EDITOR’S COMMENT Jack Cheeseman
June/July 2023
ertonline.co.uk
The dawn of a new era I 12 t’s been 16 years since Steve Jobs
announced to the world: “I’ve got a great idea for a phone!” Standing on stage at the
Macworld Expo in California in January 2007, he introduced the Apple iPhone for the very first time, and I think it’s safe to say this had quite a significant impact on the advancements of modern technology!
Over two billion iPhones have been sold since
its introduction and there have been 34 different models of the device since the original. There were only 15 apps available to start with, most of which now come as standard on new iPhones and competitor handsets.
But this little handheld device quickly became a way of life for many people – using it as their only internet browser, their GPS navigator, and in some cases their payment method. The launch of the world’s first smartphone spawned an entire new industry of app developers, accessory makers and social media giants, not just in the Apple world but with other manufacturers jumping on the bandwagon too.
Today, we control so many elements of our
lives from a single gadget in the palm of our hand. Yes we can make a phone call or send a text message, but the ability to also switch on the lights at home, close the blinds or pre-heat the oven has been an absolute game-changer for billions of households across the globe. Smart technology has developed and rooted itself into so many areas, with convenience being one of the major benefits; enabling households to remotely control and monitor a product or system at home can not only help to save time and money, but there are security benefits too. Voice control is of course another huge sub- category within the smart home. The majority of smart devices are compatible with all the leading voice assistants, so if we’re talking about ease of use, I don’t think it gets much simpler than speaking a command out loud compared to manually tapping a few buttons on your phone! As Amit Ravat, Managing Director of Lithe Audio, told me in this month’s ERT Interview, only five years ago smart home technology was still
quite alien to the mass population, but now it’s rapidly becoming more mainstream. And this is in part due to the adoption of voice technology. “Amazon introduced people to the world of smart home with the Alexa,” said Amit. “It was a gateway product for many.”
When I went to visit Amit at his showroom
in Surrey, not only did I get an incredible demonstration of Lithe Audio’s built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speakers, but we spoke at great length about the evolution of the smart home – and specifically smart home audio – and how product compatibility will help drive the market forward. We are at a place right now where most things in the home talk to most other things, but there is still change to come. As Amit pointed out, consumer education will continue and it will trigger a real step change in the market. You can read my full interview with Amit from page 14 of this issue.
Email the editor at
jackcheeseman@ertonline.co.uk What do you think ?
I went to Surrey to Lithe Audio’s showroom to meet MD, Amit Ravat, where we discussed the future of the smart home
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