Just as electricity quickly took it's hold over 100 years ago in the modern homes of the late 1800s, "smart" home technology is weaving it's way into our homes today. You already have some smart devices in your home and not even think about it. When was the last time you said "OK Google" or "Alexa"?

Homes in Beaufort County have been becoming smarter for some time now. And with the advance of technology, they're getting ever smarter. What are some of the trends we can expect to see in smart home technology over the next few years?

Machines that learn

To call home technology "smart" is not quite the right word. Currently, most devices are programmed to perform a particular function, like turning on lights or letting you see visitors at your door.

Yet with new technologies, our home tech will actually be able to learn. This can be done using machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and other technologies that actually are capable of thinking, making decisions, and learning.

Some devices are already using some of this technology. Smart thermostat systems from Nest and Honeywell use machine learning to adapt their behavior to the inhabitants of a house, based on observing, and then replicating their habits. Facial recognition is also becoming more common. ANd imagine having your refrigerator "see" what's inside and predict what you need to order, or even order it for you!

Robots in the Home

Do you already have a robot vacuuming your floors? Soon, robots will be able to do much more than cleaning up the place, thanks to AI.

There are countless ways that robots could help us around the house, such as cooking, cleaning, and even providing companionship, such as LG’s CLOi and Trifo’s Lucy. WIth robots helping us with the more routine tasks, we can be free to do more with our time. They can also help the elderly or disabled to be more productive, and call for help if there's an urgent medical issue.

That level of home technology may be a few years away. But for now, robotic devices will continue to drop in price and become a more common sight in Beaufort County.

In-home healthcare gets smarter

Smart technology will also be able to take the strain off the healthcare system. We will be able to monitor activity levels, quality of sleep, and nutrition with wearable devices. We'll also be able to better connect with doctors, as well as alert emergency services when an elderly person falls or otherwise needs medical attention.

Faster networks - smarter homes

Mobile and home networks will always continue to get faster, and as such, smart home technology will become increasingly more efficient.

Smart thermostats and security systems will be able to access more varied and up-to-date information to make more accurate predictions. This will make them increasingly reliable and efficient during 2020.

If you're thinking about making your Beaufort County home "smarter", this is an exciting time to do so.

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