It wasn’t long ago that connected homes were out of reach for most people. Before connected technologies became widely available to consumers, early adopters used technological knowhow to cobble together their own connected homes. In 2009, for example, IBM engineer Dr Andy Stanford-Clark rigged his cottage on the Isle of Wight with hundreds of sensors that alerted him, via Twitter, to what was happening at home. From his water usage to whether a mousetrap had been set off, Clark used his own ingenuity – and the power of social media updates – to stay in control of his “Tweeting” home.
The concept of the connected home soon began to catch on, but it was still the preserve of younger, tech-savvy people who used their knowledge of greater connectivity to enhance their home entertainment experience. They played video games, watched movies, accessed TV and listened to streamed music across their devices, wherever they were in the house.
The parameters shifted when a wider range of amenities could be connected and controlled remotely: being able to turn the heating on and off from outside the home was a game-changer. Today, wireless technology, advanced apps and sophisticated gadgetry, along with the ability to achieve seamless connectivity between devices, has transformed the way people live in and manage their homes. According to Econsultancy, there are already 40m connected devices in the UK alone.
The benefits of a connected home are already making modern life easier. Imagine that you’re out for the day and realise you’ve forgotten to turn the heating off – Hive’s geolocation feature can alert you and provide the option to switch it off remotely, and then follow that up with a reminder to switch it back on when you’re on the way home so you don’t return to a cold house. Think you might have left a door open or a window ajar? Hive Window or Door Sensors can check for you.
Connected homes can also improve your sense of security, allowing you to switch on a lamp or light when you’re on the way home so you don’t come back to a completely dark house, while the environmentally conscious will have more control over their energy usage, which can also lead to lower bills. And families can benefit from enhanced control of home amenities: after the kids have been playing sports all day, for example, you can make sure the heating and hot water are on before you get back, ready for them to get clean and dry.
With demand in the UK growing for connected products, the possibilities are vast and could benefit an even more diverse range of people in the near future. Foodies could benefit from smart kitchen appliances, such as intelligent pans, which control cooking temperatures and have built-in recipes.
Fitness fanatics can already use connected technology to keep motivated, track progress and integrate their fitness habits into their home lives. Even smarter devices, like intelligent fitness mats, could choose suitable background music or help to improve poses and techniques.
And some futurologists believe that connected homes will eventually utilise wearable technology to recognise individual family members. Imagine walking into a room at home to find the lighting, heating and entertainment options automatically adjusted to suit your personal preferences.
Much of the technology to create the connected home of the future already exists and it is only a matter of time before demand makes it the norm. Unlike the earliest adopters, you don’t need to be a technology guru to operate it: connected technology is easy for anyone to use. Far from being a science-fiction idea or a gimmick, Hive is already making the connected home a reality, putting people in greater control of their homes.
