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Home automation apps are going to take a sharp turn straight into the future. All automation technology will get better at the jobs they already do and predicting what needs to happen next.
In the realm of household technology, however, we already have the means to make almost everything automated. From creating shopping lists to regulating room temperatures to choosing what new show to watch, technology already has your back. The prediction is that the automation will not only get better but will also completely change the way we live.
Google vs. Amazon
A rather large part of automation happening in the home comes down to voice recognition software. Already, we can verbally ask our devices to play a particular song, walk us through a recipe we haven’t tried or even buy things. Some have gone a step further to double as fire detectors or speaker systems. Whatever people are using them for, two big-name companies are on the vanguard of the entire market: Google and Amazon.
Google Home and Amazon Alexa are both devices that’ll get you more or less the same results, just from competing companies with different marketing techniques and prices. Because they’re so competitive, their advertising game has to be on point almost all the time. For instance, Google didn’t make an official announcement for its virtual assistant but instead put ads for the technology all over Las Vegas to get the word out.
The point is that the choice for voice recognition software in your home will almost always boil down to these two massive companies. If they’re already the leaders in this market, we can assume they’ll continue on this same track for years to come until one beats out the other eventually. For now, this decision may come down to the tech you already own and what you want from it in the coming year.
Artificial Intelligence
Talking about artificial intelligence (AI) in this context is probably not what everyone expected. However, AI is going to be a massive asset to automation technologies as we move along. After all, to be fully automated, AI tech needs to think on its feet. We’re not talking about automated machinery in a warehouse, though, even if that’s an interesting topic. The automation in your home may not seem to need an AI presence now, but the future is going to be a little more streamlined.
As of right now, for the technology in your home to work, you need to say what you want, whether by verbally asking or pressing a button or something else. In the not-too-distant future, these apps and smart hubs are going to predict behavior and interact accordingly without commands to do so. In other words, if you always ask your hub to play music when you get in from work, you’ll soon find the music playing for you as soon as you walk in the door.
There are a few messy concerns about AI, not least of which is privacy. If your Alexa knows what time you like listening to music, it’s logical to wonder what else your digital assistant or other devices may know about you. Collecting data from people is not a new trick, but expecting these companies to protect your more sensitive information may be more trust than some people are willing to give. However, many users have given their home hubs their credit card numbers to make purchases easier, so the price of convenience may not be so steep after all.
The Rise of 5G
5G is critical for self-driving vehicles and is one of the major reasons behind the push for the upgrade.
Home automation apps to watch For
There are already some home automation apps to keep a close eye on. The App Store and Google Play have a few apps making a developmental debut in hopes they can change our lives for the better just a little bit at a time. If you’re interested in checking out these home automation apps, here are a few good ones.
1.SmartThings for iOS and Android devices works as a smart appliance hub right on your device. After purchasing the $300 kit for all the necessary sensors, you can control everything in your house from your phone.
2. Savant TrueColor for iOS devices is also a smart appliance hub with no money down. Instead, Savant works from Apple’s operating system to connect to other Apple devices in your home and control them from the hub.
3. WeMo is a device for anyone looking to upgrade to a smart home. You plug it into an outlet, plug any device into the WeMo and it suddenly becomes a smart device you can control from your iPhone or Android device. A single WeMo switch and motion sensor costs about $80.
4. Control4 MyHome and 4Sight is a sort of hub that connects your lighting, security, energy, entertainment and other systems to your Wi-Fi network to control on any device. Uniquely, 4Sight can monitor your home when you’re not there, and this extra bundle only costs $100 a year.
5. Nest is a smart thermostat that costs $250 plus another $120 for installation. Once everything’s set up, you control the temperature in every room of your house free of charge directly from your smart device.
6. Honeywell offers a similar thermostat to Nest and also costs $250. The main difference is looks, as Honeywell can change color to match wallpaper or paint surrounding it. As for the critical stuff, it controls and monitors temperatures while automating patterns you may not realize you have.
7. Alarm.com is an advanced security device that works remotely anywhere you are. Installation costs about $200 with a charge for about $70 a month. It also has a GPS to know where you are so it can start turning on lights and other things when you get near home.
8. Philips Hue allows you to change the color, tone and contrast of the lighting in your home remotely. The starter kit costs about $200, but you’ll be able to remotely change the lighting of your home whenever you want.
9. ADT Pulse works with ADT to monitor and arm your home. The hardware costs $150 with installation at $350, activation at $50 and a monthly payment of $50. Once everything’s set up, you’ll never have to worry about security again.
10. DirecTV offers a free app to their users on iOS and Android devices. The app uses voice recognition software to control the DVR, allowing you to record or watch whatever you like just by asking aloud.
Home automation apps to know about
The coming year is going to have a lot of ups and downs, and the rise of technology is almost a given. Home automation apps will sweep the globe faster than ever before. With everyone talking to their devices and going nowhere without their phones, we’re becoming almost dependent on this futuristic ideal.
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