Would it surprise you to find that 28 per cent of Irish internet users used smart home tech in 2024? That’s the official line from the CSO, which also notes that adoption has risen six percentage points from 2022.
It’s clear that uptake of smart devices is rising, but what exactly is a smart home? Essentially, it’s one that’s equipped with appliances which can be controlled remotely over the internet, using apps on your phone, for example.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to a clever abode, either. Some of us may simply opt for a smart speaker like an Amazon Echo or a Google Nest, along with a video doorbell.
Others may take advantage of a home renovation or retrofit to install a heat pump and solar panels, both of which are the energy-efficient lynchpins of a really smart space. From there, the smart world is your oyster.
RM Block
The options and possibilities are vast: from thermostats to ovens, fridges, and washers and dryers that now come with built-in smart technology. You can take things outside too with exterior lighting, security cameras, and even lawnmowers.
For every smart home appliance that saves you time, effort, and energy, there are others that may be nice-to-haves, but probably not essential. “Irish homeowners are increasingly embracing smart home technology that is practical and problem-solving rather than gimmicky,” agrees Clara Mulligan, the co-founder and chief executive of HomeBot Ireland (stand V32).
“It’s all about convenience, independence, and time saved that we can then use to do something we really enjoy,” she adds.
Choosing the right smart appliances requires you to evaluate your needs as a first step. Look for products that will genuinely make your life easier or which take care of repetitive physical tasks. “Busy families or the elderly might need additional help, and this is where smart technology made simple, made for people, comes in,” Mulligan says.
That could be the ability to pre-heat the oven when you’re in the car en route to multiple post-school drop-offs and pick-ups. Or it could be the extremely attractive option of having a solution in place that keeps your floors looking spick and span.
It’s no surprise then that Mulligan says that Homebot’s top-selling indoor smart home product is the Glider 6-in-1 vacuum and mop. This clever gadget can map up to four levels of your home, is app-controlled, offers a self-empty dustbin, 55˚C hot wash mopping, and is suitable for all floor types.
Second in line is the company’s innovative AI-enabled wireless robot lawn mower, Buddy.
Recommended for small- to medium-sized gardens, set up is a cinch, and because Buddy has inbuilt sensors, these prevent it from having collisions. It also recognises anything that is not grass, and its in-built rain sensor ensures it won’t carry on cutting in a downpour.
Smart and secure
Security and safety are other genuine concerns for many of us: with smart home alarm systems and monitoring, you’ve got peace of mind. Action 24 (stand Q10) offers security solutions that can be managed and controlled from your phone. You can remotely set or unset the alarm, receive instant notifications on any breaches, and even add devices like cameras or smart plugs to your alarm system.
When it comes to clever cooking, Heston Blumenthal, Monica Galetti and James Martin are just three top chefs who rave about the all-in-one kitchen wonder that is the Thermomix (stand T75).
With over 20 functions, this cooking robot is a powerful food processor, weighing scales, steamer, multi-cooker, and more. It streamlines your day by combining multiple kitchen appliances into one device, saving you time and effort.
Intelligent functions mean you can set it and forget it, and newer models also feature a 10-inch iPad-style multi-touch display offering guided cooking and access to its Cookidoo platform, which has more than 100,000 guided recipes, updated continuously.
Airtime
We have high rates of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma here in Ireland, and again, smart home tech can help those suffering from poor respiratory health or allergies. Consider smart indoor air purification, for example.
PureAir (stand S72) offers personal air purifiers, room air purifiers, and whole home air purifiers to reduce odours and remove irritants. With easy-to-read digital displays and the ability to control via an app, you can set your ideal purification levels on your commute or put a unit into Night Mode when you’re in bed.
Coming soon
Mulligan says smart home demand is only going to increase, which begs the question, what’s coming next? HomeBot Ireland itself has plans to launch Ireland’s first robot window cleaner, and following that, a solar panel cleaner in the near future.
“Demand is rising for smart, AI-powered tools and sustainable automation that
save time and simplify daily tasks,” Mulligan says, adding “Humanoid robotics are not far off the horizon, some of which will continue to make mundane everyday tasks, like laundry, much easier.”
That sounds like something many of us would consider to be uber-intelligent. “My dream robot would honestly be one that does my laundry, folds it, and puts it away,” she agrees. “If it could do that, I would be very, very happy.”
