Hey, remember 2018? It was only last year. Back then it seemed like everyone was talking about smart homes. We were on Alexa overdrive, were all Siri all the time, and we were Hey Googling ourselves into fits.
What happened?
Yeah, Amazon had their event and all…
…but it seems like the enthusiasm for smart homes has dimmed a lot this year. Maybe it’s because the equipment you need has gotten less expensive. It’s still more expensive to add a smart outlet than a regular one, but it’s gotten to the point where it’s just not that big a deal. Maybe that makes it seem like it’s not a big deal.
Maybe it’s because of privacy concerns. It’s recently been made clear just how much those smart assistants listen in on you, and how Amazon keeps everything you say and seems to use it to deliver targeted advertising. Of course they do, I have to say that seems like a bit of a no brainer.
Is it because we ran out of things to ask Alexa?
I think there’s something to be said there. Once you tell Alexa to set a timer and play your favorite song there’s only so much more you’re going to do there. I think this is a technology that has some promise, and there are definite use cases for it. I think the idea of being able to turn on the lights when you have your hands full is brilliant.
Is it because we just don’t like talking to people, and Alexa and Siri sound like people?
Remember, this is the 21st century. We go to great lengths to avoid actually talking to people. You see it all the time, people text people across the room. We get on chat or we use messenger apps. It seems like talking to our appliances is actually a bit of a step back, especially if they don’t respond the way we want them to.
Really, though…
…I think it’s just that we are not 100% sure what to do with this technology. Our smart assistants aren’t really smart enough to do something we want. We have to explain a lot to them, where if we had real, human assistants they would just “know stuff.” They’re also limited in their scope. Siri can tell us where the closest store is but it can’t go out and bring back a pound of butter. (Maybe when the folks at Tesla get their self-driving cars to actually work, that could be a possibility.)
One thing’s for sure, more smart stuff is coming
As we get closer to the annual CES show in Las Vegas, be prepared to see even more smart stuff coming down the pike. There are hundreds of companies applying logic to everything from can openers to garbage trucks, and they aren’t about to stop. The future of the smart home is still very bright, As we all begin to understand what the future brings for smart technology, one thing is for sure. Solid Signal will be there with the latest and greatest, ready to help you!
Having been part of the smart home world for nearly 10 years (the beginning of the smart home platform), my take is that it has slowed due to device overload. Not in the electrical overload sense but there’s a device for everything and an app for everything too. I use 4 different smart home apps and have access to 6 more devices that need apps. Devices, 30 or 40 in my home that are connected. But at some point it is just easier to get off the sofa and push a button or look it up on my phone. We may have reached the point where people are beyond the cool part and ask, do I need this next smart device? Will I really use it? I have cameras, flood sensors and other devices still in boxes. I would rather watch a football game or a good comedy vs. take 20 minutes to set it up and make use of it. I think we haven’t really done a good job on the integrated smart home. We are on device overload and app overload due to lack of connectivity between all the different providers.