s too cold to get out of bed or turn down the air conditioner from work so it’s nice and cool when you get home.
You can set programs to run based on time of day, choose whether to operate it weekdays versus weekends, and even connect your thermostat to your electric company to save money by following energy-saving guidelines. Some cities even offer rebates for installing certain systems in your home.
Along with the rollout of 5G all over the globe came faster functioning of smart home networks. Without diving too much into the technicalities, 5G tech allows devices to work free of cables and consume less power. That means quicker data transfer, more sophisticated programs, and the ability for all of your smart home and streaming services to function better.
Gone are the days when a simple furnace filter would be considered allergy-proofing your home. With air purifiers on the market that can filter out the tiniest of particulates, humidity controls, and contactless appliances increasingly flooding the market, germs will have to work hard to stay in your home. Plus, these sleek smart home devices will likely blend into your home decor.
Solar panels have been around for a while, but that doesn’t mean companies have stopped innovating. People have been offsetting their electric bills with solar power for years, but newer devices like solar shingles and windows are making their way into the residential market as well. You can even purchase solar-powered outdoor lights with their own small, individual solar panels or solar-powered pool heaters.
While some companies still need employees to work on-premises full time, 54% of office workers have realized over the last couple years that working from home is a better option for them. As working from home becomes more common for a lot of people, technology for conducting conference calls, home office setups, and even noise-cancelling windows can help create a comfortable and productive working environment.
Fridges are now being built with technology that not only tells you what you’ve run out of, but also keeps track of food expiration. And refrigerators aren’t the only appliances getting an upgrade. Automatic composters reduce food waste, Wi-Fi-connected coffee mugs keep your drinks warm, touchless trash cans reduce germs, and some appliances like air fryers come with apps that allow you to monitor their temperature.
