The new year promises many new and innovative technologies for our homes. These innovations are created to make our daily lives easier, but what do the experts have to say?
Below we will get into which trends, technologies and inventions experts think we will be seeing this 2024.
Our Experts:
Carsten Eriksen, Co-founder, Swift Creatives
Lino Notaro, Retail Sales Director, TP-Link UK
Damien Wynne, Co-founder, Q New Homes
Ben Wood, Chief Analyst, CCS Insight
Kristan Rivers, CEO, AdInMo
Oliver Creevy, Managing Director and Co-founder, Business Solar UK
Matthew Glynn, Product Marketing Manager, Hisense
Carsten Eriksen, Co-founder, Swift Creatives
“Our vision for the next generation of AI personal assistants marks a departure from traditional smart speakers, anticipating a seamless integration of smart voice technology with fully AI-generated holographic avatars.
“This evolution is not about transforming lives but redefining the boundaries of current technology. Imagine holographic personal assistants tailored uniquely to your needs, acting as genuine companions across diverse age groups. From kitchen guides to yoga coaches and homework assistants, these holographic companions promise versatile features, enriching daily lives.
“Our concept envisions breaking free from home confinement, allowing on-the-go accessibility. Take your holographic avatars beyond dedicated devices, transforming them into AI travel companions and offering information on landmarks, historical facts, and language translation.
“Reflecting on 2023’s impact of generative AI on professional lives, we believe 2024 will see a shift towards how AI can enhance personal lives. We anticipate an evolution in personal relationships with technology, as AI offers a dynamic and personalised experience across various aspects of daily life.”
Lino Notaro, Retail Sales Director, TP-Link UK
“In 2024, consumers can expect to see a more unified and automated smart home ecosystem, with different devices connecting and working in harmony, all controlled via a central application for ease and simplicity.
“This will be further enabled by increased implementation of Matter-certified devices in the home, which allow gadgets from different manufacturers to connect, increasing compatibility to create a more harmonised smart home for consumers.
“As manufacturers roll out more of these devices, we can expect to see consumers becoming more selective about the products they purchase – with the option to look beyond any ‘go-to’ brands for more cost-effective alternatives that do not sacrifice compatibility or require them to upgrade an entire suite of smart home gadgets.
Where previously a consumer may have been more likely to stick with the smart home provider, 2024 will see more consumers taking advantage of the new options and possibilities presented to them.
“This consumer-centric approach means consumers can invest in the products that best suit their needs, budget, and home environment with the knowledge they can be connected across one unified system. With many devices now enabling remote control and personalised settings, consumers will begin to expect automation as a feature in the devices they select for their home – for instance automated heating when they enter a set peripheral so their home is cosy when they arrive home from work.
“Such devices also offer energy-monitoring features that help consumers save on utility bills – which will continue to be an important purchase consideration going into 2024.”
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Damien Wynne, Co-founder, Q New Homes
“Some of the greatest advances in home technology won’t be things you can see. Instead you’ll feel them – they’ll keep your home warm, dry and comfortable, and they’ll help both your bank balance and the environment by slashing your energy use.
“2024 will see more homes being heated by air source heat pumps – which work like a fridge in reverse – rather than conventional gas boilers. As solar panels get more affordable, they will become an increasingly common sight on roofs across the country.
“This tech works best it’s backed up by the cutting-edge technology that’s now being put into the fabric of homes as they’re built.
“For example, we’re currently building a development of Net Carbon Zero homes in Kent, each of which is cocooned in insulation to keep heat loss to an absolute minimum. Additionally, a mechanical ventilation and heat recovery system brings fresh filtered air into the property and extracts stale air, while an Air and Vapour Control layer prevents condensation and stops heat loss through tiny cracks and air gaps.
“Instead of bricks and mortar, we’re using Structurally Insulated Panels to form the walls. These are hermetically sealed for optimum heat retention and have 40% less embodied carbon than conventional building materials.
“As a final touch, the fireplaces will run on bioethanol, a waste product from the food industry, to provide a renewable and emission-free architectural heating source. No chimneys, no emissions, no compromises on the environment.”
Ben Wood, Chief Analyst, CCS Insight
“From 2025, smart home and wearable technology work in sync to optimize the home environment and aid well-being. Adjusting lighting and heating can increase total sleep time and quality as well as alertness during the working day.
Household light and temperature settings are adjusted based on smartwatch data to improve natural circadian rhythms; smart thermostats optimize the temperature in each room for individuals’ sleep patterns, and smart bulbs adjust the amount of blue light to help people wake up in the morning and to increase natural melatonin levels at night, aiding sleep.
50% of Western European homes have a smart home device by 2026. By mid-2023, almost 40% of households in Western Europe owned a smart home device. Our research reveals significant intention to own more devices in the future, by current owners of smart home devices and those yet to make their first purchase.
The next wave of adoption is fuelled by smart domestic appliances as households replace ageing washing machines, fridges and ovens and more of the upgraded products are connected by default. This trend leads to the average number of smart home device types increasing to four per household by 2027.
By 2025, a quarter of households in the UK own a smart tag. Our Connected Consumer Radar research indicates that 6% of households in the UK currently own a smart tag, and an even smaller proportion intend to own one in the future. This subdued interest can be attributed to low levels of awareness, perceived high cost and concerns about privacy.
However, as smart tag technology steadily advances, accompanied by expanded applications and continuous innovations that enhance battery life, size and connectivity options, as well as integration into existing technologies, adoption rises rapidly to reach 25% of UK households.
By 2026, one in three households in the UK has a smart doorbell. As smart home technology advances and consumer awareness grows, the popularity of smart doorbells is on the rise. Our research shows that 16% of households in the UK have already embraced smart doorbells and we expect this number to rise to 30% by 2026 as more people recognize the security benefits and convenience they offer.”
Kristan Rivers, CEO, AdInMo
“I predict that advertising in the mobile games you play and apps you use will become less intrusive and annoying as brands start to realise that they can replicate out of home ad experiences and put them actually in the games that people are playing. Brands that use AdInMo in the background can put ads in the actual gameplay – for example place ads in virtual billboards in a racing game – allowing users to keep playing while being advertised to.”
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Oliver Creevy, Managing Director and Co-founder, Business Solar UK
“In 2024, we anticipate a significant surge in smart home integration, with a particular focus on energy efficiency and environmental consciousness. Homeowners will increasingly turn to innovative solutions to reduce their carbon footprint, aligning with the global push towards greener living.
At Business Solar UK, our foresight into the evolving landscape of HomeTech in 2024 is rooted in a deep understanding of the symbiotic relationship between technological innovation and environmental stewardship. As we navigate the imminent future, we anticipate a substantial surge in the adoption of intelligent home energy management systems, a pivotal facet of which will be the seamless integration of solar solutions into the fabric of everyday life.
The increasing demand for these advanced home technologies stems from a growing awareness of the need for sustainable living practices. With a heightened global focus on environmental responsibility, more households are recognizing the intrinsic value of harnessing renewable energy sources. This shift towards eco-conscious living not only aligns with broader societal goals of reducing carbon footprints but also sets the stage for a revolutionary transformation in the HomeTech sector.
As solar technology becomes more accessible and efficient, we envisage a future where homes are not merely spaces of habitation but dynamic entities actively contributing to a greener planet. The synergy between cutting-edge technology and environmental consciousness is poised to redefine the way we approach and integrate HomeTech, making 2024 a landmark year in the pursuit of a sustainable and technologically advanced living environment.”
Matthew Glynn, Product Marketing Manager, Hisense
“In 2024 when it comes to home technology, we think the trend of connectivity will not only continue, but expand into additional elements of the home, namely appliances. Being able to control appliances including cooking, refrigeration, dishwashers, and laundry, seamlessly from your smart phone will be a real area of growth.
“By having control over all devices through one central app, it streamlines the process, making chores quicker and easier. It also enables the user to monitor how much energy is being consumed by each appliance, making for a more conscious consumer, not only from a cost perspective, but also environmental.
“In just a few clicks, consumers can upgrade the performance of their appliances with firmware updates, browse through user manuals, give orders via voice control, send tickets to aftersales service, and more. It also allows greater flexibility around lifestyles, as things can be controlled in the home, whilst you’re on the go.
“Next year, we’ll be rolling out a UK version of ConnectLife – our modern smart living app. ConnectLife is one of very few platforms that combines the whole smart home with a smart TV as a central point of the smart home ecosystem, so watch this space!”
For any questions, comments or features, please contact us directly.
