The last few years have seen a huge surge in demand for smart IoT devices, particularly in a home environment. Consumers have embraced all manner of unusual devices that help make home living a little easier – from smart thermometers, to fridges that can order supplies of everyday essentials that are running low. The Internet of Things has offered some creative solutions to problems that homeowners never even knew they had!
In its broadest sense, the term IoT simply means any household device that is connected to the internet. However it’s increasingly used to refer to IoT devices that are able to “talk” to each other, things like sensors, smartphones and wearable devices that connect up to perform even more sophisticated functions. The smartest IoT devices can now gather information from sensors across a network, analyse the information, and carry out an appropriate action in response.
IoT in the home
The largest technology companies are competing hard to reach the top of the league when it comes to internet-enabled home devices. Google and Amazon are two of the key players – with both focusing their efforts around their smart speakers; Amazon Echo and Google Home.
Although they function as traditional speakers, connected to online music systems such as Spotify and Apple Music; they also have an internet search capability. This means that users have found them an invaluable source of information in real-time.
Home security is another common concern that the IoT has overhauled for many homeowners. Discrete smart sensors can quickly and easily be installed both internally and externally, to monitor a range of factors. Some of the most popular are motion sensors, which are often linked to cameras. As well as notifying us when an unknown individual approaches our property – the ability to set lighting and music on timed sequences means that we now have the capability to protect our home remotely, by deterring unwanted visitors.
As smart technology evolves, these devices are becoming increasingly complex. However, there have also been advances in power-saving technology, with a range of shields and IoT devices which can be used to reduce the power consumption of various IoT devices.
Enabling independence in the home through smart devices
Although consumer marketing often targets convenience and novelty – there is a more serious side to smart devices, that can bring tangible benefits to people’s lives.
Our ageing population has led to a surge in demand for home care devices. These have previously involved obtrusive wearable alarms, which needed to be carried at all times, to allow an elderly person to raise the alert if they had a fall and were unable to get to a phone.
However, a new generation of ‘ageing in place’ smart IoT devices is beginning to revolutionise the industry. Several companies are developing home sensors that can passively monitor an at-risk person throughout the day; to make an assessment of whether they are deviating from their normal pattern of activity.
This system can then alert a nominated person (for example a grown up child living away from home) that the elderly person has displayed some unusual behaviour. This can be programmed in depending on typical behaviour, but could be as simple as flagging when they have not entered the kitchen on a morning. This can provide a trigger to get in touch – and may feel less constraining than having to carry around a device.
As this technology evolves, it is likely that the technology will be engineered to incorporate other types of sensor; whether that’s to help detect hazards around the home – such as smoke or flooding, to monitor temperature – or to help re-order medical supplies as soon as they are running low.
What about security?
Of course, one of the most common criticisms of the IoT is the potential risk to data security that it may pose. By welcoming smart devices into our homes, are we inadvertently opening up a simple way for our personal data to be harvested?
Hackers may be able to find their way into IoT devices that are ‘easier’ targets, giving them a pathway to pivot into more secure targets that are connected to the same network connection.
The UK government has published a guidance document focusing on consumer IoT devices. Amongst the recommendations is the suggestion that companies provide a simple way for anyone to report a vulnerability in a device. It also suggests that the companies manufacturing consumer IoT devices should explicitly state how long they will continue to provide security updates for, for any device they produce. Whilst these are simple steps, when combined with other elements of personal security, such as secure password choice, they may offer a good starting point as we move to a world that becomes increasingly engaged with smart devices in the home.
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