Using a handheld device like it's a magic wand to instantly control the temperature, lighting, security and overall atmosphere of your home is no longer the starry-eyed stuff of science fiction.
 
Thanks to advances in artificial intelligence (AI), mobile technology and the accelerating growth of the Internet of Things (IoT), beefing up your living space with smart tech is fast becoming a reality within reach of the average person.
 
Devices like Alexa, Amazon Echo and Google Home have led the way. And the numbers support the notion that they are at the leading edge of a rising wave of innovations. Zion Market Research predicts that the global smart home tech market will reach $53.45 billion by 2022.
 
Here are some new and upcoming advances in smart home technology that will continue to revolutionize how we express our nesting instincts:
 
Home Health Tech
Advances in AI have big implications for seniors or hospice patients and their caregivers. Remote home monitoring systems, like those developed by Canary Care and TruSense, help users create an electronic safety net that monitors signs of well-being.
 
Sensors placed throughout the home detect long periods of inactivity and other warning signs, relay the information to devices and alert medical professionals, hospice care staff or friends and family. Smart devices connected online and to the home network can be configured to respond to calls for assistance, in

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