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Smart homes coming to SA... soon

Cape Town - Smart home technology makes homes more efficient and should be expanded to everyone who lives in a home, says an industry insider.

"Every single person on the planet; that’s my dream and the reason behind Solv. If we cannot use technology to enhance the lives of every single person, then what's the point?" Riaan Swart, founder of Solv, told Fin24 about the expansion of smart home technology.

Solv is a company focused on solving domestic problems with technology and Swart, the managing director has a long history of involvement in the tech business. He founded consumer tech retailer Chaos Computers.

Swart shoots from the hip and said that smart home technology was often confused with automation.

"In my opinion, we should stop spending ridiculous amounts of money on gimmicks for the super rich and rather invest it into the lives of everyday people. Smart technology has the potential to benefit everyone; it creates a huge opportunity in terms of accessibility and cost."

Right direction

Smart home technology is expected to grow to the next "big thing".

As the premium smartphone market flattens, some companies are facing pressure to deliver new technologies and systems that would see a jump in revenue.

Two areas are showing promise: Internet of Everything and biometric technologies have shown that they are scalable, particularly as internet penetration grows.

According to results from industry tracker Juniper Research, revenue from smart home technologies are set to exceed $71bn by 2018, a massive jump from the $33bn in 2013.

In SA, Swart said that it was still early days, but there were signs that South Africans were heading in the right direction.

"There is a drive from within SA to kick-start the 'movement'. Things like the Altech Node are a good step in the right direction, although this is still very much 'automation' and not smart."

The Node entertainment box is indicative of how smart home technology will be introduced, but unlike simple entertainment devices, true smart homes will encompass a range of technologies throughout the home.

Reality

For example, a smart home could set your alarm earlier than usual based on calculations on the traffic situation, delay the preparation of supper based on the time you leave work, or clean the pool based on the weather for the day.

As more devices come with built-in internet connectivity, the technology brings true smart homes closer to reality.

Watch this video that illustrates how a smart home might work:





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