Advances in the IoT is set to bolster smart homes and offices with greater efficiency, security and potential cost savings
We are currently at a point in time when technology is outpacing our imaginations and changing how we interact with the world. Just a few years ago, talking to a refrigerator would have sounded futuristic, but not anymore. Today, not only do we talk to refrigerators, but they can tell us what to add to our shopping lists and recipes we can make using leftover food.
Digital innovations and smart devices have already eased into our pockets, attached to our wrists and integrated into our cars seamlessly to allow constant connectivity. While these tech trends have infinite applications, connected and smart devices are still at the very early stages of adoption. For example, the average family home will contain more than 500 smart devices and reach digital maturity by 2022, according to Gartner.
What are smart homes and offices?
Smart homes and offices have integrated technologies and “internet of things” capabilities to automate tasks in order to save time and money or to offer convenience or security.
Connected devices first began to proliferate in the early 2000s. At that time, technology had advanced to allow integration with new applications. More specifically, early applications of smart home and office technology included automated watering systems and lighting automation that helped save money on utility costs.
Now these technologies are often preinstalled or retrofitted into various devices in the home and office. Though the technology for each is similar, the applications and benefits differ for homes and offices.
Technology applications and benefits of smart homes
Smart home technologies are currently being driven by consumers’ digital expectations and desire for technology to make their lives easier.
Smart homes rely on a centralized hub that coordinates the IoT devices, smart appliances, connected sensors and other mobile devices within the home. This hub requires the capacity to run programs, apps and connect with specific device requirements while at the same time broadcasting the data and information to the individual. There are specific home automation hub products – such as the Amazon Echo – that are designed to handle these functions.
The benefits of smart home technologies include:
Cost savings
Homeowners can save on utility costs by implementing home automation technologies with control commands. For example, by using a mobile app, homeowners can turn off lights remotely to avoid unnecessary use. In addition, smart thermostats learn a homes specific heating and cooling preferences and develop a program based on the homeowners’ habits to optimize cost savings, such as reducing the heating or cooling when the family is on vacation.
Personal convenience
In order to save time, smart homes can connect with your mobile devices to turn on lights and music via geofencing triggers before arriving at home or turn off the crockpot remotely when a meal is finished. Connected devices such as refrigerators and washing machines also can provide notifications for when certain actions are performed. For instance, when the refrigerator is accessed after midnight or when the laundry is ready to dry.
Security/peace of mind
Whether at home or not, homeowners can use smart locks to video chat with solicitors, neighbors, or the authorities, and even trigger lights and music indoors to deter potential intruders. Similarly, multiple apps allow homeowners to check if their garage door is closed and set the security system while away from home.
Technology applications and benefits of smart offices
While smart homes make homeowners’ lives easier, smart office technologies are geared toward increasing company and employee efficiencies while decreasing wasted time and resources.
Smart technologies in the workplace are often easier to integrate compared to smart homes due to existing commercial enterprise infrastructures for phones, security cameras and internet lines. However, the connected devices still must be retrofitted into existing systems and secured on the network to protect company data and employee/customer personal information.
The benefits of smart office technologies include:
Security management
Smart offices can allow companies to monitor on site access for security purposes with facial recognition and identification technologies through cameras and sensors. Mobile device integration also can help security teams locate individuals via Wi-Fi device signals in case of emergencies rather than room-by-room searches.
Energy/resource utilization
Connected technology can help cut utility costs by automating lights with motion sensors or enabling intuitive learning patterns and mobile device access to commercial heating, ventilation and air-conditioning units.
Navigation tools
Large company campuses, such as Google’s headquarters, can utilize interactive, smart technologies like touchscreen maps and mobile apps to help new employees, visitors and customers easily navigate to their destination.
Productivity and automation
Smart offices can program applications to monitor and geotrack foot traffic patterns to monitor employee productivity levels. In addition, certain Wi-Fi systems require visitors to login via social media or enter an email address, which smart offices can capture automatically and leverage to help generate potential business leads.
Future of smart homes and offices
The future of these environments will depend on how quickly our technologies continue to improve. As technology advances, we will see a decrease in overall costs that will result in an increase in implementation as the benefits will outweigh the cost of updating systems.
As technology continues to exponentially grow, we are still in the early adoption stage of developing these technologies and implementing them to benefit our homes and workplaces, but these applications will thrive in the future.
Arushi Srivastava is the senior director of digital experience practice of NTT Data Americas. She leads the advanced technology team with several initiatives around IoT, analytics, blockchain, digital engagement and design thinking. She advises corporate leaders on architecting next-generation enterprise solutions which aim at being social by design and result in pervasive digital experience.
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