Voice Control Tops Home Technology Trends At CEDIA 2018 Industry Show - Forbes

You probably know about Alexa, the icon of Amazon’s voice control suite. Maybe she’s already in your home. But have you met Josh? Josh is an award-winning voice control system from Josh AI, and takes complex instructions like ‘lower the shades,’ ‘play Classic Jazz on Pandora,’ ‘dim the lights’ and ‘set the air conditioning to 70,’ and simplifies them into a single ‘evening relaxation’ command of your choosing. Josh’s primary competitors are Control4 and Savant. These smart home automation offerings are like Alexa on steroids.

Advanced voice control systems are simplifying home automation for users.Photo courtesy of Josh.AI

“I believe voice activation is just in its infancy as we learn to interact with inanimate objects the same way we do with each other,” observes West Hollywood-based architect Dean Larkin of Dean Larkin Design. He served on a luxury meets technology panel at the 2018 CEDIA Expo for home technology in San Diego earlier in September.

“Key pads and smart phone control of security, lighting, shades, entertainment, etc. is standard in our homes today,” Larkin notes. On projects of 4,000 square feet and less, technology can total up to eight percent of the budget, he says. “Our younger clients are looking for more ’wow’ technology (integrating blinds, lighting and entertainment on one command), where our older clients just want something that’s simple and reliable.” To create both the wow and simplified technology solutions and ensure they’re fully integrated into the home’s build, Larkin brings in a home technology consultant very early on in the planning stage.

David VanWert of West Hollywood-based VanWert Technology Design is one of Larkin’s consultants, and one of the two technology guides touring a select group of architectural and interior designers through the CEDIA show floor. “Voice control has grown leaps and bounds in such a short time with companies such as Amazon Alexa and Google Home leading the pack,” he says, pointing out that these mass market leaders are opening the door to the entire voice-controlled home automation category. “More advanced systems such as Josh AI allowing for natural speech control, multiple commands, and proximity sensing open the opportunity to these ‘whole house systems’ to be truly easy to use, something that has not been easily obtainable with traditional home automation systems,” he adds.

Portland, Ore.-based kitchen and bath designer Molly Switzer of Molly N Switzer Designs took VanWert’s tour at CEDIA and is also bullish on advanced voice control. “Finally a system that can keep up with the human voice and is evolved enough to sense where it is. I'm tired of arguing with my Echo Dot to turn my lights off, the same process I do every day, and I am exhausted by her ability to ‘not locate’ time and time again.” What types of automation is Switzer including in her projects? “Clients often start with lighting, then we break into Wi-Fi-enabled kitchen appliances. Security systems become the next level to add interest to clients, everything from door hardware to Ring to various motion activated security measures.” There isn’t a typical technology expenditure on her projects, the designer says.

VanWert’s projects span the entire home – inside and out. “We are asked to design systems that integrate everything electronic in the home. Music and TV are now such a small part of the overall system as there is much more focus on bringing the lighting, shades, security, heating/air, pool/spa, door/windows, etc… all together under a single unified interface that allows for much easier control over the whole home. “ As with Switzer’s projects, budgets span a huge range. “We work on projects of all sizes throughout the country.” The price tag “could be anywhere from $50,000 to over seven figures,” he says.

One of the challenges users have faced over the years with their technology is obsolescence. Who doesn’t have a drawer with old iPhones or Blackberries waiting to be recycled? Larkin isn’t concerned about this in the home automation sphere: “As most technology systems interface with voice command systems, they should be able to update themselves and interface with the ever-increasing connected devices coming to market.”

As the architect and kitchen designer can tell you, it doesn’t hurt to have a technology consultant in your own voice-controlled device’s contacts. “I can see into the crystal ball a bit clearer and find the importance in teaming up with local integration specialists,” Switzer muses. “They will soon be as important as our relationships with plumbers, electricians, cabinet makers and other trade professionals.”

https://ift.tt/2ONwzj6