CSA Online The future of smart home technology In the years to come, smart home technology will likely develop even further along several avenues, promising even greater possibilities for home automation: Everything is connected – as more and more appliances become equipped with sensors and software to connect them to the internet, your home will become more like a technology ecosystem in which even the most everyday devices (a mirror, a garage door, a pet-feeding bowl) work together to make life easier and more enjoyable for everyone who lives there. The personal touch – progress with artificial intelligence has the potential to help smart home devices and systems “learn” from your everyday behaviour and intuitively adapt and adjust their performance to our preferences – perhaps even without us making explicit commands. Healthier living – smart devices already offer basic monitoring and emergency connections with health-care providers; in the future, expect such devices to become fully integrated with devices that track your vital signs, home air quality and even your sleeping patterns to help you stay healthier and happier for longer. A sustainable space – living spaces can be a significant contributor to climate change. Expect future smart home technology to work in concert with solar panels, home geothermal grids and battery storage systems to maximize efficiency and reduce the energy waste that’s impacting the Earth. Do you absolutely need your home to be “smart”? Well, no – most of us have been living in our homes for years without any of these technologies. But there’s no denying that smart home technology can make home living safer and considerably more convenient for snowbirds who like to spend some portion of the year in warmer climes. And it can be a big benefit for those of us who are getting on in years, making it possible for us to stay in our homes for as long as we possibly can. That makes the technology well worth keeping an eye on. CSANews | SUMMER 2024 | 43
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