Day after day, we’re witnessing incredible advances in technology and home appliances have not been left out of the uptrends. Smart home appliances are machines that can be operated, controlled, and monitored remotely once they are connected to a central internet network in a home. These are not robots that automate kitchen activities, but advanced tools to make things faster, better, and more efficient. They work autonomously by sensing movement, temperature, light, or levels of activities. They are just like home appliances but faster and more eco-friendly.

So, how did we go from manual washboards to a remotely controlled washing machine?

Smart home appliances did not appear suddenly. They are products of gradual technological inventions and over a century old development.

Smart appliances became a possibility in 1898 when Nikola Tesla invented a remote control for a toy. However, the remote control only flagged the movement from manual appliances to electrical ones. The 1900s started with an industrial revolution that saw the invention of devices such as the first electric-powered washing machine named Thor; the first moveable vacuum cleaner weighing over 80 pounds; and the electric sewing machine, coffee percolator, and electric stove. In 1923, fridges were first produced en masse for consumer use after Carl Von Linden invented a process that changes liquid to gas, absorbing heat in the process.

Then in 1975, the first smart home technology was debuted as the X10 – a home automation system that sent digital information onto existing electrical wiring in a home. Remote controls and keypads controlled the appliances, and they received instructions through radio signals. However, this technology was primarily available for the exceptionally rich and tech-savvy.

In the 1990s, the mass production of smart technology was focused on making life easier for consumers. Microcontrollers that drastically reduced the size of appliances and enabled affordability were developed. Thus, domestic technology became a thing.

With the integration of smart technology into the new home came new security and environmental sustainability problems. The appliances were made with chemicals that endangered the planet and consumed a lot of electricity and gas. Ironically, to combat the danger technology posed, industries developed eco-friendly products with more advanced technology. An example is the induction cooktop which induces heat directly from the cookware instead of burning natural gas like the gas stove. Smart TVs also use less energy while supporting features such as voice control and internet connectivity, while washing machines are made to be more water and energy-efficient. The latest refrigerators have touch screens that keep grocery lists, search recipes, upload photos, and even check Twitter. It is like having a computer integrated into your fridge.

The aim of smart appliances can be summed up as making life easier while protecting our environment. Although the effectiveness of these appliances still largely depends on internet accessibility and most new devices are still not affordable for many consumers, they are the future when it comes to using artificial intelligence with less space and resources to achieve maximum results.