The Evolution of the Smart Home

Smart homes today are approaching The Jetsons in scope. With interconnected smart home devices, you can ask a smart assistant to turn on the oven to a specific temperature and set the timer. All while you’re upstairs putting away the laundry. You can even look inside your refrigerator when you’re at the store to see if you need milk. Robotic vacuums and mowers leave you free to pursue other activities while smart devices handle your basic chores.

From touchscreen displays and smart devices that learn your preferences, smart homes are making life easier for many. Think of how far the smart home has evolved in the last quarter of a century.

A smart device from almost a century ago

Thomas Norman Hicks invented the first mechanical kitchen timer in 1926. Since then, timers have evolved over several decades to a timer that plugs into an electrical outlet and controls when your lights or appliances turn on and off.

Manufacturers put electronic timers in appliances and electronic devices to help consumers control their electricity and for convenience. Several decades ago, the first programmable coffeemaker hit the shelves and people around the country were waking up to a fresh-brewed pot of coffee every morning.

Today’s automation goes beyond timers

Today’s automation uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to learn your preferences. For example, a smart home equipped with automatic porch lights and blinds will learn when you like lights turned on and blinds closed. Then the system will automatically adjust to meet Daylight Savings Time and seasonal light changes.

These smart devices will someday disrupt the way you live. From automating simple chores to learning your likes and dislikes, the smart home of the future will understand you intimately. For example, your home will know your music preference and pump it through your entire house.

Final thoughts

Smart homes are still new, but the industry is growing in leaps and bounds. As most consumers try to figure out which smart devices they want in their homes, early adopters are looking at ovens that can scan the food you have on hand and suggest a recipe for dinner. Then turn on the oven and cook it.