I like the idea of home automation; more so recently in my attempts to save money and improve energy consumption. Enabling this concept are products referred to as "smart" appliances. My understanding is that the term "smart" is used rather loosely, really to mean wireless "interconnected" and most likely Internet-enabled.
For example, at CES 2012, Whirlpool committed to introducing appliances over the next year and a half that would be "smart"-enabled. They also mentioned that "Seventy-eight percent (of consumers) are interested in monitoring their household's energy use."
Now, the level of monitoring that consumers had in mind is my question. Is the monitoring more automated so that devices can learn consumer behavior patterns and adjust accordingly, or rather something more hands-on that allows consumers to control devices from anywhere (via smart phone). Personally, it would be great to see a bit of both.
Now, the level of monitoring that consumers had in mind is my question. Is the monitoring more automated so that devices can learn consumer behavior patterns and adjust accordingly, or rather something more hands-on that allows consumers to control devices from anywhere (via smart phone). Personally, it would be great to see a bit of both.
In any case, simply the ability to do any of this now appears within reach for the average residence (not sure how to define "average" except that I'm lumping myself into that group). I'm really excited to see what the next year brings in terms of smarter devices.
