Lutron adds a fan control capability to the Caséta smart lighting system, providing customers with wireless access to ceiling fans from anywhere inside or outside the home.

The Caséta fan control promises to be easy to install and set up, and makes most ceiling fans "smart" and wirelessly adjustable within minutes. The fan control is compatible with a single 1.5A ceiling fan, offers 4 fan speeds and can set a favourite speed setting. Installation requires a neutral wire and should take all of 15 minutes, and does not require a canopy module.

Integrated Systems Events has more details on the 9th edition of the Smart Building Conference taking place a day before ISE 2019 opens its door on 4 February at the RAI Amsterdam.

The Smart Building Conference hosts a number of speakers, including senior executives from some of the highest profile smart building companies in the world. These range from architect practices to installers working on the "front line," consultancies and real estate companies. Google will present its vision of the Internet of Things, while AVIXA senior director for market intelligence Sean Wargo chairs a panel of experts providing an industry overview.

According to Futuresource Consulting, global smart home device shipments reach "nearly" 110 million units, bringing revenues worth around $17 billion and "strong" growth in both volume and value.

“Smart home devices have clearly captured the attention of consumers. There’s no doubt the market is making its presence felt, finishing 2018 on fine form,” the analyst says. “The way smart devices help with daily tasks, improve security and generate savings in energy bills are all reasons that this is the fastest growing area of consumer electronics, on track to finish the year at 39% volume growth and 28% value growth.”

Security and monitoring devices-- smart cameras, video doorbells, smart locks and smart detectors-- account for 60% of total 2018 device shipments, making the largest smart home category. The category also boasts the highest ASPs, leading to 2018 revenues worth $10bn. According to Futuresource, penetration rates will remain strong in the near future, and 7% of homes worldwide will have at least one smart security device by 2022.

Japanese company Yukai Engineering has a charming means to both monitor the house and help family members leave messages to each other at CES 2019-- the Bocco Emo communication robot.

The Bocco Emo looks like a snowman, and is an update of a 2015 robot from Yukai Engineering simply dubbed the Bocco. According to the company, the "Emo" in the name stands for the ability to "express empathy." How so? Apparently the robot can tell between positive and negative messages, and expresses each accordingly. The robot nods and makes happy chirping sounds with a positive message, while a negative message has it light up red, put its head down and make sad whining noises. To do so it can tell between different words, as well as interpret messages based on emoji.

Appliance maker Whirlpool takes to CES 2019 with a futuristic spin of the humble oven-- the Connected Hub Wall Oven replaces the traditional glass door window with a 27-inch transparent LCD display complete with touch interface.

The work of W Labs innovation incubator, the Connected Hub Wall Oven pairs with the Whirlpool Yummly app to help customers with cooking. It integrates with family calendars, and suggests appropriate recipes according to the time the family can get together. For instance, if the oven notices a 45-minute window for dinner, it will prompt a quick recipe. In addition, suggestions are further personalised according to family preferences.

The aforementioned transparent LCD display shows step-by-step video instructions, eliminating the need for cookbooks by prompting recipe steps at the right moment. It even shows instructions as to how to use the oven (such as what rack to put the food on) for the "optimal cooking experience," while an internal vision system with "extreme zoom" allows one to check on food without opening the oven door.

CES is famous for housing a range of odd devices, but LG might have them already all beat with the HomeBrew-- a "capsule-based craft beer making machine," complete with single-use capsules and, of course, connected smarts.

As the company puts it, the capsule-based system makes it easier than ever to make an cold, tasty beer. The capsules contain malt, yeast, hop oil and flavouring, and creating said beer simply involves the press of a button. An "optimised fermentation algorithm" takes care of the entire process, from fermentation, carbonation and aging, to serving and even cleaning, and users can check on the process through companion mobile device app.