5 smart home announcements at CES 2016
By Jen Taylor on Jan 08, 2016
CES is in full swing and the industry’s most innovative companies are gathering in Las Vegas to showcase the latest in consumer technology. Over the past few years, the Internet of Things has been the biggest trend at CES, appearing in the auto industry, fitness tech, wearables, and of course, the home.
This year, the focus is starting to shift from tech that meets our needs, to tech that learns and anticipates them. In the wake of Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement that he plans to spend 2016 building artificial intelligence (AI) to run his home, buzz is starting to build around AI. According to the visionaries at CES, in the future, our homes won’t just be responsive, they’ll know us better than we do!
Though we’re not at the point where every household will have it’s own Rosie the Robot Maid, we are seeing innovations in smart technology that respond to our needs and make our homes safer, more efficient, and environmentally sustainable.
We’ve rounded up a few of the smart home tech announcements that are making waves at CES and changing the way we interact with our homes.
What is CES?
Every year manufacturers, developers, suppliers of consumer technology, journalists, and tech fans gather in Las Vegas for the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The event, hosted by the Consumer Technology Association, attracts over 3,600 exhibitors, 200 conference sessions, and over 150,000 attendees from upwards of 150 countries.
CES functions as the “global stage where next-generation innovations are introduced to the marketplace.” The conference showcases products and the companies that produce them, covering a number of consumer tech markets including 3D printing, audio, automotive electronics, communications, computer hardware and software, digital imaging, photography, gaming, fitness, health, biotech, online media, robotics, and wearables. CES is also a forum for the industry’s most innovative thinkers and business leaders to gather and discuss consumer tech issues and innovations.
Smart home technology at CES
Though we don’t have AI in the home just yet, there are a number of products appearing at CES that will help us stay connected to our homes even when we’re not physically there.
1) Hom-Bot Square Turbo+
Over at the LG stand, the Hom-Bot Square Turbo+ was quietly keeping the booth clean while displaying the latest in home cleaning tech. Not only does its square shape help it reach tough corners with ease, but it’s also wifi enabled so you can control it with your smartphone. You can now direct the Hom-Bot to clean specific areas of the home with a simple tap on the screen.
The Hom-Bot also features a Dual Eye camera that scans surfaces, taking 30 images per second to create a map of the ceiling and floor. The camera is even equipped to adjust to changing light levels. The Hom-Bot doubles as a security camera (or pet surveillance device), sending pictures of your home to your phone while you’re away.
2) Samsung’s Family Hub Refrigerator
Samsung is showcasing the Family Hub Refrigerator, a device designed for multitasking families in need of a little organization (and entertainment too). The interior of the fridge is equipped with a camera that takes a picture every time you open and close the door. You can reference the pictures from your Samsung Smart app later at the grocery store so you know exactly what ingredients you need. The fridge also allows you to order groceries through an app on the refrigerator’s screen. The app is partnered with MasterCard, so you can pay instantly! The screen also lets families display photos, calendars, and notes (keeping the clutter confined to the screen), or manage recipes and compile shopping lists. You can even watch your favourite TV show or the big game while you cook using screen mirroring with your Samsung Smart TV.3) LG Signature Fridge
Via digitaltrends.comLG is also stepping up its fridge game, and revealed the LG Signature Fridge, a smart fridge that lets you take a look inside without even opening the door. One door is equipped with an opaque glass panel that lets you take a peek inside when you knock lightly. The fridge is also equipped with a smart sensor that opens the fridge door automatically when your hands are full of groceries. Simply step on the “open door” projection on the floor in front of the refrigerator and the door will open automatically. Like all new home tech, the fridge is equipped with wifi sensors so you can keep track of the internal temperature and monitor energy usage from your smart device. 4) Family@Home Solution
GreenPeak Technologies is showcasing its new Family@Home Solution, a self-learning algorithm that combines cloud intelligence, wireless connectivity, and battery-powered sensors to recognize and track patterns of behaviour. The application is designed to send out regular status updates through a dashboard app, and send out alerts when patterns within the home change unexpectedly. Though this may conjure uncomfortable images of the Hal 9000, GreenPeak says this tech is especially beneficial for the elderly care market, where responsive technology can help seniors live at home and retain independence longer.5) Home-Auto Integration
The auto industry is also dipping a toe into the home tech world. This year, both BMW and Ford announced that they are working on in-car apps that will allow drivers to control smart home devices from your car. BMW says it is developing apps that will allow drivers to adjust the thermostat on the way home, start the car from in the house, and set routes.
Ford also announced that it’s partnering with Amazon to link cars to its Alexa personal assistant. The company will soon enable drivers to start the car from home, turn off alarm systems, or open the garage door through voice commands so you never have to take your hands off the wheel.
This is just a sampling of what’s going on at CES! We can’t wait to hear more about the new technology that we may see in our homes in the near future!
