The first light touches the curtains. As you stretch your arms to awaken the body, a warm sound encourages you to open your eyes. Not the jarring, abrupt sound of an alarm, but a soft voice that is telling you what’s the weather going to be like. The coffee maker, sensing the optimal moment, and begins brewing your first cup of coffee. This isn’t a scene from a futuristic novel. It’s the reality of living in the age of intelligent living, where smart home gadgets transform our homes into ecosystems of comfort, convenience, and efficiency.
I remember the days of fumbling for light switches in the dark and returning to a cold, unwelcoming house. Now, my home knows me. It’s constantly learning my preferences, anticipating my needs, and even saving energy in the process. Embracing smart home technology is not reserved for early adopters and those looking to impress guests for a Saturday night poker game. It is for everyone.
In my opinion, smart home technology is a very logical answer to our modern way of living. Our days are filled with endless tasks, to-do lists, and constant rushing. Washing machines and dishwashers save a lot of time, but there are situations where it’s not enough. I feel like smart home gadgets are what dishwashers were in the 70s. An answer to a problem. And that problem is – less time at our disposal.
Beyond Smart Homes
The influence of smart home gadgets extends beyond their initially intended purpose, finding its way into various industries. Seemingly unrelated, the gaming industry has utilized smart home technology to create an immersive experience for players. For example, smart cameras and security systems, inspired by those used in home security setups, are employed for surveillance, ensuring a secure environment for guests. Similarly, intelligent lighting systems similar to those in smart homes, can adjust the ambiance of different areas within a casino to enhance the mood or highlight certain games.
On top of that, casinos are adopting technologies like voice-activated assistants and IoT (Internet of Things) devices to offer personalized services to guests. These can range from voice-controlled room adjustments in casino hotels to IoT-enabled gaming tables that track betting patterns and gameplay for a more tailored gaming experience. This technology is not only applicable to brick and mortar casinos, but also tailored for online gaming, which allows users to access online casino games in the UK through voice commands rather than searching on the Web. Such software brings machine learning and AI together to recognize the voice, and performs according to the commands.This feature offers great accessibility for seniors who may have difficulty using traditional technology.
The Transformative Potential Exceeds Convenience
Why should we care about making our homes smarter? Is it just a luxury or does it actually provide tangible benefits to our daily lives? The answer is yes – smart home technology can greatly improve our quality of life in numerous ways. This technology essentially allows you to control your home remotely. This includes the lights, thermostats, security panels, solar panels, garage doors, locks, shades, security sensors and many more. Anything connected to the internet can be controlled remotely if the app allows it. With the introduction of AI, possibilities are endless. With
the help of AI algorithms, a smart home could actively learn about your habits and preferences, making adjustments and suggestions based on that information. Imagine dimming the lights, setting the mood music, and launching your favorite streaming service or entertainment app, all before you even come home from work. This is the barebone of a smart home. We’re not talking about some crazy future tech here, it’s already available on the market and you could have it today. What would be more impressive is a smart home automation system that not only adapts to your daily routine, but also learns from it and anticipates your needs.
But Before That…
Somehow, it feels like most people don’t bother with something more than a smart doorbell or Alexa. Perhaps this is due to the perceived complexity of setting up a fully integrated smart home system, or the associated cost. This is a shame because the real magic begins when multiple smart home devices communicate with each other, as explained earlier.
Let’s talk about some numbers now. According to the Digital Market Outlook, the penetration rate of the Smart home control and connectivity segment in the United States is expected to be 30.6 percent in 2022. The United Kingdom has a slightly higher adoption rate of 33 percent. Germany, Australia, and South Korea are estimated to have a market penetration of around 20 percent. The percentages only go lower for less-developed markets. Luckily, the outlook is positive. According to a survey by the Consumer Technology Association, 81 percent of consumers have heard of at least one type of smart home technology and 69 percent would like to own at least one smart home device. With smart home solutions constantly evolving, we can expect to see more integration between different devices, creating a seamless experience for users. The rise of artificial intelligence and increasingly better voice assistants will surely result in more intuitive and personalized automation in smart homes.
