Elitsa Krumova, a tech influencer and thought leader, explains why smart home technologies are trending and why you should join the movement.
Tell us about your journey of being a tech influencer and thought leader.
Since adolescence, I have dreamed of making an impact on society’s development.
After graduating from London Metropolitan University with BA in Advertising and Marketing Communications and MA in Creative Advertising from Southampton Solent University in the UK, I landed some jobs in big technological companies. These experiences led me to continue my education with BA in Information Technology and Computer Sciences.
However, working in a corporate environment made me feel anonymous. I lacked the tools to express my personality and convey my beliefs and ideas to wider audiences.
I decided to take a risk and leave my full-time job and become an independent Tech Influencer.
For two years now, I have been developing my personal brand. Educating society about Emerging Technologies and their role in reshaping our world has become my mission. Soon after starting my independent work, I received my first acknowledgment as a Tech Influencer and Thought Leader.
I work passionately for the cause of girls’ and women’s inclusion and equality in all spheres of life. I believe that women’s empowerment can be a solution for some major crises in the disturbed times we live in. I hope that in the coming years my personal brand elitsakrumova.com will become a powerful moving and shaking factor in the world of technology and Thought Leadership.
What are some of the trending IoT technologies for a home and what are their benefits?
The consumer IoT market is blooming and Smart Home leads the hype. It is widely accessible since there are more and more low-cost solutions available.
The focus in 2022 is on the interoperability and integration of Smart Home technologies, aimed at achieving seamlessly connected homes and provisioning more personalized consumer experiences. As the Connected Home market is exceedingly active this year, the top trending IoT technologies are focused on fully integrated smart home devices.
COVID-19 brought the trend for the addition of more Health Tech functionalities in Smart Home tech, integrated or standalone, as well as the rise of consumer touchless technologies. AI and IoT are widely adopted to work together in consumer tech, for example in Smart Assistants like Google Home and Alexa.
Other trending IoT technologies are smart thermostats, Smart Home security devices, mesh Wi-Fi, smart workout technologies, smart air conditioners and air purifiers, and many others.
The biggest benefit of Smart Home devices is that they save time, and effort, and are environmentally friendly. This gives the chance to escape from the mundane domestic chores and to dedicate personal time to other activities.
How are these emerging technologies helping to streamline the new “work from home” lifestyle?
Since the pandemic has shaken the traditional work models, Emerging Technologies are assisting in shifting work organization to the new “work from home” (WFH) lifestyle and improving work-life balance. Digital Transformation in all spheres drives the emergence of more solutions, focused on supporting and facilitating “work from home.”
Smart Home devices aid remote workers to better organize their workload and communicate with the other members of a distributed team. Team collaboration, communication, and productivity are enhanced by Smart IoT conferencing technologies, such as smart speech recognition cameras, AI voice assistants, smart whiteboards, and others.
The “work from home” phenomenon has boosted new needs and requirements for the remote workforce, which drives the market for Smart Home automation solutions. New smart adaptable solutions are being offered to aid the WFH employees to optimize their working environment and provide the necessary working conditions in a regular private home.
Such technologies are for instance – IoT smart lighting, smart sensors, smart heating/cooling systems, Smart Home security systems, and more.
In a “WFH” setting, the level of security of the Wi-Fi network and high-speed Internet is important. Remote workers need a secured network and the ability to choose 5G to achieve greater network reliability, uptime, and speed.
How are homeowners now more than ever using digital technologies to automate tasks from their daily lives?
Digital technologies are now widely adopted by regular consumers to automate mundane daily tasks and activities – from turning the lights on to locking the front door. Smart Home automation has numerous benefits for homeowners, as it allows to remotely control, manage and monitor smart systems.
Smart Home solutions are designed with a focus on energy efficiency and sustainability. When adopting such smart technology, homeowners can reduce their carbon footprint. Smart Home automation systems can support smart energy management in private homes.
For example, smart heating and HVAC systems are extremely beneficial, as they provide central control of the entire home system and allow scheduling consumption and other adaptive settings to achieve energy-saving and optimal work or rest environment in a comfortable atmosphere.
The integration of Smart Home devices, such as smart kitchen appliances, smart doors, security cameras, and smart lightning can free remote workers from the burden of a number of routine tasks.
Moreover, all these smart devices can be integrated into an automation hub, allowing homeowners to control them remotely from a smartphone. Such automated home systems give peace of mind and are extremely beneficial for remote workers.
