A smart home where the lighting is turned off, the window is closed, and the key is locked just by saying "I'm going".Last December, a huge US IT company in the United States, Amazon, Google, and Apple, announced that it would create a common communication method for connecting home appliances to the Internet to formulate smart home standards.Does the dominant's dominant, Amazon, Google, and smartphones, have a big share in the AI speaker field, promoting the expansion of the smart home market?Compare the preceding United States and the current situation of Japan.
In rice, the security industry and IT companies are driven
The US smart home market has begun from the home security industry. In the United States, there has been a home security service that controls many doors, windows locks, and lighting on and off in large houses. As it became wireless and broadband, the data was changed to a cloud and the operation was changed to a smartphone. On the other hand, Google and Amazon entered the smart home market from the viewpoint of automation such as AI speakers and air conditioning control. It was the opportunity to attract attention in 2014 when Google acquired a thermostat company called Nest. Speaking of thermostat, it is a control device such as air conditioning, but Nest thermostat is learned and automated by AI learning human operations such as on -off. If you replace it with nests, you can save $ 300 to $ 400 utility bills a year. In the same year, Amazon announced the AI speaker "Echo". AI speaker boom occurs. A large number of products were supplied because the development kit could develop products linked to Amazon Echo's AI "Alexa". After that, Google and Apple also put in AI speakers. The smart home market has been lively. In the United States, DIY culture is rooted, and many people replace thermostat and keys at home. Major mass retailers are lined with AI speakers -compatible equipment, buying and buying them themselves. There are also services that act on IoT for those who cannot do it.
Movement of standard unification to AI speakers
However, since the standards of each company's AI speakers are different, even convenient products cannot be used if the platform is different.This is a project, "Connected Home Over IP," which was announced by Amazon and others at the end of last year that the movement to expand the smart home market.In addition to the three companies, the committee of the short -range wireless communication standard, which is a jigby alliance, will be participated in the project.Jigby is a communication method that allows many devices to be connected, and is considered to be suitable for connecting IoT equipment.The aim is to create a communication standard for both security and compatibility for smart home realization.
The number of products compatible in Japan is increasing, but ...
So what kind of movement is the smart home business in Japan now? The Tokyu Group's major CATV, Itz Communications (President of Setagaya -ku, Tokyo, President Shimada) has been offering an Intelligent Home, an IoT service at home since February 2015. Connected design (Setagaya -ku, Tokyo, President Koji Takeda, President and CEO), which provides this platform, offers platforms to CATV companies in various places. The company's system is a Japanese -style smartphone platform provided by the largest CATV company in the United States, and it has IoT specifications such as IoT -specification smart locks, IP cameras, door sensors, but also air conditioners and lighting. Home appliances that are not as good can be connected with a home appliance controller. It is also possible to operate from a smartphone or AI speaker or work further. = Figure: In recent years, more and more companies other than Tokyu Groups are embarking on smart home businesses. 87 companies, including electric power companies, are participating in the connected home alliance established in 2017. In addition, home appliances corresponding to Wi -Fi and AI speakers have increased. However, it seems that the expansion of market like the United States has not yet occurred in Japan. According to Connected Design President Takeda, "I wonder if cooperation with other companies will be the key to spreading." The company has begun working on smart lock support services for private lodging businesses and cooperation with floor heating and hot water supply systems from other companies. What is the market expanding trigger in Japan?
Is the day when the smart home is connected to the smart home?
In August 2017, a total solar eclipse was observed in the United States.At this time, Google developed a project to reduce the amount of electricity usage, which was linked to a drastic reduction in solar power generation using nests.It is also worth noting whether smart home will be the day when coordinating power in the era of renewable energy is introduced.Electric Shimbun 2020 April 13, 2020