The arrival of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in early 2020 and the ensuing stay-at-home orders caused many people to reevaluate the quality of life in the country. This has led some to introduce additional smart devices and appliances to increase both convenience and comfort. A recent report from research firm Parks Associates found that U.S. homes had an average of 17 connected devices in the third quarter of 2023.
At CES 2024, smart home technology (and everything else) was dominated by one clear trend: AI. It is becoming increasingly clear how interconnected the homes of the future will actually become, with companies leading the way in adding AI technology and other integrations to their products.
At a live panel hosted by Roborock, “Revolutionizing the Smart Home: The Role of Cleaning Technology in Shaping Future Lifestyles,” product experts and industry analysts agreed that smart home technology is becoming increasingly siloed. . Here we summarize what the experts discussed during the session.
From innovative to functional
Roborock's panel released a research whitepaper developed in partnership with IDC that found that global device shipments are expected to reach 880 million units this year. “During the pandemic, people were confined to their homes, during which time their home became the center of their world,” said Tom Mainelli, group vice president of devices and consumer research at IDC. “And as prices come down, these products are starting to enter emerging markets.”
Chuck Martin, IoT expert and author of the book Digital Transformation 3.0: The new connection between businesses and consumers, says one of the reasons consumers are interested in smart home appliances is simply because This is because households are more connected than they were 10 years ago. Internet of Things. ”
“What's happening in the smart home market is a shift from novelty to functionality,” he said. Martin said that while updating the software on smart devices every year was once a foreign concept, it is now a standard requirement for smart consumers. “Expectations have evolved.”
Mainelli agreed. “First generation adopters picked up vacuums for the novelty. Now the market has evolved. People want vacuums to completely replace chores.” Experts agreed that the market will continue to change and be shaped by the advent of AI, which allows devices to learn, optimize, and predict over time.
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Roborock's customer-centric approach
Roborock is one of the companies ramping up both AI integration and product innovation to meet the needs of the growing smart home market. At CES 2024, we announced four new vacuum/mop autonomous robots and two handheld vacuum/mop options for those who feel zen about holding a physical device while cleaning their floors .
The company's newest line of robots are the S8Max Ultra and S8 MaxV Ultra. In addition to Matter compatibility and the addition of a self-cleaning docking station, the MaxV product line now features a “Hello, Rocky” voice assistant that allows users to command the robot without accessing an app. Voice assistant technology is popular with consumers, especially older adults. More than half of connected home device users over the age of 55 use voice control features, according to a report from analytics firm Statista.
On the software side, the S8 MaxV Ultra model uses Reactive AI 2.0. This is a technology that allows robot vacuums to move around and clean efficiently without harming your home environment. On the hardware side, this model features a new FlexiArm Design side brush. This was observed to be the ability to use a robotic arm and an extra edge mop system to clean hard-to-reach areas such as corners. “Thorough cleaning is the focus of her Roborock products in 2024,” said Nicole Han, Roborock's product expert. “The job of a robot vacuum is to completely free your hands, and that includes cleaning automatically.”
The Q Revo MaxV and Q Revo Pro series were also announced, expanding the company's product line and giving consumers the convenience of smart vacuums and mops at a more affordable price. “At Roborock, we have one goal: to serve our customers,” Roborock President Gang Quan said during the panel discussion. Increasing diversity in price ranges in the smart home market will lead to greater adoption overall. According to the World Economic Forum, IoT spending is expected to reach $1.1 trillion by next year.
For those who prefer to hold the vacuum handle in the palm of their hand, Roborock also showcased its new Flexi series, offering consumers two options that combine vacuum and mop technology without any extra robotic mechanisms. did.
Quan said the MaxV series has Matter compatibility, which can further power the interconnected smart homes of the future. “We are always willing to collaborate with external partners to achieve the common goal of better serving our customers,” said Mr. Quan.
“At the end of the day, for this product category to continue to grow, devices have to do a job as good as vacuuming themselves.” Mainelli added.
If CES 2024 is a crystal ball, the smart home, or the future of it, will actually be a smart home, not just a home with a bunch of smart devices. By prioritizing products that are at the forefront of the industry, users can enjoy the benefits of the latest smart home technology and improve their quality of life in the process.