O
ver the past two decades,
developments in digital
technology and the rise of the
internet have had a phenomenal impact
on our lives, changing the very fabric
of our society as well as how we live
day-to-day.
In recent years, smart home solutions
have changed the face of domestic living,
controlling everything from energy and
security to audio-visual and home
entertainment and offering a level of
comfort, control and efficiency that meets
the requirements of 21st century life.DIGITAL TAKEOVER
In the 1970s, having a TV in the living
room was somewhat of a luxury;
fast-forward to today and nothing is offlimits in terms of audio-visual installations.
From bathrooms to gardens, TVs and
integrated sound systems are popping
up in the most unlikely of locations,
adding a luxury element to renovation
projects and new builds.
This trend is part of a wider movement
towards home automation, a market
which is expected to grow rapidly over
the next five years. Despite initial
resistance, most people now have a
better understanding of internet-
connected technology and around 30 per
cent are planning to purchase a smart
home device over the next two years,
according to PwC. Unsurprisingly, young
homeowners are the biggest adopters;
around 59 per cent of them have already
invested in smart entertainment.INTELLIGENT BATHROOMS
The bathroom might not be the first
room you think of when implementing
smart technology into your home,
however, a quick Google search will
bring you up to speed on the sheer
volume of smart tech designed
specifically for the bathroom. Once a
purely functional space, these innovative
gadgets have transformed the bathroom
into an integrated hub of connectivity,
comfort and entertainment.
With advanced user recognition on the
rise, homeowners’ expectations are
changing. A personalised bathroom
experience is becoming the norm, with
pre-programmed settings to control
vanity lighting, music and shower
features such as temperature, timing andNew innovations in technology designed to mitigate the risks in wet
environments are pushing the boundaries of where AV equipment can be
enjoyed in the home. Will Uttley of ProofVision looks at the latest products
Pushing the boundaries
of home entertainment
SAFETY, SECURITY & SMART HOMES (SMART HOME SYSTEMS)september/october 2019 http://www.sbhonline.co.uk 81