Does Your Home Talk Tech?

Whose homes are voice activated?

It’s more than just Millennials. Many older Americans are employing voice controlled devices to improve their quality of life. Technological conveniences enhance entertainment, comfort, health and safety features in some capacity, in nearly 50% of US households.

We talk to our homes and they talk back. Refrigerators compose our grocery lists. Thermostats anticipate our arrival. Security systems announce that they’re conscious, breathing and protecting our little universe. Alexa knows our taste in music and what time to switch on the Christmas tree.

Home Buyers are expecting a smart home and home sellers are upgrading their tech to meet this typical demand. But just how common is a voice activated home? Apparently more than you might think.

By John Voket

How many of us are talking to our tech on a regular basis?

Ken Olmstead at the Pew Research Center recently highlighted the fact that nearly half of U.S. adults (46 percent) say they use voice-controlled assistants and applications to interact with smartphones and other devices.

Just over half (55 percent) say “a major reason” they use voice assistants is to permit hands-free interaction with devices.

The Pew study affirmed that voice assistant technology is being widely used to remotely control connected systems, including “smart home” lighting and heating devices. In fact, more than a quarter (26 percent) surveyed use voice assistants to connect remotely to those apps and devices.

So where are the newest voice control technologies being integrated in 2018?

Kohler, the global designer of kitchen and bath products has just introduced Konnect. This new platform allows consumers to conveniently personalize their experience with a growing number of the company’s products through voice-control.

Claiming to have delivered the first voice-activated product line for the kitchen and bath, Konnect offers support through Amazon Alexa, the Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit.

Say the word and adjust the company’s lighted mirror, order up a soak with their voice activated bathtub faucet, pick your spritz with their voice command shower systems – yes, even apply a number of controls to the toilet!

Kristen Hicks at senioradvisor.com says voice activation improvements like these are helping countless homeowners age in place, by turning lights on and off, keeping grocery and to-do lists, reminding folks to take meds, changing interior temperature settings, using voice-activated technology to be sure doors are locked, and most importantly, calling for help in an emergency.

Hicks says while many home alert systems require reaching a phone or a button, a voice command can be issued without having to move.