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What We Know Now
As smart home integrators and technology experts, we’ve learned a lot in the past year about what works for a smart home to really serve the needs of its owners.
In the past year, sales and installations of smart home tech have skyrocketed. This isn’t a total surprise, as smart home tech sales were already on the rise, even without the pandemic. But when our homes became the major (and sometimes only) place that we do everything, the need for technology soared.
What many homeowners are finding is that technology in and of itself is not enough. In fact, throwing a lot of tech at a problem can actually make things worse. A solid plan for how the technology will be integrated into the whole home, and work seamlessly with other devices, is critical for its success. The user needs to have easy, intuitive access to that tech, to trust that it’s secure and straightforward in its use.
What we’ve learned this past year is echoed in the recent article, “Five lessons learned during COVID-19 by the smart home industry.” In the article, G. Paul Hess examines the unexpected ways smart home technology has leapt to the challenge of living, working, socializing, and going to school at home.
A lot of us have experienced these points first-hand. We know we need plenty of dependable bandwidth to support our activities.
We also need more enhanced security. We need a way to protect and secure our information and our deliveries, as our homes have become a major receiving dock for basics like groceries and clothing.
The home theater has become more complex and dramatic. But the integration of home theater tech is not just about entertainment; in a lot of cases, it’s how we “see” our loved ones.
Our outdoor space has become more important, as it’s essential to socializing in a safe way. Homeowners are requesting their outdoor space becomes their new recreation rooms, with A/V equipment to support socializing and entertaining in a safe way.
Perhaps one of the most intriguing points of the article is that “smart living depends on homes that heal themselves.” Hess notes that, with increased technology, remote monitoring and maintenance have become that much more important to maintaining a well-run household.
Integrators can install 100% networked devices, safely and remotely monitoring and managing these systems to seamlessly support the homeowners’ lifestyles. We take this burden off the homeowner, ensuring the home’s security and dependability, often without ever coming to the home or interrupting the homeowner’s work, school, or recreation.
To learn more about how integrated smart home technology can make your home life more manageable and comfortable, call us at Jackson Hole AV. We’d love to discuss the possibilities.
