This document discusses how voice control is becoming more important in homes due to COVID-19. It summarizes that voice control allows for touchless operation which reduces germ transmission. It also discusses how smart home technologies can help with health monitoring, remote work, entertainment, and creating a more seamless user experience. Voice control through systems like Josh.ai is positioned to help with this transition through hands-free home control.

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VOICE CONTROL AT ITS CORE is about simplification. Rather than having tons of switches, knobs,
remotes and screens, simply issue a voice command to control any device in the home. As a result
of COVID-19, we’re seeing this advantage become more relevant and important as we look to un-
derstand our environments. With schools closed, the majority of people working from home, and
the need to reduce the spread of germs, voice control is on the rise and we want to explore what
this likely means for architects, designers, and smart home technology professionals.
t e c h n o l o g y p r o f i l e : v o i c e c o n t r o l
VOICE CONTROL
IN A POST COVID-19 WORLD
B Y A L E X C A P E C E L A T R O

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h e a l t h a n d s a f e t y
Health and wellness is already a growing initiative for home
technology professionals. With the onset of the pandemic,
it has also become a top-of-mind concern for every home-
owner exploring ways to keep loved ones safe and healthy.
When considering how many hands touch doorknobs, TV
remotes, light switches, and more, it makes sense that the
demand for voice-based solutions is growing to eliminate the
potential for germ transmission. With that in mind, architects
and designers will need to think through how to assimilate
microphones into the aesthetic of every room for hands-free
control. A system like Josh.ai, which provides contextually
aware and natural language voice automation is positioned
to make this transition as seamless as possible.
In addition to voice, the automation of air and water quality
monitoring will play key roles to ensure harmful particulates
are eliminated before entering the home. VOC sensors can
instantly detect and alert when the indoor air quality (IAQ)
reaches threshold levels. Thermal imaging cameras may
also see increased demand as homeowners seek ways to
monitor the body temperatures and potential fevers of those
on the premises. Builders must consider these technologies
during construction with piping and pre-wiring systems tak-
ing shape. This will not only future-ready homes from a safety
standpoint, but also compel prospective buyers that they are
making a responsible investment.
While physical health is a critical and measurable need, emo-
tional wellness is equally as important for everyone adjusting
to new daily routines. The morale of professionals working
from home will be rooted in their ability to feel grounded
and alert operating in an unfamiliar setting. A dedicated and
properly equipped room for private sessions will be a ne-
cessity to clearly distinguish working hours from recreational
time. This includes proper lighting, air quality control, access
point integration, and even good AV setups to assure good
Zoom calls or family movie time. And of course ease of oper-
ation facilitated by voice control is central.
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Design-build stakeholders have a significant opportunity to
shape the remote work experience through floor plan layout
and technology implementation. They will need to conceptu-
alize spaces that provide noise control and physical separa-
tion, while offering the utilitarianism of an office environment.
Transformative technologies like circadian rhythm lighting
and distributed audio to play ambient music or nature sounds
are well-suited for areas requiring focus. Smart assistants like
Josh.ai are already being used in commercial settings to ini-
tiate meetings and will translate even further to home offic-
es for personal calendar announcements or household task
reminders.
g e n e r a l a c c e s s
While voice control has long been about convenience and
access, we’re seeing increased demand particularly in areas
that could be contaminated. For example, instead of touch-
ing a doorknob to enter or leave the home, clients are voice
controlling their garage doors so they can easily come and
go without physical contact. Automatic sliders for doors,
voice control for watching Netflix, and integrations into de-
vices like fans, fireplaces, and sprinkler systems all allow for
a touchless environment.
Automatic sliders for doors, voice control for watching Netflix,
and integrations into devices like fans, fireplaces, and sprinkler
systems all allow for a touchless environment.

4. p r i v a c y
When evaluating potential smart home devices, it will be
imperative that stakeholders and homeowners take data
privacy into consideration. For professionals working from
home and hosting virtual meetings, they cannot jeopardize
sensitive information being exposed or overheard. There is
also the psychological effect for families placing more im-
portance on their home being a safe space and sanctuary.
Transparency with respect to a household’s data security will
form a compelling narrative. Especially with many consumers
already unnerved by targeted social media and email adver-
tisements based on conversations they are having behind
closed doors.
Privacy and data security are concerns that Josh.ai takes ex-
tremely seriously when compared to the mass market voice
assistants that are strategically using client data. A significant
value for Josh.ai clients is the assurance that their system
is strictly focused on smart home control. Nothing is being
listened to nor leveraged with the intent of targeted adver-
tisements. Josh.ai also allows its users to delete their sys-
tem’s chat history and disable its AI Learning if they prefer
complete privacy.
t e c h n o l o g y e x p e r i e n c e s
Before installing any smart home technology, its infrastruc-
ture must be taken into account to ensure a robust experi-
ence. The network normally operates in the background and
goes unnoticed when functioning properly, but more time at
home will result in rising usage rates due to family members
concurrently working and streaming audio or video content.
With more devices pulling bandwidth and consuming data
rates, poor infrastructure will quickly be exposed with laten-
cy or dropped connections. This is especially pertinent for
any professionals working remotely relying on video confer-
encing and access to cloud-based workflows. It will be worth
the forethought to install world class equipment to ensure
stability.
Whether it is for precautionary reasons or due to govern-
ment mandates there will be more entertainment consumed
at home than ever before. For homeowners and the de-
sign-build community it will result in greater interest in high
performance media systems. As opposed to season tickets
for a sport of choice or nights out at a concert venue, home-
owners will allocate those budgets towards audio and video
equipment that provides an immersive experience. For build-
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ers and designers, consulting home technology profession-
als will be a critical step to ensuring the proper wiring and
layout considerations are respectively taken. The custom in-
tegration industry is well-suited to meet the rise in consumer
research and expertise needed to implement the caliber of
these systems.
From the health, productivity, and experiential standpoints,
a complete ecosystem of devices will require an intuitive
platform to consolidate control. Regardless of technological
aptitude, homeowners will need to be able to easily oper-
ate advanced entertainment equipment in conjunction with
automated environmental technologies. Josh.ai has been
purpose built to make the control of these devices simple
through the power of voice or its elegantly designed mobile
apps. With a focus on installation in luxury homes, the Josh
suite of hardware has also been designed to seamlessly
blend in with its surroundings or stand out depending on the
aesthetic needs.
There is plenty of uncertainty with what the future will hold
or what a new normal may look like. What is evident is that
our living spaces will need to evolve and become as multi-di-
mensional as our lives were prior to COVID-19. At Josh.ai, we
are exploring ways to make our clients happier, healthier and
to have a greater sense of wellness when interacting with
their systems.
A L E X C A P E C E L A T R O
C O - F O U N D E R / C E O J O S H . A I
D E N V E R , C O L O R A D O
j o s h a i . c o m