Resurgence of Smart Home Concept has Arrived

International research firm, Parks Associates commented that 2011 will see the resurgence of the Smart Home concept—evident from the series of new releases at the CES (News - Alert) 2011 as well as from recent research revealing that U.S. consumers value energy management as a lifestyle choice as well as a cost-saving measure.

The firm found that Consumers are going to show increase in interests in gesture recognition, Smart Home services, energy management solutions, and multiscreen video services.

Officials with the firm said that the CES 2011 featured several significant announcements for connected home systems and services, smart appliances, and broadband-enabled home monitoring services, including Verizon's (News - Alert) Home Monitoring Control offering, which featured applications for a web camera, lighting control, outlet modules, and a communicating thermostat. Consumers are starting to see energy-efficient products and services as a means to improve their home and personal comfort as well as for cost savings, which opens the market for a variety of solutions from utilities, service providers and manufacturers.

The research firm hosted the fifth annual CONNECTIONS Summit at CES which opened up to record attendance and summit speakers spoke about the expansion of connected home and services.

In the fantasy movie, “Minority Report,” the lead character played by Tom Cruise controls everything in his office with an interface that is connected to his hand from opening up files to driving cars. Whenever he passes through an intersection, his eyeballs are scanned and advertisements are aimed at him that looks like a personal canvass. An analyst with Parks Associated explained that what was fantasy in that movie has become a reality in 2011.

The brisk sales of Microsoft (News - Alert) Kinects, along with upcoming products such as the WAVI Xtion, indicate gesture-recognition products have strong early-market appeal and will help redefine how people interact with their connected TVs and other digital devices within the home.

The company will be conducting its CONNECTIONS 2011- The Digital Living Conference and Showcase, June 28-30, Santa Clara, Calif. During the conference Park Associates (News - Alert) maintained that it will be exploring smart aspects that blur the difference between fantasy and reality.