Smart home technology is already available and new products and services and home automation features are becoming increasingly accessible to the average homeowner.

Recently, companies have announced new products and services that could help turn the smart home into a mass market activity. Among the developments:

  • AT&T will be rolling out its home automation initiative and plans to offer the service in 58 markets nationwide by the end of the year. The service will offer connected door locks, thermostats and video cameras as well as basic security protection. Unlike a similar service offered by Comcast, AT&T's will be sold separately from the company's broadband offerings.
  • Lowe's introduced add-on services for its Iris home automation kits. New sensors designed to help consumers monitor their elderly parents, an automated pet door that users can lock or unlock remotely, and a lawn moisture sensor that notifies customers when their yards are getting dry and allows them to turn on their sprinkler system remotely.
  • ADT added the ability to remotely lock and unlock doors to its Pulse home automation offering. The company already allowed users to adjust their lighting and thermostat and view security video of their home remotely.
  • LG has new washer and dryer set that users can start remotely with their smartphones.

Consumer service providers such as ADT, Comcast and Vivint have entered the market, promoting home automation and make it more accessible to average consumers. Companies such as Comcast and Vivint now offer basic home automation systems for less than $500 installed. And Lowe's Iris, which is available for about $300 for a full system, is designed for self-installation.

The spread of broadband, cloud computing and smartphones have provided new ways for consumers to interact with home automation systems. For example, smart home services can take a smartphone's location and use it as a trigger for doing tasks such as turning on lights or sending alerts.

According to Parks Associates research, 6 percent of American households have a smart or connected thermostat.

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