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The “House of Tomorrow” has a long history, and yet, it has always been just out of reach. In the 1950s the world was promised innovation after innovation, changing our lives fundamentally and ushering in a new era of automation. Of course, washing machines, dishwashers, and microwaves gave us more free time than ever before, however, that unbridled technological idealism was never quite fulfilled.
In truth, we might no longer have quite the same vision as to what the future will look like as those 50s futurists, however, everyone’s clear that they were on to something! Today, plastic might be on the way out, and “stereophonic recordings on built-in high-fidelity equipment” is just a long-winded way of saying “Bluetooth speaker”, but those early predictions are still guiding a nascent IoT industry today—an industry that is inextricably linked to PropTech.
By 2023, it is predicted that the Internet of Things (IoT) smart building market will be worth more than $51 billion. Efficiency, security, and convenience are its key themes, and it is reshaping the relationship we have with our homes and how we live in them. With this in mind, we take a look at some of the best products and services on the market, bringing us a true House of Tomorrow—today!
Starry
The explosion of connected devices in people’s homes has made access to lightning-fast internet an absolute necessity, and one that Starry is already meeting with their superfast 5G internet. The innovative startup offers customers internet speeds of 200 Mbp, with a no-nonsense monthly subscription that includes a state-of-the-art touchscreen WIFI router, the “Starry Station”. The company uses next-generation technology to beam superfast 5G internet to your home rather than using traditional underground cables. It looks to be a real game-changer and one, landlords don’t want to miss out on as tenants put a higher value on access to super-fast internet.
Cocoon Labs
The UK-based startup has developed a single connected device that provides multi-room home monitoring. The Cocoon smart security system uses AI to learn the unique sound pattern of your home and can detect any unusual activity with its groundbreaking subsound technology. If the system notices something out of the ordinary it will notify you instantly via your smartphone. There is even the option to stream live images from your home through an inbuilt HD camera. Founded in 2014, the company has raised $7.1 million to make homes safer.
Livly
Following an incredible $10 million seed round, Chicago-based Livly launched their innovative building management platform in March of this year. The company, founded by property developer Alex Samoylovich, designed its “operating system” for buildings to streamline and enrich the entire rental lifecycle for both tenants and landlords.
Livly’s platform for residents gives each tenant access to a personalized concierge app, allowing them to choose from a carefully curated list of services provided by local businesses. At the reception, packages can be seamlessly collected and tenants notified in real-time, while maintenance issues can be reported as they happen with the live chat interface. On the flip side, landlords benefit from greater control of their buildings, improved communication with tenants and an opportunity to unlock new revenue streams through a variety of exciting channels.
August
This San Francisco-based startup has established itself as a leader in the smart lock space. Before August was acquired by ASSA ABLOY in 2017, the company had raised $73m for its app-controlled smart locks. Through the August App, users have total control over who comes in and out of their homes with a live activity feed. Doors can be unlocked and locked remotely, with lost keys a thing of the past. Hugely popular with Airbnb hosts, access can be granted to guests with digital keys for limited time periods. Homes of the future should be convenient and secure, August delivers on both, in a big way.
Tado
The intelligent heating and cooling of homes have made huge strides in recent years. Leading the way in this area is Tado, whose smart thermostats promise to improve the energy efficiency of your home by 31%. The disruptive German startup offers a selection of products and services that help consumers save on their energy bills. Their smart technology integrates with existing systems, avoiding costly installations. Tado’s brilliantly designed mobile app gives you access to your home’s climate control from wherever you are. No longer will you worry about forgetting to turn off the a/c or coming home to a cold house. It will even notify you when someone has opened a window, ensuring none of your home’s precious energy is lost.