2016 is set to be the year of the smart home. This is the year when the Internet of Things (IoT) goes mainstream, embraced by everyone—from tech-savvy users to your technophobic grandparents. No longer just for early adopters, IoT will become a household staple. You can quote me on that.
What fuels this confidence? Evolution. Smart home technology has exploded like the Cambrian era, promising greater comfort for years ahead. Here's why.
Amazon has led the charge. In April 2014, they launched the Dash Wand, letting users scan barcodes to reorder groceries effortlessly. Less than a year later came the Dash Button for Prime members—order products with one push, no passwords or computers needed.
Then, Amazon Echo (Amazon Echo Review and Giveaway) arrived. Speak to this sleek device: "Alexa, order some pens," and it's done. These innovations share a philosophy: simplification.
Amazon isn't reinventing shopping with VR gimmicks. They're streamlining it, as they've done since the '90s. IoT amplifies this, distilling purchases to their essence.
This mindset will shape smart homes. Manufacturers will prioritize enhancing familiar devices over bloated dashboards. People want gadgets that work better, powered by machine learning (4 Machine Learning Algorithms That Shape Your Life), neural networks, and AI (What Artificial Intelligence Is Not).
Take the Nest Learning Thermostat: it adapts to your habits, even controlling water heaters on demand. No reinvention—just smarter execution.
The WeMo Insight Switch follows suit: affordable, focused on power tracking via your phone (Which Smart Plug Is Best for You?). Simple, effective, and app-controlled.
This focused approach is the future.
Smart homes aren't new—think automated fiction or real setups like Ben Stutt's 20-year experiment (I Lived in a Smart Home for 20 Years). Yet mass adoption is recent. Why? Smartphones.
Early visions, like Microsoft's 1999 concept video, relied on clunky interfaces: resistive touchscreens, desktop PCs. Predictions like real-time tracking (How to Find a Cell Phone Location from an Android Device) came true, but usability lagged.
Smartphones changed everything (4 Ways Your Smartphone Will Drive Smart Home Technologies). Today, control thermostats, cameras, and alarms worldwide from your pocket. It's personal, portable, and intuitive.
Modern phones offer sharp screens, capacitive touch, and consistent app design from Google and Apple—unlocking delightful smart home experiences.
Consumer tech follows a pattern: high initial prices drop to ubiquity. Laptops went from $2,600 PowerBooks to $200 Chromebooks in 20 years. Tablets from $500 iPads to $50 Fire tablets in five. Now, decent smartphones start at $30.
Smart home gear mirrors this. Our holiday guide (7 Home Automation Gifts) featured items under $200—like WeMo switches for under $50—from trusted brands like Google, Philips, and Honeywell.
As prices fall further, impulse buys will skyrocket.
To sum up: IoT enhances without complicating, leverages smartphones for seamless control, and hits affordable prices. 2016's recipe for smart home success.
What do you think? Share in the comments.
