For decades, imaginative screenwriters and directors have captivated audiences with their vision of the future. Remember the 1960s cartoon series, The Jetsons, set in Orbit City? Or, the 1980s Tron and its early foray into virtual reality?
Thanks to the advent of the smart home, what was once the stuff of science fiction is increasingly manifest. And now, thanks to artificial intelligence (AI), some smart home devices are more capable and adaptive than ever. AI learns from behavior patterns to optimize smart home security, energy use, and convenience.
Smart home devices enhanced by AI do nothing less than radically redefine the relationship between a home and its occupants.
The Future … Today
Features multiply as designers incorporate AI into more and more products. AI-powered virtual assistants adapt to your preferences, and AI-capable smart appliances predict your needs. Some of the latest smart home products made their debut at the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
The Philips’ Palm Recognition Smart Deadbolt detects a palm vein pattern unique to each individual. Each unit stores the palm patterns of up to 50 individuals. Other models identify you as you approach the door. For example, Lockly’s Visage offers home access via facial recognition. It also sports a fingerprint reader, digital keypad, and, of course, a traditional keyed lock.
The Motion Pillow was a CES Innovation Award winner. When the pillow detects snoring, it gently inflates to turn the snorer’s head. This frees up air passages. One bonus – the hi-tech pillow silences snoring skeptics by playing back the sounds on demand!
Connectivity Takes Big Strides
As smart home devices increase, so does the need to deliver secure connectivity across platforms. Matter addresses this need. Introduced in 2023, it is a connectivity standard already supported by hundreds of companies, including smart home heavyweights like Apple, Amazon, Google, and Samsung.
Matter-certified smart home hubs make in-home communication more versatile and efficient. Thanks to Matter, an iPhone can control a Google Nest thermostat, for example. Google Nest and Apple HomePod are popular smart home hubs. The 4th generation Amazon Echo is an ideal fit for apartments. The fabric-covered orb comes with a new processor that speeds response times. Consider Apple’s ecosystem if you want to control smart home devices from your Apple Watch.
You’ll find dozens of other Matter-capable smart home devices already on the market. SwitchBot’s line of Matter-integrated devices includes a line of smart locks. August also offers a popular series of Matter-ready smart locks for residential use. Sengled launched a line of Matter-certified light bulbs in 2023. Nanoleaf also offers a line of lighting products that work with Matter. These include light bulbs, strip lights, and holiday string lights.
The latest 5G connectivity further enhances smart home network performance. Advantages include faster data speeds and lower latency. As a result, smart devices are more efficient and reliable. You can also connect more devices to the smart home system of your choice. Prospective tenants also benefit from the speed and efficiency of 5G during remote apartment tours.
Enhanced Apartment Ambience
Most apartment dwellers are responsible for their electric bills. Smart tech offers many ways to reduce energy use in the home. For example, smart shades, blinds, and curtains improve energy efficiency by curtailing sunlight on hot days and preserving warmth during cold spells. They are also perfect for those hard-to-reach windows behind a sectional. Take control of your privacy from your smartphone. In the future, AI-enhanced smart devices will even track weather forecasts and respond accordingly.
Philips Hue smart bulbs offer a simple setup, easy customization, and automatic light control. Accessorize with smart dimmer switches and motion sensors. Control your lighting with voice commands once you connect it with your smart home assistant. Or, use your smartphone to control them from anywhere in the world. Smart air purifiers automatically adjust to varying levels of particulates in the air. Use the connected app to glean real-time insights into your apartment’s air quality.
More Autonomous Appliances
Thanks in part to AI, smart appliances are getting more autonomous than ever. Coffee makers respond to verbal commands. Ovens set cooking times and recommend recipes. Range hoods with integrated air-quality sensors adjust fan settings as necessary. Refrigerators with cameras inside monitor food supplies and automate resupplying. Imagine washers that match wash cycles to fabric weight and type.
LG’s ThinQ app helps you control and monitor devices from the laundry to the kitchen and entertainment center. Monitor a current laundry cycle or note when the refrigerator’s water filter is due for replacement. Use voice controls to send cooking or cleaning instructions to your oven.
Benefits of Edge Computing
Edge computing improves security by processing data at the device level rather than in the cloud. The information doesn’t travel as far, reducing latency delays. Edge computing also reduces pressure on your smart home network bandwidth. And, devices still operate should there ever be an internet outage.
In 2024 and beyond, AI-enhanced smart home devices will understand what you say and want. They will better identify context, intent, and the nuances of language use. Interaction with your smart home environment will be more natural as a result. AI will also deliver more predictive responses, sometimes before a question is even asked.
Efficiencies add up. Time savings accrue; a few seconds here, a minute or two there. It is a brave new world, in the best sense.
About Draper and Kramer
Draper and Kramer is a full-service real estate firm founded in 1893. You’ll find upscale amenities at D&K luxury apartment communities in Chicago, St. Louis, Austin, Dallas, Denver, and Phoenix.
Many feature secure access enhanced by smart technology. Enjoy the convenience of keyless entry in developments like 61 Banks Street along Chicago’s Gold Coast. Some communities offer stainless steel appliances with smart features. Others employ smart technology to streamline package delivery for tenants.
Read more from D&K about smart apartment trends. Browse all D&K luxury apartment properties here.
