Home automation has been around for a long time, but the emergence of smartphones and Wi-Fi has made the technology more convenient and affordable. The ability to control multiple devices creates the need for a unified controller.
Having a different remote for each device is just not possible as more and more devices are becoming smart: TVs, air conditioners, speakers, lights, door bells, cameras, windows, hot water heaters etc. The smart home market is expected to be valued at USD 137.91 Billion by 2023, growing at a CAGR of 13.61% between 2017 and 2023.
The growth of the smart home market can be attributed to the significant advancements in the IoT market; increasing need for convenience, safety, and security; and rising demand for energy saving solutions.
Top products in this market:
• The Echo is a Bluetooth speaker powered by Alexa, Amazon's voice assistant. Alexa works with a number of smart home devices directly, as well as with If This Then That (IFTTT) to control plenty of others. • The Logitech harmony elite is physical remote controls through a hub bluetooth, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, Z-Wave, or infrared devices in the house.
• The Nest Learning Thermostat has built-in Wi-Fi to remotely control the temperature from phone, tablet, or PC.
• Sure Universal Remote can handle IR-controlled devices such as TVs while also handling smart appliances and home automation systems through Wi-Fi.
The universal remote app concept I will present uses home Wi-Fi network to control all devices, program favorite modes and settings and can even tell how much power or energy the user use on his electronics, giving him valuable insight into which electronics and appliances are costing the most each month. The target audience has one or more smart devices: As a simple user he wants to control multiple devices without the need to use different remotes. As a sophisticated user he wants to control multiple devices and customize his smart home system to fit his accurate needs. The default setting is designed to support the simple user, but can be easily customize to fit the needs of a sophisticated user – editing a remote buttons, setting and scheduling programs and tracking power usage.
In order to check user app adoption and engagement the KPIs we will need to monitor are:
- Number of devices connected to the app
- Number of programs created
- Frequency of programs being used
- User power usage trends
