Top smart technology trends

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The smart home space:

There is no stopping the massive growth of the Internet of Things (IoT). By 2030, each person is expected to have about 15 connected devices, with these mostly in the smart home space. Juniper Research estimates the smart home market revenue to reach $195 billion by 2021. With most people working and staying at home, their investments are leaning toward smart devices, which provide safety, security and convenience, and help manage power consumption.

One of the first smart home purchases that consumers make is a smart hub. It acts as the "brain" that automates and connects all the smart devices inside the house, and allows users control via a single mobile app.

For entertainment and smart lighting, Google Home- and Alexa-enabled smart speakers, smart TVs, Bluetooth LED bulbs, Wi-Fi-enabled LED strip lights and motion sensor lights top the list of what consumers are searching online. Through voice control and motion, these devices enable users to dictate what needs to be done, whether the lights should be switched on or off, if a song or movie should be played, and many more. In video calls and livestreams, smart LED bulbs add a decorative flair to a home.

Home security products, such as smart doorbells and video cameras, help avoid face-to-face interaction between homeowners and visitors. Conversations can be carried out via these video doorbells and smart intercom systems. Deliveries dropped at the doorstep can be verified directly. Smart locks, on the other hand, don't require keys since these modern devices can be unlocked via a mobile app. This convenience decreases the likelihood of people touching surfaces.

Furthering security, today's wireless security camera systems are equipped with night vision, object tracking, facial recognition and motion sensors with built-in alarms in case of suspicious activities. They are also water-resistant and can be installed anywhere. Wi-Fi-enabled CCTVs allow users to monitor what's happening remotely and save data via the cloud.

Public areas:

For safety protocols, various face recognition and temperature systems with biometric functions, thermal imaging surveillance cameras and contactless kiosks are now installed in entrances of buildings, malls, airports and schools to check body temperatures. There are also digital signages with alcohol or sanitizer dispensers in public places.

Inside and out:

Prior to the pandemic, robots were mostly used as companions to assist senior citizens in retirement homes. But now, robotics is proving to be highly important in day-to-day life, healthcare and education and has an estimated market of about $23 billion in 2021, according to ABI Research.

Indoors, robotic vacuum cleaners help homeowners sanitize without touching surfaces. Educational robots are teaching children the alphabet, conversational skills, counting, writing, drawing and more in the comfort and safety of their homes. And with online classes going on, these robots serve as an additional learning tool for students. Their market value is projected to grow 28 percent from 2020 to 2024.

Outside, ground robots are used to deliver goods to people's homes, eliminating the need to go to brick-and-mortar stores. This lifestyle change is helping reduce the risks of human-to-human transmissions. Service robots in clinics and hospitals help disinfect surrounding areas, monitor patients' vital signs and even act as a telepresence medium between patients and healthcare professionals to avoid face-to-face interactions.

The technology space in 2021 is all about the convenience and safety that electronics can provide to consumers and businesses. Buyers looking to push their eCommerce forward further must consider importing these high-demand smart electronics, and they can find them here on GlobalSources.com.