The document discusses the evolution of smart home technology and connected products. It notes that while connectivity has increased, the overall user experience remains frustrating. It defines a smart home as one with connected devices that share data to customize the experience based on owner habits and needs. The document outlines the different types of early adopters and laggards in the IoT market and how connected products can meet their various needs and values like health, energy saving, safety, and privacy. It concludes by stating the goal for designers is to make the next generation of connected products more human.

1. SMART HOME EVOLUTION
O V E R V I E W
T H E F U T U R E O F C O N N E C T E D P R O D U C T S

2. How can we design
the future of
connected products?
The digital transformation of the home has just get
started. We have seen a lot of connected devices in the
last ten years, the technology is always moving faster,
reducing dimensions and increasing low-power
connectivity but the overall experience is still
frustrating.
© Next

3. What is a smart home?
Home with connected devices that
change data with a provider to
customise experience regard owner
habits and needs.
© Amazon

4. IoT market
Home Automation
INNOVATORS EARLY ADOPTERS EARLY MAJORITY LATE MAJORITY LAGGARDS
High propensity to adopt Low propensity to adopt

5. Early adopters Early Majority Laggards
They are frustrated with the low
level of automation inside the
home, they need to manage
different tools and systems with a
lot of frictions. They view future
connected devices as solutions to
everyday problems. They already
have some connected products
like fitness trackers, smart
watches, and entertainment
systems.
They are interested in easy to use
products and they are very price
sensitive. They have not
connected products, maybe only a
smart TV.
They are not interested in IoT
because connected products are
too expensive and they prioritize
money-saving. They buy only
products when they are able to
see some benefits, like safety
increasing or cost reduction.

6. Products that can improve quality of life like fitness
bands or sleep trackers.
E.g.: Beddit disappears inside the bedroom measuring
temperature, heart rate, breathing and other types of
data without being noticed, Beddit also gives
suggestions to improve sleep quality.
Products that help users to control consumption and
save money.
E.g.: Well, is a smart shower connected with a network
that help users to manage and preserve water.
Key Values
Health
Energy saving
© Beddit — www.beddit.com

7. Products that can improve security like smart keys,
alarms and cameras. Nest Labs, the leader in
connected home products, use security camera not
only for individuals but to improve safety of families
and neighborhoods.
Products that collect personal data, habits and
behaviors only to improve user experience, data
transparency is strongly needed for all IoT devices.
Products that can sync with personal smartphones or
tablet from different brands without extended
enrolment procedures.
Key Values
Safety
Privacy
Compatibility
© Nest — nest.com

8. Omni connections
Seamless management
Adaptive ecosystems
Enlightenment
Routine
01.
02.
03.
04.
05.
New
Dynamics

9. OMNI
CONNECTIONS
Information and data flow from the house to the
smartphone in a continuous way.
Users can be far away from home and still have
complete control, like checking security cameras or
ambient temperature.
01.
© Nest Labs — nest.com/cameras/

10. SEAMLESS
MANAGEMENT
Users don’t only control the home but also take remote
actions, maybe inside the car while driving away from
the office without using hands.
Tasks are automated, users need time for pleasure
not for managing features.
Services like IFTTT can manage action without user
intervention.
02.
© IFTTT- https://ifttt.com

11. ADAPTIVE
ECOSYSTEMS
Lights, temperature and music can create a
comfortable ambient but comfort is subjective, the
ecosystem adapts regard how many people there are
inside the space and how they are used to interact.
Essential Home, an open-sourced connected home hub,
detects when people are having a conversation and
automatically lowers music volume.
03.
© Essential https://www.essential.com/home

12. ENLIGHTENMENT
Digital enables enlightenment, not data overload.
Technology disappears into the background leaving
space for pleasure.
Connected products are moving from a source of
overload information becoming a discrete assistant.
Thanks to a barcode scanner Tavola helps users to
enjoy meals.
04.
© Tavola - https://tovala.com

13. ROUTINE
Machine learning helps connected products to learn
about user habits and match those habits with all
people inside the home creating a shared experience.
Lifx creates wifi connected bulbs that allow residents to
define specific light preferences and adjust
automatically to create a better environment for
relaxing or conversation.
05.
© Life - https://eu.lifx.com

14. Goal for Designers:
Make the next generation
of connected products
more human.

15. The State of IoT in the Home, Altimeter, 2017
http://www2.prophet.com/The-Digital-Transformation-of-the-Home
SOURCES
Home Debrief, PSFK, 2017
https://www.psfk.com/report/home-debrief
Designing for the Internet of Things, O’Reilly Media, 2016
http://www.oreilly.com/design/free/designing-for-the-internet-of-things.csp
Laura Klein, Design for voice interface, O’Reilly Media, 2016
http://www.oreilly.com/design/free/design-for-voice-interfaces.csp

16. T H A N K Y O U
@lameraluca
lucalamera