When Everything’s Connected: Beyond The Smart Home’s Walls

Real EstateWhen Everything’s Connected: Beyond The Smart Home’s WallsByJennifer Castenson,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Covers the future of sustainable, resilient and affordable housing. Follow AuthorMay 08, 2026, 10:20am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.Dreame's laundry care robot independently handles the entire cycle: picking up clothes, washing and drying, and taking them out.DREAMEImagine going to the gym for a hard work out. Then, you get in your car and the car notifies your smart home that you are 11 minutes away. The refrigerator is notified that you were exercising and lost electrolytes, so not only prepares a cold glass of water for you, but also suggests some dinner recipes with extra protein to help build muscle according to your goals. Because you are hot, the temperature in the car and in the house are automatically adjusted to cool you off and will return to normal after 30 minutes. Your wearable ring notifies the coffee maker that you didn’t get the optimal eight hours of sleep, so it adjusts to brew a little bit stronger cup of Joe.All of this happens instantly and behind the scenes and nearly all of it is possible today from Dreame.The company recently revealed its newest evolution of smart home products at an event that explored the future of interoperability across every aspect of a consumer’s life, and solving for what has been the achilles heel of the industry to date - interoperability.“Technology companies are not good at interoperability, but that is what Dreame is doing with appliances and devices,” said James Keyes, former CEO of 7-Eleven at the launch event. “Apple did that with Macs, calendars, phones, watches. Until it all came together in one place, it wasn’t very useful.”MORE FOR YOUSmarter Smart Home ProductsResearch firm Parks Associates forecasts that the smart home market will continue...