16 Time October 3, 2016
The BriefTechnology
blame iT onthe jetsons. Two years
ago, the so-called smart home seemed
poised to follow the Internet and smart-
phone as the next big revolution in
consumer technology. Devices ranging
from app-controlled air conditioners to
water purifiers that automatically reorder
fresh filters online promised to distribute
the benefits of Internet connectivity and
algorithmic intelligence throughout the
home, rendering dwellings healthier and
more efficient. Anticipating this shift,
Google acquired thermostat maker Nest
for $3.2 billion in 2014 and installed the
startup’s co-founder Tony Fadell as its
hardware czar. He had helped create the
iPod at Apple and envisioned reimagining
a panoply of mundane home appliances.
A few months later, Samsung bought
SmartThings, a maker of connected light
switches, doorknobs and water sensors,
for an estimated $200 million. Over the
course of that summer alone, investors
spent some $800 million to acquire or fund
companies with dreams of smartening up
and automating American homes.
But then the revolution stalled.
Consumers brought home fancy new
gadgets only to face problems installing
them or getting them to talk to one
another. By 2016, growth in demand for
devices like home-surveillance cameras
and connected thermostats had flattened,
according to research firm Accenture.
High-profile companies began to falter.
Quirky, a pioneer in helping inventors of
smart-home gadgets find funding, filed
for bankruptcy in late 2015. After an
acrimonious tenure, Fadell left Nest this
year, having launched few new products.
What happened?Jetsons-style visions
of automated homes in which technology
seamlessly performs the combined
functions of butler, cook and maid turned
out to be harder to provide than smart-
home firms seemed to initially suggest.
“Not only has the smart home been over-
SMART HOMES
The high-tech-
home revolution
is taking longer
than advertised
By Lisa Eadicicco
and Matt Vella
3
Spy on your
fridge
Samsung’s
wi-fi-equipped
refrigerator has a
camera inside so
that you can see
what items you’re
out of when you’re
at the grocer,
for instance.4
Change your
climate
Nest’s thermostat
learns about
your temperature
preferences
over time and
automatically
adjusts according
to factors like the
time of day.2
Restock the
pantry
Amazon’s Dash
buttons allow you
to order items
like snacks and
paper towels
simply by pushing
a plastic button.
Some gadgets
take this a step
further: Brita, for
example, offers
a water pitcher
that knows when
the filter is about
to expire and
automatically
orders a fresh
one online.1
Adjust your
lights
Smart lightbulbs
like those made
by Philips and
Lifx allow users
to adjust the
lighting in their
homes using
voice control or an
app. These lights
can also access
your phone’s GPS
signal to detect
when you’re on
your way home
and illuminate
the interior as you
walk in the door.
5
Watch your back
Companies
like Icontrol
Networks and
Nest sell Internet-
connected
security cameras
that can send
alerts and
record video
when motion is
detected in your
home. Some
gadgets, like
the Nest Cam
Outdoor, can also
tell the difference
between people
and animals
to avoid false
alarms.CAN DO
The truly smart
home may be
some way off yet,
but individual
technologies can
already do a lot.
Here’s a closer look:ILLUSTRATION BY JANNE IIVONEN