Amazon’s Alexa, Google’s Assistant, and Apple’s Siri… Each of these companies
Jorge Serna, Hackernoonwant to create the standard by which home entertainment, home communications, and home automation evolve. The Home Operating System.
But the simple fact is that we aren’t anywhere near seeing a true HomeOS (home operating system) that will bring our households into the future.
I’m not talking about this from a hater’s perspective. My office is rigged up with Google Assistant. And to be honest, controlling the lights, my TV, and asking it questions just isn’t all that impressive to me.
The Clapper… now that was a home technology that was way more impressive than what we’re seeing today. If you don’t remember, The Clapper was an outlet attachment that allowed you to turn on/off your lights, TV, fan, anything that was plugged in for that matter.
All of this connected home nonsense is convenient. But, I’m not sure I understand the path which Google, Amazon, and Apple would like to lead us down with their attempts at the HomeOS.
- Is it one that tracks and monitors our lifestyle – automating our shopping, simplifying our communication, and promoting our health?
- Perhaps it isn’t about automating household tasks, but rather optimizing the functions of the household: energy consumption, security, and sleep activity?
- Then again, maybe it’s all about being able to tell Alexa to go put a turkey in the oven.
I don’t know. Regardless, these three companies are giving us no concrete indication where they are headed and why we should care. Through my extensive research, I struggle to find any truly inspiring ideas floating around as to how the current HomeOS will drastically change our lives.
We didn’t get Excel until you had Windows. We didn’t get FaceTime until iOS 4. We’re not going to see the really excellent, worthwhile ideas come until we get the software of the home that gets it right.
This indicates to me that the incumbents – Amazon Echo, Google Home, and Apple HomePod – aren’t best suited for the HomeOS we’re looking for.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m very intrigued by the concept of a HomeOS – simply by the fact that it would be interesting to see how our households could act as a piece of hardware, with software running through its veins.
By 2032, I think we’ll start seeing the first standardizations of HomeOS. Meaning, smart home utilities and practices will be widely adopted nationwide.