What will Happen to Smart Home Technology This Year?

What will happen to smart home technology this year was the question posed by Forbes to its Technology Council. 2017 saw more people embracing the concept of smart home technology, and it’s been predicted that this market will continue to grow this year, reaching $53.45 billion by 2022.

Unfortunately, the experts from Forbes Technology Council are predicting further security and privacy crises, saying it’s simply a matter of when not if smart home technology systems are compromised. The need to address privacy and security concerns will help to shape the future of the industry.

This year it’s believed that smart home devices will become more integrated, making them truly useful for the homeowner. Examples given include devices that are capable of deactivating alarms upon face recognition. Artificial intelligence is also expected to be the next big thing, potentially being able to automate threat detection and in taking a more proactive role in alerting homeowners if something is wrong. It’s expected that as artificial intelligence is developed, we will no longer need to manage control home devices and instead will be able to control everything from a central place.

In 2018 it is expected that smart home device makers will produce devices that will truly interoperate, helping to conserve energy and diagnosing appliance problems. This is in comparison with last year where most applications involved the use of security devices and thermostats. The experts are also looking for real progress on compatibility standards, pointing out that at the moment it’s still too fragmented. They are forecasting greater cross-compatibility, with companies focusing less on consumers being locked into one particular platform.

Apparently, homeowner data sharing will be another big thing in the near future, with appliances able to set the lights and your preferred temperature for when you arrive home, while your fridge may even have the ability to order food. Not surprisingly, the data shared with the smart devices will be of considerable interest to the companies producing these products. The number of smart kitchen gadgets is set to increase, especially those that can be operated from smartphones and which have integrated apps. There will also be the opportunity for companies offering good customer service to get ahead of the crowd. Those companies that offer innovative and knowledgeable solutions will stand out.