The LIVING TECH Association, a general incorporated association established in April 2020. Aiming to realize "enriching people's lives with technology," housing-related businesses, manufacturers, and companies involved in distribution and retailing are coming together to gradually promote smart homes that are comfortable for users. .
On October 29, 2020, the conference “LIVING TECH Conference 2020” will be held. From all 13 sessions, we will introduce the contents of Session 2 over 3 times.
From the left, Mr. Risuki Matsumoto (Representative Director of Natural Smile Japan Co., Ltd., Representative of Machino Nursery School and Kodomoen) / Mr. Kazutoshi Otani (Freelance Technology Writer, Director of G Mark Partner Shop Jimbocho AssistOn) / Abe Junko (Freelance Writer) / Reiko Machida (Shogakukan DIME Editorial Office @DIME Editor-in-Chief)
*Session 2 Part 1* Why is it difficult for users to understand the true convenience of "smart homes" and "smart appliances"? Think about how you can provide an experience that resonates with your users.
About smart “○○” in ordinary homes
Machida (Moderator): In Session 2, we discussed “Why is it difficult for users to understand the true convenience of smart homes and smart home appliances?” I would like to think with everyone about whether we can provide an experience that resonates with people.
Smart speakers came into Japan about three years ago, but the current situation is that only a few percent of them have spread to ordinary households. This time, I would like to hear frank opinions from the user's perspective as to why this is the case.
Also, with the emergence of various smart home appliances and smart homes, I would like to convey the question, "How can we deliver truly useful things to users?" I think
That being said, this time it's said that you can say what you think from the user's point of view (laughs), so I'd really appreciate your candid opinions.
First of all, I would like to ask Mr. Abe from the point of view of a housewife. I would like to ask if you are using it for your work and how you are using it.
I've heard of it, but I don't know what it can do
Abe: For this conference, I asked close to 30 people, including acquaintances and friends, the question, "Your home is smart." Are you using speakers?" I asked. I heard a wide range of people, men and women, married and unmarried, people in their 20s to 50s, but only one household actually used a smart speaker.
When I asked other people, "Why don't you use it?" I don't know the specific contents of whether it will be. I don't know, so I'm not interested in the first place.
*1 HEMS: Abbreviation for Home Energy Management System. A system that allows users to manage their own energy by "visualizing" household electricity usage.
In the first place, there is a lot of question marks in the recognition that "Is introducing a smart speaker a smart home?" I've heard a lot of people say yes.
Machida: How about you, Abe-san?
Abe: I don't use it.
Machida: Mr. Abe, because of your work, I think you have many opportunities to come into contact with such products through interviews, etc., but what is the reason why they have not been introduced yet?
Abe: About two years ago, I went to see a friend's house with smart speakers installed with three mom friends, and it was really exciting as a story, such as reacting with voices. However, to be honest, even my friends who went with me didn't feel like they actually wanted it.
We can see the weather forecast and news, set alarms, etc. with just a smartphone, and even if it is said to replace the remote control, you can use the remote control normally. Until now, I didn't feel that my life would be much more convenient just by giving voice instructions to the smart speaker. The three friends who went with me at that time, including myself, have not introduced it yet.
However, it doesn't mean that you don't need it in your head. With more than 70% of dual-income households in Japan, the question of how to shorten working hours and reduce the burden of housework has become a major issue for working mothers.
For example, until a few years ago, many people were skeptical about robot vacuum cleaners and dishwashers. However, after hearing stories from friends and acquaintances who are using it, seeing demo sales at stores, and looking at word of mouth and reviews on the Internet, everyone is starting to notice that it has evolved considerably compared to the past. right. I think that robot vacuum cleaners and dishwashers are now on the top of the list of items that housewives want.
The penetration rate of robot vacuum cleaners is about 10% (9%), but it seems that about 30% of people want to use them in the future. The “latent demand” for robot vacuum cleaners and dishwashers is increasing, so I think that consciousness will change if the convenience of smart devices is realized.
Children's adaptability to digital is higher than adults
Machida: You know that smart homes and smart home appliances are "convenient," but Is it the current situation that it is not accompanied?
I would like to ask Mr. Matsumoto, who is in contact with children on a daily basis. How is the current situation with respect to
Matsumoto: For example, some of our kindergartens use so-called robot vacuum cleaners. Children are watching the scenery that the robot vacuum cleaner is cleaning normally. Recently, I have been trying to make use of online systems to give children contact with the world at times.
The microscope was also used on a daily basis in the nursery school, and while the nursery school was closed due to the corona crisis, I tried online childcare. is naturally possible.
In that sense, I feel that digital is naturally in the environment of children. We often use terms such as VUCA (*2) and now the new normal, but from the child's point of view, we have already been in this world since we were born, so from the child's point of view, we think it is normal.
*2 VUCA: An acronym for Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity. Refers to the "anxiety factor" in the world.
That's why human beings are biologically capable of evolving, for example, in snowy regions or desert areas, and living for a long time. Children actually have a lot more adaptability.
I always see and feel that children naturally and skillfully encounter this environment first. We adults are the only ones making noise about the new normal and VUCA, and it feels like children are relatively naturally familiar with that culture.
About the current state of smart "○○"
Machida: You say you don't divide the framework between digital and non-digital. When I asked the two of you just now, it seems that adults are more resistant to digital, and children are not at all. I would like to ask from Mr. Otani's point of view, but how do you see the current situation of things called smart homes and smart XX?
Ohtani: That's right. I've been working as a technology writer for a long time, so when I listened to what you two said, I thought it was a similar feeling to "early personal computers." It seems convenient, and if it exists, it can be used for something, but I don't know what it is. Since it costs a certain amount of money, it is difficult to introduce it.
However, I think that you probably have at least one personal computer at home, or two in some cases, and you use it normally at work. Therefore, it will take time, but I think it will naturally grow as the value and benefits are understood.
You can expect your kids to treat them as normal and use their devices freely. Such children will grow up in the future, so if they can understand the merits and can use it, I think that the number will increase in the future.
But the current situation is, after all, "It seems to be convenient, but I don't know what to do". If an answer is given to that, I think there is a possibility that it will spread all at once.
It is easier to convey the value of something that can be used in this way rather than something that can be used for anything. I don't think it's communicated well.
Ohtani: That's right. For example, if you have a dishwasher, you can wash the dishes. You can clean with a robot vacuum cleaner. This is very easy to understand, isn't it? It's true that with smart speakers, if you narrow it down, you can say, "I can do this."
I think that a smart home-like or living tech-like environment will be created by gathering specialized products, but I haven't been able to see it yet. It's really convenient when you combine them and start working together, but I think everyone has a sense of how smart they are if they're just individual things. In order to make them work together, you still need a little programming knowledge now.
However, children are now building programs by combining blocks on a computer screen, so I think we will gradually overcome such barriers. Of course, as a manufacturer, we should create an environment where we can freely collaborate without having to do that...
The little-known monitoring function of smart speakers
Machida: Just as robot vacuum cleaners are becoming more and more popular, we can see that they are specialized in something and say, "This is very convenient." And maybe it's easier for people to enter.
For example, in the same "smart", there is also a smart key. You can lock it and see if your child has come home, or you can call it a "smart delivery box", or you can see if your package has arrived when you are not there. It seems that it is easy to enter if you know specifically, ``It can be used for this kind of thing,'' Mr. Abe, how about it?
Abe: I also learned at the product launch that some smart items actually have security functions. In the case of families with children in elementary school, the law has been revised and it is now possible to go to after-school daycare until the 6th grade of elementary school, but even so, priority is given to accepting children up to the 3rd grade of elementary school. Children in the upper grades and above come home after school and are alone, or even if they have siblings, they are sitting alone.
I think that working mothers are very concerned about safety, but if there are unlocking functions, camera functions, and monitoring functions, especially for working mothers who are raising children. I think it has appeal.
Like a smart home delivery box, even if you are away from home, you can receive parcels by operating your smartphone. Once you know the specific "convenience points", I think smart devices will become a familiar part of your life.
Machida: Everyone probably doesn't know much about "there is such a thing" yet.
Abe: Right. There are really a lot of people who think, "Alexa (*3) somehow!" In fact, I think many people do not know that it has a wide range of functions.
*3 Alexa: AI assistant developed by Amazon. It is installed in smart speakers such as Amazon Echo.
Continue to Part 2.
supported by iRobot Japan
Interview / Text / Yuki Kuga