The Race to Create the Coolest Smart Home Devices Is Hotter Than Ever

#News(General) [ via IoTForIndiaGroup ]

Indeed, 59 percent of American adults surveyed in 2018 said they were interested in using a smart home device, according to Forrester Research.
For many, the entry into the internet of things (IoT) world has been through the surging popularity of smart speakers, like Amazon Echo and Google Home, whose voice assistants can answer questions, play music, order food, read news, arrange an Uber ride, and control other connected smart devices
For many people, it’s about convenience and speed. “Consumers don’t just want this convenience, they expect it — they demand it,” said Charles Henderson, global head of X-Force Red, a professional hacking team at IBM Security.
But the road to mass adoption of the smart home will likely be a long and bumpy one. Although the number and nature of smart devices is surging by the day, people have been relatively slow to actually buy and install them.
“It’s a really messy space and there’s a lot of noise in this,” said Frank Gillett, principal analyst at Forrester.
Buying, setting up and connecting smart devices can be costly, cumbersome, and time-consuming. Indeed, as many as one-third of smart speakers are still in their boxes, according to Forrester.
“You need people to be patient and comfortable with working through multiple steps of instruction,” he said.
Security, privacy and trust remain a big concern among owners of smart speakers. It’s that “big brother is listening” concern, said Charles Golvin, senior research director at Gartner, a research and advisory firm.

Among the newcomers is MassageRobotics, a company that offers body massages at home — only it’s done by a pair of robotic arms.

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