48 INNOVATION & TECH TODAY^ |^ 2020 YEAR-END ISSUE
connected life
Plugging in
By Joe Toppe
The contemporary home is already much
different than what our grandparents were used
to with the internet and smart devices laying
around. As the COVID-19 crisis digs in for
another turn, the home has become more than a
place to lay your head, it is a sanctuary, it is an
entertainment hub, it is the gym, and it is the
office.
Today, moving into your new house or
apartment requires an understanding of
integrated appliances and cost-effective gadgetry
that is both smart and safe.
Whether you want security, cleaner floors, or
increased efficiencies with internet access for
smart devices like an iPhone, gaming console, or
television, the connected home and the people
living there are plugging in to make it happen.
As far back as three years ago, a survey
conducted by Finn Partners’ Global Technology
Practice showed consumers considered “humancontrol” an important quality before adopting
connected technologies for the home.
Money Talks
Up and down weather, up and down
thermostat, up and down electric bills. Stuart
Lombard, CEO, and founder of ecobee, said a
voice controlled smart thermostat can clog leaky
funds and save additional money while making
the move to clean energy.
In fact, “homeowners can save up to 23%
annually on heating and cooling costs,” he said.
The right smart thermostat can “leverage
machine learning and AI to tailor temperature
settings.”
Instead of where the thermostat is placed in
the home, smart sensor technology can keep
each room comfortable through occupancy
detection.