Episode 2-How IOT fuelled by AI will change our lives for ever

Homes, over the centuries, have been shaped by conversations amongst the residents. Homes, over the next decades, will also be defined by conversations amongst gadgets, the devices which facilitate our existence, Internet Of Things ( IOT) promises to be a necessary adhesive for building relationships not just for objects but people as well. 

IOT technology leads to smart homes where appliances and devices can be automatically controlled, even remotely. with an internet connection using a mobile or other networked device. Devices are set up to be interconnected through the internet, allowing the user to manage functions such as home security, air conditioning, lighting as well as kitchen applications. In such residences, devices talk to each other while being controlled through one central point—usually a smartphone while other gadgets may also work. 

Personalization is something we are all familiar with and we see this in Swiggy and Amazon on a regular basis. Our past transactions offer a shortcut to customer experiences and this hastens the time period from time to action. Smart home appliances are great applications of the same as they are imbibed with self-learning skills which factor the homeowner’s routine and build a personalised scenario.

Smart lighting control allows homeowners to control electricity costs and benefit from energy-related bonuses. This is an increasingly valuable benefit in the post pandemic era. While this pattern can be extended to microwaves, dishwashers and refrigerators as well - generating learnings from past behaviour that makes life simpler.

Security is yet another crucial application of smart home devices, as due to the nuclear family evolution, many homes are left people-less all day. Which leads to opportunities in security systems, cctv cameras and fire warning protocols. 

Entertainment which includes universal remotes and smart assistants ( including Siri and Alexa) are becoming indispensable agents of living. This will permit the simplified access, with levels of predictability, to all members of the family thus fulfilling the potential of home theatres and sundry entertainment systems. 

The latest and potentially most promising area of interest is personal health - including water purifiers and air purifiers which are now becoming reasonably routine in modern households.As general awareness levels rise, these gadgets are becoming standard issue in new apartment blocks, leading to rapid absorption. 

I strongly believe that a few fundamental shifts need to happen in order to truly fulfil the potential of IOT in everyday living and thus, make a genuine difference to customers. Firstly, to have an integrated development approach where product, technology and scalable yet personalised customer behaviour insights can be factored progressively. Which means that for a water purifier, apart from regional water quality and general temperature patterns, household behaviour can be infused to build a holistic experience, where technology is a life enabler. This must even be applied during the developmental stage where cross functional teams are deployed to devise solutions. 

Secondly, organisations and developers must constantly be in touch with the application of smart technology across customer segments - it is highly likely that our overall attitudes towards smart devices, like Fitbits, has an influence on home as well. Especially the rapid adoption of smartphones, which may be a delightful catalyst.

Finally, we must change our mindset that IOT is a tool of control. Instead we must believe it to be a Life Management Aid, which gives us the licence to manage our necessities and indulgences, thus a stress reducer and facilitator of happy homes. This will help us rationalise the developments from an end application perspective. 

Globally, there is certain momentum  for developing a superior home integration hub. A few early movers include SmartThings, Wink, Amazon’s Echo and HomeKit. Josh.ai, has focussed on genuine integration, and manifesting its proprietary natural language processing (NLP) technology. Josh.ai knows that every morning lighting must be enhanced, the morning news activated and tea be prepared. The interface responds to voice commands to manage all connected devices and is advertised as letting “you speak to your home naturally like you would to a family member or friend.”

According to Statista, during 2020, the internet of things (IoT) market size in India was around five billion U.S. dollars; and this was expected to reach around 9.3 billion U.S. dollars in 2025. The main driven factors during this period are pandemic-triggered changes in the company behaviour and focus on automation. The future is out there on a platter and it’s for us to grab it with both hands.