How Soon Will Our Homes Resemble the Hal 9000?

Iconic films such as Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey or, more recently, Spike Jonze’s Her have given us a glimpse at life in the future, where intuitive technology is seamlessly integrated into almost every facet of life. Although we haven’t recreated the HAL 9000, the computer that controls the Discovery One in Kubrick's futuristic fantasy, we do live in a world where cars park themselves and thermostats are controlled remotely from our phones. This interconnection of everyday gadgets and the Internet is referred to as the Internet of Things (IoT) and is soon to be the Internet of Everything.

Scene from Canderel's video for YC Condos

The Internet of Things refers to a network of physical objects that are connected to and accessed through the Internet. The objects contain embedded technology that communicates, senses, or interacts with both the internal and external environment. More simply, this means our washing machines, lighting, and even our own bodies can all be monitored and controlled remotely from a smartphone or tablet. Gartner, an information technology research and advisory company, predicts that by 2020 there will be approximately 26 billion devices connected to the Internet of Things.

There are countless products on the market that are taking advantage of this technology. Apple recently announced Apple Watch, a smartwatch that can receive emails and simultaneously monitors our heartbeats, while cities are adapting the technology to monitor waste and encourage play in public spaces. Smart technology has also become extremely pervasive in the home. Below are a few examples of products that utilize this embedded technology to transform the way we interact with our living spaces.

App-Controlled Smart Wi-Fi Enabled Baby Monitor - via brookstone.com

Withings has released a number of devices designed to keep consumers connected to their homes and family members, including the App-Controlled Smart Wi-Fi Enabled Baby Monitor. This device allows parents to check in with their infant from any location through an iPhone or iPad. Unlike the static-y baby monitors many parents have used in the past, this monitor features a camera with a zoom lens that can be controlled remotely from our phones and tablets. This technology allows grandparents living thousands of miles away to see their grandchildren, or traveling parents can say goodnight from across the country. The device also tracks noise, movement, and temperature changes, and sends an alert to parents when the baby fusses or cries.

Smart technology is also changing the way we conduct our morning routines. Kohler recently released the Moxie® Showerhead + Wireless Speaker, allowing consumers to listen to music or catch up on the news while showering. This gadget wirelessly connects to your device via Bluetooth technology, and delivers music, podcasts, or newscasts directly to your showerhead. Not only does this device help you relax during a long shower or pump you up for a day at the office, but it is also available with a water-saving 2.0gpm or 2.5gpm spray, keeping you environmentally responsible and economically efficient.

Pivot Power Genius - via quirky.com

Quirky, a company that allows consumers to pitch product ideas, has several interesting Smart Devices on the market including the Pivot Power Genius. This device allows you to independently control outlets from your mobile device, ensuring that no lamp or electronic device is ever left on accidentally. The company is also responsible for the Porkfolio, a piggy bank that wirelessly connects to an app on your mobile device so you can track your savings remotely. However, it is Quirky’s Spotter that resembles the market’s turn towards comprehensive home technology. This gadget keeps you updated on all aspects of the home through your mobile device. The Spotter monitors motion, sound, light, temperature, and humidity and functions as a “veritable extension of your senses, for anything from baby monitoring to washer/dryer notifications or perfecting your wine cellar.” This technology not only connects the consumer to the home, but also encourages creativity in the way that it is put to use.

True Marque Managing Director Jason Abbott demonstrating smart features at the YC Condos presentation centre

Canderel is one of the developers paving the way for a system that resembles, in some very basic ways, the same capabilities as the Hal 9000. Canderel recently announced a partnership with Samsung SDS and True Marque Group of Companies that will bring consumers the first Samsung Smart Home at YC Condos in Toronto. With an emphasis on communication, control, security, and access, this technology allows residents to control almost every feature of the suite through a mobile phone or tablet. True Marque Managing Director Jason Abbott believes that this technology taps into a common desire amongst homeowners - the need to know “What’s going on in my home, and how do I control it?” The technology is especially easy to use because, unlike similar technologies such as Nest, the entire suite is controlled through one streamlined application. Residents can control the cameras, locks, stereo system, television, and lighting through a single interface. The system is also designed to adapt to the needs of the resident as they evolve, and adding new functions to the application is relatively simple.

Canderel is the beginning of many developers looking to enhance security, efficiency, and leisure through the integration of smart technology into our living space. As tech companies and developers compete to remain relevant, it seems that smart technology will become increasingly pervasive in the home.