Mind The Smart Tech Gap: With Three Quarters Of The UK Unaware Of Connected Living Potential, Samsung Unveils The Latest Trends Shaping The Future

- Smart home benefits remain a mystery for many, with over half (66%) not knowing they could use smart tech to remotely track their fridge contents, whilst others (61%) not realising they can switch on their oven from anywhere
- Looking forward, eco homes will have personal ‘mini electricity grids’ by using heat pumps, battery storage and electric vehicles to power-up homes
- The report predicts that emotion detection will play a major role, predicting that tech such as smart mirrors will suggest workouts based on a user’s mental state
- Samsung’s SmartThings app enables and empowers deeper smart tech integration and allows user to manage multiple connected devices, provide remote reassurance on the wellbeing of loved ones by monitoring their daily routines through their interaction with devices and sensors in their homes

London, UK –  Thursday 15 June 2023 – With over three quarters of the nation unaware of the potential of smart home tech, Samsung SmartThings has commissioned a new trends report titled, ‘Untapped: The Home Tech Evolution’. Lifting the lid on the current landscape and the extent to which future trends such as emotion detection, energy reconfiguration, and augmented reality could power up the way people use smart tech in their homes in the future.

Samsung partnered with consumer behavioural analysts TrendWatching to undertake its most extensive research to date into the macro trends shaping the smart home tech landscape; predicting that in the future, mirrors will be able to detect our mood, electric cars will be able to power up our houses, and augmented reality will transform culinary experiences in the kitchen.

These trends were bolstered by a poll of 2,000 adults to offer additional real-time attitudinal insights about ways these trends are already in play today, shaping the way people live their lives.  

The top smart tech unknowns:

• Place smart buttons around the home to allow you to easily turn on or off any connected appliances (71%)
• Create a safer home environment (68%)
• Alert you to stock up the fridge when ingredients are running low (66%)
• Integrate the management of energy devices (65%)
• Programme the oven or cooker to come on (61%)
• Syncing the doorbell camera to the TV to speak to visitors (53%)

Samsung is a pioneer in the Connected Living space, its innovative SmartThings app allows users to do all the above and more.  

Despite the national knowledge gap when it comes to smart tech potential, usage in general is on the up, with over a third (38%) using it to monitor health and track sleep patterns (31%).

In the home more broadly, nearly two thirds (62%) of the UK have been increasing their culinary skills with the help of technology, and more than a quarter (28%) said notifying family members when they need help is a key part of their usage.

James Kitto, Vice President for Samsung UK Mobile said: “There’s never been a more revolutionary time for connected living. Smart home technology is more sophisticated and intuitive than ever before, empowering people and improving lives in ways unimaginable even five years ago – from breaking down barriers around accessibility, enabling consumers maintain healthier lifestyles and helping save money, the possibilities are endless.

“At Samsung, we’re constantly exploring what the smart home of the future will look like as we continue to make huge strides into a more digital world. Today, Samsung SmartThings lets people connect, automate and manage all their smart devices via one easy-to-use free app, allowing people to control their energy use, simplify the management of technology in the homes and even be notified if a loved one needs help.”

Powering our household energy  

As a consequence of soaring household energy bills and climate change, TrendWatching researched that the energy crisis could fast-track the green energy transition by ^[i] five to ten years.

After reading more information about heat pumps, 30% of consumers ^[ii] said they were likely to consider installing a heat pump in the next 12 months. And four in ten (40%) ^[iii] UK consumers are considering purchasing energy-efficient solutions, such as solar panels and battery storage. In fact, more than half (53%)^[iv] believe homes will be majority powered by solar energy in 50 years.  

The UK heat pump market grew 26% from 2021 to 2022^[v].

Samsung’s SmartThings Energy (powered by Chameleon Technology) already allows users to connect to their smart meter to see their actual energy usage and connect compatible devices to get a more detailed view of how much specific appliances cost to run in the home. TrendWatching uncovered that all-electric eco homes of the future will use electric heating sources powered by renewable energy and electric vehicles will provide a personal supply capable of powering homes.  

Health-enhancing smart tech at home  

A positive home environment has never been more important to enhance both physical and mental health, due to blurred lives fuelled by hybrid working, increasingly hectic lives and an uptick in anxiety.   

Samsung’s survey revealed that people use tech to exercise (42%), monitor their overall health (38%), track their sleep patterns (31%) and manage their stress levels (24%). With wellbeing apps expected to reach a projected market volume of £722m by ^[vi] 2027, it’s only a matter of time before consumers expect their smart homes to support them in this quest too.   

The latest Galaxy Watch5 series features Samsung’s BioActive Sensor technology, it monitors your unique sleeping patterns – whether you are awake, achieving deep sleep, or measuring your blood oxygen levels.

With the global emotion detection and recognition market predicted to reach US$103.1 billion by 2030, as predicted by TrendWatching we could see smart mirrors that suggest workouts based on a user’s mental state and smart speakers that play music based on their emotions. Consumers will come to expect home innovations that help boost equilibrium and create tranquil spaces to relax and recharge.  

Unobtrusive tech for stress-free and stylish living 

Today’s consumers are paradoxical: they seek tech-enabled superpowers around the house, but don’t want their home or personal space feeling cluttered – and gravitate towards unobtrusive and intuitive technology that doesn’t infringe on their personal space or overpower the landscape of their home.  

More than a quarter (28%) of those considering upgrading their devices at home want to focus on the quality of the technology rather than the quantity. New research also shows there is an increasing appetite to upgrade tech to ensure it integrates into the home aesthetic, with 26% saying they want tech to blend in with their decor seamlessly, with discreet interfaces and materials that take inspiration from interior design.

For example, Samsung’s wall mounted The Frame TV  can go from streaming Netflix to displaying wall art^[1]. Where thanks to the super thin gapless design, matte display and picture frame border, homeowners can now make use of what would otherwise be blank space and accentuate a room’s décor with photos and artwork.

The future will be fully hands-free, with gesture control as well as facial recognition and other biometric technologies that will enable touchless doorbells, ovens and washing machines.  

Personalised devices for independent living  

Connected living can revolutionise the lives of older adults and those with physical or sensory disabilities – meeting rising consumer demand for inclusivity.

An increasingly ageing population, with almost one in five (19%) people in the UK over 65, is putting pressure on society as well as the National Health Service. In response, researchers are developing [i] at-home devices that monitor patients remotely. When polled, more than a quarter (28%) said using smart tech to notify family members if they need help is a key part of smart device technology. Meanwhile, one in six (17%) have bought smart devices to track the health of elderly relatives in the past two years.  

With inclusivity more front of mind than ever before, an increased appetite for personalised smart home devices that allow greater independence with increased accessibility will shape a better, more hopeful future.  

The rise of culinary smart tech  

The kitchen is now the beating heart of the home, transcending from a purely culinary space into one that is more sensorial. Since the pandemic, and due to rising costs, more people are now entertaining at home.  

Innovation in culinary technology is moving at pace with devices becoming smarter, sleeker and more acutely tapping into the needs of consumers. Nearly two thirds (62%) of the UK have been increasing their culinary skills at home with the help of technology, with a third (32%) using new kitchen devices or features on their existing appliances. One in six (15%) have even become more adventurous with their cooking in the last 12-18 months due to smart technology.  

Analysts predict that immersive tech will leap from entertainment to the kitchen next: augmented reality (AR) glasses and virtual reality (VR) headsets will guide people with intuitive and engaging step-by-step instructions allowing home chefs to recreate restaurant-quality meals. 

Vicki Loomes, Head of Trends at TrendWatching who conducted the consumer behavioural trends research said: “The smart home is rapidly evolving, and consumers are looking for their home to serve them in new ways. That includes helping them reduce their footprint and their bills with smart energy-saving devices. At the same time, concerns about the future mean that many are looking to create more relaxed living spaces that can actively improve their health and wellbeing.”

To see the full report, go here.

[1] Requires internet connection

[i] https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2023/02/13/war-and-subsidies-have-turbocharged-the-green-transition

[ii] Samsung Climate Solutions Trends Study H1 2023

[iii] https://www.ey.com/en_uk/power-utilities/why-wavering-consumer-confidence-could-stall-the-energy-transition%22%20/t%20%22_blank

[iv] https://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/pv_solar/uk-survey-reveals-future-of-solar-energy-20230306

[v]  BSRIA Market data

[vi] https://www.statista.com/outlook/dmo/digital-health/digital-fitness-well-being/digital-fitness-well-being-apps/united-kingdom?currency=GBP%22%20\t%20%22_blank

[vii] https://news.mit.edu/2022/home-wireless-parkinsons-progression-0921