The Google Home is due to be released later this year, and although no official date has been set in stone it’s already creating a buzz. This wireless device will act as your personal assistant, able to help you with a range of tasks such as scheduling appointments, ordering pizza, and even controlling the lighting and blinds, in an automated home.
Although these devices are mainly for entertainment and information purposes, with a large focus on music and media streaming, it’s important to note the other ways it aims to make life easier. Devices such as Google Home are set to change the way we live our daily lives, and will integrate with our other appliances and home systems to create a fully automated home.
Smart homes of the future
Home automation, or smart homes, have been a hot topic for many years, particularly for those interested in technology. What were once futuristic dreams of robots cooking breakfast have now transformed into more realistic and convenient devices that take care of our simple daily tasks.
The smart homes of 2016 and the near future already have access to amazing home automation technology such as electronic deadbolts, facial recognition software for your front door, and remotely controlled heating and lighting systems.
Devices in our home which can be connected to the internet, and each other, all operate on a network called The Internet of Things (IoT). This network is what makes home automation a possibility, and gives everything from your air conditioning to the coffee maker the ability to connect with each other.
The Google Home aims to tap into this market with a product that is affordable and accessible to the general public, highlighting the advancements that have been made so far with home automation. The device is set to cost around $200, making it no more expensive than a regular Bluetooth speaker system.
What can Google Home do?
This nifty device generally sits in a central point of your home, such as the kitchen bench or dining table. From here, you can command it to help you with a range of tasks or operate items around the house when integrated.
- Conversational commands that allow you to ask questions such as “what day is father’s day,” or “how is the traffic condition on Smith Street?”
- Allows you to order things such as pizzas and Ubers, using a range of inbuilt apps that are constantly updated with new capabilities.
- Buy movie tickets, get directions to a destination, or make a reservation at your favourite restaurant using voice commands.
- Play music in one or all rooms of the house, depending on who’s home and how loud you’d like to hear it.
- Connect to other home automation devices such as thermostats, security systems, and automatic lighting to allow you to control these with voice activation.
Products such as Google Home are just the tip of the iceberg for what we can expect in smart homes of the future. As these technologies become simpler to use and more affordable by everyday homeowners, there is set to be a rise in home automation in the average household.
To discuss how your home’s energy and electrical needs can be updated, contact Everest Electrical on 0410 229 139. Any advancements in home technology such as this could mean big changes for your household, and more efficient energy use.