\
Most new gadgets get the ‘smart’ moniker slapped on the side of the box, but are we getting any closer to a truly smart home?
“People don’t want a smarter home, they want a better home,” says Jamie Siminoff, founder of one of the smart home’s most recognisable brands, the Ring video doorbell. Siminoff invented the gadget to see who was at his front door when he was working in his garage.
To date, the smart home has been most successful when it presents a simple solution to a tricky problem and when it makes something just, well, better.
A smart thermostat that remembers to turn the heat down when you go out; a connected lock you can unlock remotely to let your nan in when you’re running late; a robotic vacuum cleaner to do the floors when you can’t be bothered… These are all top inventions, but is that really the future of our homes? Can’t they be any smarter?
Yes, they can.
Over the next decade, smart connected technology in our homes will transition from being a novelty and nice-to-have to a necessity.
The most profound improvements will come from the ways in which this smart tech can free up our money, energy, and most importantly our time. In other words, our homes will start taking care of us all.
Ten years ago, there were no video doorbells, no Amazon Alexa or Apple Siri voice assistants, and the Nest Learning Thermostat was still a good three months out from being unleashed on an unsuspecting public. The smart home was still just something for the uber rich or those who really liked to clap their hands – even the iPhone was still a toddler.
In the ensuing decade, innovation has proceeded at a breakneck pace, and our homes are moving from analogue to digital in what feels like the blink of an eye.
この記事は BBC Focus - Science & Technology の July 2021 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は BBC Focus - Science & Technology の July 2021 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
COULD MARINE CLOUD BRIGHTENING HELP US FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE?
The theory behind marine cloud brightening is that brighter or whiter clouds reflect more sunlight back into space.
IS IT SAFE TO RUN EVERY DAY, OR SHOULD I DITCH MY RUN STREAK TO SAVE MY KNEES?
A running streak, where you run every day without taking rest days, can be highly motivating and beneficial for overall fitness. Running is great cardiovascular exercise and isn't to be discouraged (and finding a routine with some consistency is great). Getting a bit of exercise as often as possible is also hugely beneficial for your mental health.
WHAT MAKES THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET SO GOOD FOR US?
The Mediterranean diet may help you live longer, especially if you also adopt the lifestyle of people living near the Med during the 1950s.
WHAT IS MEXICO'S BLUE HOLE?
The world's deepest blue hole (marine sinkhole) lies off the coast of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. It's at least 420m (1,378ft) deep, but explorers still haven't found its bottom.
HOW CAN I TELL IF I'VE GOT HIGH CORTISOL LEVELS?
Cortisol is a hormone produced by glands in our bodies called the adrenal glands, which sit above the kidneys. It plays a critical role in various bodily functions, including regulating metabolism, reducing inflammation and helping the body respond to stress. While essential for our health, chronic elevation of cortisol levels can lead to several issues.
THE LUNGFISH
In 1836, European scientists discovered a peculiar animal from the River Amazon that they struggled to identify. Its eel-like body was a few feet long and its air-filled lungs persuaded anatomists it must be a reptile.
ARE WE THE ONLY SPECIES TO HAVE BEEN THROUGH A STONE AGE?
The Stone Age might conjure up images of early humans, sitting around a campfire or hunting prehistoric beasts, but evidence shows that we're not the only species that has learned how to work with stone tools. Wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) use stone tools to crack open nuts.
Should we scrap daylight saving time?
Most of us look forward to the extra hour we get in bed every October, but researchers argue that changing the clocks twice a year harms our health
THE INTERNET OF ANIMALS
SCIENTISTS ARE USING ELECTRONIC TAGS AND SATELLITES TO TRACK WILD ANIMALS AND CREATE A DATA NETWORK THAT COULD HELP US ADDRESS THE BIODIVERSITY CRISIS
MUSIC FOR A DISTRACTED GENERATION
The number of things competing for our attention is often overwhelming. Can dreamy soundscapes created with neuroscience help our bewildered brains to concentrate?
