The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to objects and products that are interconnected and communicate through digital networks. Now this technology is paving ways into the home appliance industry with astonishing speed. Start-ups and more established tech companies are investing heavily in this industry, by launching smart home products. That is, many large tech companies, like Apple, Google, Amazon and Samsung, have invested in ‘Home kits’ or ‘SmartThings’, hub devices that can be installed in consumers’ homes to connect other appliances with. In this way, consumers can remotely control lighting, heating, and security systems (Tech Radar, 2019). The modern home can hence be stated to become more automated, and smart.
Next to developments in lightning, heating and security, there are advancements made in traditional kitchen, washing, garden or bathrooms products. This may seem unconventional, but these seemingly simple products are now equipped with digital strengths. Amazon recently developed the ‘Alexa Smart Oven’, which is a convention cooking, air fryer and food warmer that is connected to an Alexa device (The Verge, 2019). Laundroid was created last year, which is an automated washing machine that washes, dries and folds your clothes for you. Smarts beds now exist that track and improve your sleep habits, such as the one from EightSleep (EightSleep, 2019). Every home appliance you can think of has been or will be made smarter. There are smart barbecues, robotic mops and robotic vacuum cleaners, smart pool cleaners, smart sprinkler controllers, and even smart lawn mowers that can eventually connect with the other smart home devices. A future in which your bathroom is handsfree or your kitchen has refreshments or food ready-to-go, is not that improbable as before.
Some might say that the advancements are admirable, however, but it does raises questions. That is, how far are we willing to go with regards to the IoT and advancements in the products around us? It will make our lives easier, that is for sure. The advantages are clear for the elderly and disabled, determined when looking at safety and security. Sensors could be installed to help detect fire hazards within elderly homes and such, and robots can help with caring tasks. The benefits for healthy and young people, however, seem less clear. Being able to outsource almost all tasks at home will create more and more free time for us. If we do not have to cook, to clean, to do groceries or to garden, what will we devote our time to? More time for our professional lives, hobbies, families and friends? Or will it result in an increase in obesity, addictive behavior for drugs, alcohol, gaming and such, or a lack in social interaction, leaving us more lonely? More importantly, we will rely even more on technology. Today, many around the globe already suffer from a ‘tech addiction’ (Chris Kesser, 2018), with risks like reduced sleep to depression. What will such an increased reliance on technology do to us?
https://www.techradar.com/best/best-home-automation-systems
https://www.pcmag.com/article/303814/the-best-smart-home-devices-for-2019
https://eightsleep.com/product/smart-bed/
https://www.explainthatstuff.com/smart-home-automation.html
https://chriskresser.com/how-a-technology-addiction-can-hurt-your-health/
Interesting read Tessa! To think about the consequences that smart homes will have on the future is very double-sided. On the one hand, like you mention, it is great that smart homes do so much for an individual and takes a lot of work out of ones hand. However, the case you make for the negative consequences are also very compelling. Another interesting perspective is the consequence the smart homes will have on data collection, and in turn selling this data to companies. This could directly invade our privacy. Tech-company could sell information that our oven is broken with third-parties and we will have offerings before we know it. Or they will show up at our doorstep. Seems pretty innocent, but can become increasingly dangerous. If what you do in your house becomes sellable data, there is no privacy left in the world. Moreover, it also seems to me that smart homes are more prone to hackers, who could perhaps hack the security system and let themselves in.
Thanks for your contribution, hope to read more of your stuff!
Kind regards,
Mitchell Levöleger
Interesting topic.
I think that all these devices can bring a lot of value to a home; increased convenience for the inhabitants and a smarter/more efficient use of resources e.g. a washing machine that only washes outside of ‘rush hours’. As the strength of these device is their interconnectedness (e.g. the oven that connects to Alexa), I believe that in the near future we will see a staggering amount of new smart products being introduced in the market.
However, as you have mentioned, these advancements have a dark side. The increased convenience that these devices have to offer comes paired with some serious security issues. Amazon’s Alexa created quite a commotion when a family accused the device of recording their private conversations (Sweney, 2018). There are plenty of such scandals out there. So, I think the real issue here is not if consumers will because more addicted to tech, but how these devices should be regulated and secured.
Sweney, M. (2018). Hey Alexa, is it true a TV advert made Amazon Echo order cat food? The guardian. Retrieved from:
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/feb/14/amazon-alexa-ad-avoids-ban-after-viewer-complaint-ordered-cat-food