Who in their wildest dreams could have thought of smart homes? Imagine of residences with appliance and systems that can communicate with each other, or can be controlled remotely by a time schedule, from one area in the house, or even from any place on the globe through the internet or by phone. Isn’t this awe-inspiring? Well, certainly it is but it is today a reality thanks to technology.
Many people nowadays have a grasp of how smart homes can be. However, even with the great benefits one can derive from them- energy conservation, security, comfort, convenience and others- most of the people are yet to take up the concept.
So, why are many not yet living in the futuristic homes, once only seen in childhood cartoons and science fiction movies? A sizeable portion of people who have indicated they would hesitate to have smart homes were mainly concerned about security and data privacy.
If data privacy and security are the issues, what can then be done to raise the confidence levels in smart homes? Among the solutions, machine learning is one of them and could cause a positive shift in the perception of a smart home.
Machine learning technology and artificial intelligence are constantly growing
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With the Internet of Things (IoT), smart homes are fitted with technologies like thermostats that can be controlled by your phone. It is projected that by 2020 the IoT industry will surpass $1.7 trillion in revenue. Numerous devices are connected to the Internet, meaning that more and more data is being collected on a daily basis.
The only concern is that there is a potential for wrongful exploitation of the data by criminals. With machine learning and artificial intelligence, this data can be brought into correct use, with the processing carried out in the manner that the users prefer.
How machine learning and artificial intelligence can be of use
As noted above, data is being collected daily from several platforms. With several connected devices to the Internet, the possibility of gathering huge sample sizes of data that can be of great use is high. With the aid of machine learning, computer systems can access data and then learn to identify patterns when it comes to identification of security threats.
At the moment, the devices that have been created by manufacturers cannot educate machines, but with machine learning and artificial intelligence concepts, experts are working on devices to address the issues. Machine learning comes with numerous possibilities. With collected data, you can use machine learning to make predictions. For a business, predictions on consumer patterns can be made. Machine learning is a game changer in every sector. You can get experts from a reliable service provider like ActiveWizards to help sort all your machine learning needs.
How machine learning can improve smart homes
The IoT allows people to collect huge amounts of data. This data can be analyzed and then used to create devices that suit the needs of the user. With machine learning, the data that has been gathered can be analyzed with the aid of strong algorithms to help draw useful insights from the data.
These insights can be acted upon to create smart homes devices that can address all security concerns that the current devices do not address. These devices can even learn from the data that has been collected with the aid of machine learning. People’s preferences keep on changing as time goes by. This can even happen to those who own smart homes. With machine learning, the smart devices can adapt to suit these new preferences.
Machine learning and artificial intelligence allow these devices to make their own decisions without needing manual input from the users. Sensors in the house can help adjust the room temperature accordingly to suit your preferences. Additionally, you can automatically turn on the lights when you are in a room and then adjust the brightness depending on what you will be doing at that time.
Potential risks
Machine learning can help customize smart home devices in accordance with user needs, but it still poses a security risk to the user. For instance, if a person with malicious intent were to access your smart home devices, it would be potentially dangerous. Those people would not only be able to tamper with the devices, but they could even manage to gain some access into the house.
You could end up being robbed of your personal belongings, or your intimate personal data could be stolen and used in a harmful manner. Research indicates that a good number of smart home devices can be hacked into. Hackers can thus have remote access to the devices and reset the security system settings in a manner that they prefer.
Mitigating the risks
Smart home owners are advised to encrypt their systems by setting passwords to help limit the number of third party individuals accessing the system. Remember to use stronger passwords that nobody can easily guess. It is important for every smart home owner to follow all the common security protocols in order to keep both their homes and data safe.
Without following these simple protocols, regardless of the type of machine learning you are using, your data can still be accessed by third-party individuals. It is also important to have all your applications updated so that all security patches can be installed. An alternative method is to disconnect your devices when you are not using them.
The role manufacturers play to improve smart home security
Device manufacturers also have a role to play in ensuring that the smart home devices are secure. They are required to use encryption technologies that cannot be accessed. Manufacturers can work together and share information through machine learning on how smart home gadgets can be made more secure and inaccessible to hackers. Keeping the transmitted data safe is crucial. After all, smart homes are not secure if unauthorized individuals can easily access them.
It is apparent that machine learning along with big data and artificial intelligence can help make smart homes more secure. However, all the stakeholders—ranging from the users to the manufacturers—must work hard to ensure that the systems cannot be compromised in any way. If the data security is improved, several people will be ready to adopt the smart home technology.
