Prior to Parks Associates’ 23rd-annual CONNECTIONS: The Premier Connected Home Conference, Felicite Moorman, CEO, STRATIS IoT spoke with the firm’s analyst team to his thoughts on the extension of the smart home to the connected car.
Felicite participated on the Energy Management Solutions: Smart Home Crossover panel on Wednesday, May 22, at 10:15 AM. Panelists who joined her on this session included:
Justin Berghoff, Director, Business Development & Product Management, Residential, Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
Joseph Carangelo, Executive Director, Strategy and Innovation, Baker Electric Home Energy
Mel Fox, Product Owner, Nexia Home, Residential HVAC & Supply, Ingersoll Rand
James McPhail, CEO, Zen Ecosystems
Q: As the number of connected devices in consumers’ lives increases each year, what solutions need to be created to allay rising consumer concerns around data security and privacy?
A: The solution to these concerns is security compliance verified by an independent organization.We see potential risks and exposures every day in the smart home market. We determined that the only responsible action was to independently initiate the rigorous and intensive SOC 2 audit process, to ensure that our systems are as secure as our clients deserve. Every smart home provider should complete a SOC 2 Audit.
Q: With the rollout of 5G technologies nearing, what impact will this technology have on connected consumers?
A: The rollout of 5G technologies is an opportunity for smart home services and manufacturers. For connected consumers, devices will be able to do more, faster. However, consumers must also be more aware of security concerns surrounding 5G technologies, as some of the largest companies building these technologies are considered to have hardware that is vulnerable to hackers. Also, since 5G technologies are rapidly advancing, consumers may have to purchase newer 5G specific devices as older devices would not have the capacity to connect to 5G.
Q: As the smart home experience expands outside the home, how will the role of the car evolve as part of the smart home ecosystem?
A: The car will likely be used as a battery-storage device, used for supplying apartment buildings with energy during peak demand periods.
Q: What is necessary to build a seamless smart home experience that crosses brands, platforms, and ecosystems?
A: The onus of creating a seamless smart home experience should be on solutions providers to create strategic partnerships. Furthermore, solutions should prioritize user-friendliness and use-cases.
Q: What impact will emerging technologies like AI, machine learning, and blockchain have on the smart home? What are the associated challenges with implementing these technologies in the Home?
A: Blockchain would allow devices in a smart home to identify and authenticate each other. The associated challenge with this would be anticipating any additional security concerns that could arise from this implementation.
Q: With smart home adoption flattening in 2018, what must the industry do to reach new buyers? What innovations have you seen that will address the existing needs of the elderly to enable independent living in the smart home?
A: Currently, the vast majority of solution providers have built technology for single-family homeowners. Though these solutions were not necessarily created with the needs of the elderly in mind, some already do address them. For example, smart locks that do not require keys are beneficial for those with arthritic hands. Some innovations that do directly address their needs include smart healthcare technology, like smart pill dispensers, smart toothbrushes, smart EKG monitors, and smart blood pressure/sugar monitors.
Q: What new energy management scenarios are emerging from industry partnerships and crossover use cases?
A: The cheapest and cleanest electron is the one you do not ever consume. A building with connected energy-saving platform that purchases its electricity from a clean energy retailer is a powerful crossover.
Q: What strategies are needed to achieve a unified experience in the home for consumers between smart home and connected entertainment products and services?
A: Prioritize user-friendliness by creating a seamless experience between connected products and services. Multiple products each with its own corresponding app can cause app fatigue and confusion.
