Smart Home Speakers David Lemereis Technology advancements are all around us. If you stop and think for a second, we are today actually living in the science fiction world of yesterday! Common practice for some now is to pick up a small device from your bag, ask it to order an Uber, then walk to the door and say “turn off the lights”. The lights go out and as you walk out the door, there is an Uber waiting outside. These are just a few examples of verbal assignments that the personal digital assistant on your smartphone can execute for you. All major manufacturers like Apple, Google and Windows have such smart assistants for your smartphone, tablet or PC in the form of Siri, Google Now or Cortana. The problem is that hardly anyone uses them, yet... But why? Consumers, it seems, feel a little embarrassed to talk to a device on the street or at the office in the presence of others. The smart assistants are gaining popularity though, but mostly in the privacy of the living room. The world leading Tech retailer Amazon was more or less the first manufacturer to build a smart assistant in a living room speaker, Alexa. She always has a listening ear and tries to do all sorts of tasks for you. That may range from answering a question about weather or scheduling an appointment to operating thermostats, roller blinds and televisions. In the United States, this Amazon Echo is a great success. It’s no wonder, therefore, that Google introduced their smart “Google Home” speaker in the US earlier this year. Also, Apple recently announced that the Apple Homepod will be on the market at the end of the year. What do you say? Unlike digital smartphone assistants, the Amazon Echo and Google Home are already a big success. According to Global Market Insights Inc., the market is forecast to be worth $10 billion by the end of 2024. That’s no wonder, because it is less embarassing to talk to a device in the presence of your husband, wife and/or children. But perhaps the most important thing that makes it a success is that they listen so well. To be able to listen properly, it is important to communicate loudly and clearly to the Smart Home speaker. Then the speaker can be your robotic assistant and help manage your digital lifestyle. CONTINEW -21
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