Smart Homes – The Future is here

AIBO - the Pet Robot

This is the age of smart technologies – we already have Smart TVs, smart refrigerators and Smartphones being used on an everyday basis. In addition, there are a host of other technologies that show a lot of promise, and can be readily adapted to make our homes smarter – and thus, to make our lives easier and more comfortable. A lot of such promising technologies have developed into prototypes, and can become viable in foreseeable future.

Most of us, especially those fed on the diet of science fiction in novels and movies, are familiar with robots. A number of robots are now commercially available for home use – though they usually don’t look like humanoid robots of science fictions. Most such robots are meant for mundane works, especially house cleaning and maintenance. Some recreational robots have also become quite popular, such as the Sony made AIBO – a pet robotic dog that was later discontinued. Some social robots such as Wakamaru and Paro are useful for the elderly and less mobile people.

Samsung Navibot - Domestic Robot

Home safety is another prime area of smart technologies – and for good reason. While burglar alarms, CCTV, motion and pressure sensors etc have become quite commonplace, more innovative products are also in the market. For example, presence simulation technology will put on your lights, TV, music system etc frequently and at random intervals – in your absence – so that an onlooker will not realize that the house is unoccupied. More sophisticated technologies are also available – for providing medical alert and tele-assistance in case of emergencies.

HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) is another area that has seen a lot of innovative technologies that make for smarter homes. HVAC technologies are used for automatic control of centralized heating, cooling, fresh air etc according to user preferred settings. These technologies not only provide a more comfortable house, but are also focused on optimal power utilization and energy conservation.

The concept of optimal energy utilization and conservation has also led to various innovations in lighting control. For example, using sensors that detect human presence in a room, and switch on lights when a person moves in – and switching off when the person moves out. Also, controlling brightness according to ambient light conditions, or switching on/off lights at predetermined times. Such automated lighting can also be used for mood control and alleviation.

LG Wonder Door Refrigerator

In addition, there are other areas of house where smart technologies find applications. Intelligent garden sprinklers, multi-room audio, automated pool filters, and vehicle detecting garage doors – all such innovations are widely in use today. Many recent innovations – such as refrigerators that can read the RFID tags, warn about stale food and even order food online for you – are also in the works, and may well find ways into our home in a few years. Talking of smart refrigerators, the LG Wonder Door refrigerators are a case in point, and use many innovations that make it an advanced appliance.

Using of smart technologies for home is underway; however, the development is not without its own set of challenges. For one, such technologies have remained the prerogative of the rich and the able – and still very expensive for less prosperous societies. Then, there is the challenge of the supporting network – the backbone that can support such technologies. For example, the still modest Internet penetration and expensive bandwidth in India will be a hindrance to adoption of network based smart technologies. Still, we may hope that most of the really useful technologies will develop more affordable alternatives, and spread betterment for a greater chunk of population.