Bring on the connected home

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared in RCR Wireless News’ January Special Edition: “Unwrapping the Opportunities, the next generation of smart devices. To see all of the articles from that issue, click here.
One constant in the wireless sector is that it constantly looks to the future. The Consumer Electronics Show is the epitome of that, showing off gigantic TV screens that have yet to find homes that have big enough walls to house them, and wireless products with enough processing power to run a small country.
So while the industry continues to chase the next G, some unlicensed wireless technologies have been quietly moving to connect the home. The blend of licensed and unlicensed mobility, much like the blend of fiber and radio, will lead to a variety of connected networks that could bring better functionality to homes and businesses, as well better power consumption for the planet, and greener lifestyles. The heterogeneous network lives. While that’s a lofty goal, what I really want as a consumer is simplicity.
As I write this column, I know that after work I have to use my recently purchased 6 in 1 memory card reader/writer to get some photos off my camera and onto my laptop so I can get a start on my holiday cards. I’m bitter about this $25 purchase because I know that somewhere in my house lurks a stupid Sony cord that allows me to that. I had a little rant about Sony the other night while looking for said cord because evidently we’ve purchased quite a few Sony products through the years, all of which come with cords that cannot be interchanged – not even with other Sony products. (I now have a mental note not to buy any future Sony products.) I recently almost bought a handset based on the number of chargers we already have in the house until the customer service representative mentioned that the operator has now standardized all of its chargers. (Woo hoo!)
Our house is overrun with cords that don’t connect things or have been long lost. I hate cords, but cords enable connectivity. So when I hear people talk about the digital home, I am suspicious. When I hear them talk about the digital wireless home, I am even more skeptical. A dryer that talks to my cell phone? Wirelessly? Where everything can be monitored from a nice tablet display? I can turn on and off the oven from outside the kitchen? (Is that even a good idea?) I can sell my excess power from my home’s solar grid back to the utility company?
Evidently the answer to all of these questions is going to be yes. It’s going to be super cool, and it’s going to be game-changing. But I really hope it’s going to be simple to fix when the washer, dryer or toaster breaks down because I assume that will be the future’s version of rummaging through the house looking for a cord.