Intelligent Living

If market activity is any indication, we may be witnessing the dawn of the connected home era.

In January, Google paid $3.2 billion for Nest, a manufacturer of intelligent thermostats and smoke detectors, then followed that up by acquiring the home security company Dropcam. Samsung then purchased Smart Things, a developer of control systems for intelligent homes, in August. Major manufacturers like Haier, Sylvania, and Philips launched innovative smart home products this year, and Revolv, Insteon, and other companies have seen a spike in interest in their hubs, the devices that connect to and control a home's bulbs, switches, locks, and appliances.