Though smart cities and smart phones have tended to dominate professional discussions of late, the smart home has been a gleam in the eye of futurists for decades. Experts predict home automation will accelerate over the next few years.
"From complete home systems to individual Internet-connected products such as high-tech appliances and power strips, the smart home is no longer a futuristic gimmick," write Andrew Khouri and Andrea Chang.
"The technology behind smart gadgets — items that can be controlled remotely or perform tasks on their own — has been around for decades, but until recently the devices were rudimentary and, above all, expensive," they explain. "Wireless Internet and the widespread proliferation of smartphones are making smart home technologies more sophisticated — and affordable."
"'This used to be something out of 'The Jetsons' or limited to the super-rich,' said Jonathan Dorsheimer, an analyst at Canaccord Genuity. But as smart home technology has improved and costs have come down, 'it's becoming more mainstream.'"
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