Thanks to the ubiquitous nature of smart speakers and personal assistants on our cell phones, most of us are familiar with the concept of voice control. Whether we use it regularly is another matter. But that could change in the coming years. Voice control is likely the future of home security and automation.
I do not make such statements lightly. As someone who follows technology almost religiously, I have been watching voice control’s evolution for the last 20 years. I use it extensively in my work. And I can tell you this: natural language processing (NLP) and large language models (LLMs), the engine and fuel that drive voice control, have made huge strides just in the last 5 years.
Hands-Free Integration
There are several areas in which voice control is making strong inroads within the home security and automation realm. Let us start with the easiest and most obvious: hands-free integration. Simply put, the ability to control more security and automation functions with voice is greater today than ever before.
My home automation and security system is built on an open-source platform. Yet I use two commercially available smart speakers that just got upgraded with significant improvements in NLP. I am now able to talk to my smart speakers like human beings instead of using unnaturally detailed commands. Hands-free integration is much easier now.
Major Brand Support
Everything in home security and automation is being driven by a small number of highly visible brands. What those brands choose to support generally succeeds and vice versa. In the voice control realm, the three big players are Google, Amazon, and Apple. Their smart speakers and personal assistants dominate.
Other brands are okay with that. Take Vivint. All of their hardware is designed to work seamlessly with both Google and Amazon smart speakers. As for Google and Amazon, they are competing for dominance in both AI and voice control. Their competition means good things for Vivint. And what is good for Vivint is good for its customers.
Voice Control Eliminates Barriers
Perhaps the most promising aspect of all of this is the ability of voice control to eliminate barriers among consumers. Right now, home automation and security control is still largely the domain of phone, tablet, and computer apps. People who are not tech-savvy often struggle to navigate their way around such apps. Controlling their systems is too difficult, so potential remains untapped.
Voice control’s maturity is quickly reaching a point at which homeowners won’t have to use apps. They will not have to write scripts and create helpers for their home automation devices. They will simply speak to their systems as though they were speaking to a service technician standing in their living rooms.
A phrase like, “Turn on the kitchen lights at 6pm” will be fully understood and implemented by the system. The homeowner won’t have to know anything about programming and scripting. That day is not far off, by the way. To some extent, such capabilities already exist.
It’s Only Going to Get Better
I speak from experience when I say it’s only going to get better. I have simplified the verbal commands I use to control my security and automation devices. Better yet, I haven’t had to go into my automation platform and change anything. The smart speakers adapted on their own.
Voice control is the future of home security and automation. I would bet every penny I’ve ever earned on it. And by the way, I am more than pleased. I’ve been waiting for the day when voice control finally achieves its full potential.