The legend goes like this: in 1966, Jim Sutherland, an engineer at Westinghouse Electric Corporation, developed the ECHO IV, the very first home automation system. This innovative system was designed to regulate temperature and manage household appliances. It featured capabilities for recording and recalling shopping lists, recipes, and family notes. Presently, the realm of home

automation and intelligent living has advanced significantly. The escalating inclination for an enhanced standard of living in both developing and developed nations is a key driver propelling the growth of the home automation industry.

IoT will probably be the only technology that travels in the opposite direction- from smart homes to Industrial IoT and automation. Indeed, the explosion of industrial automation technologies has, in turn, helped the home automation trends. Today, the concept of a smart home is not an interior design luxury but a way of life. Today's smart home represents everything from safety to convenience, cost savings, and time efficiency. An old-school millennial like me uses a number of IoT systems in daily life.

According to a report by ResearchAndMarkets.com, the Home Automation market in India is expected to reach $25.64 Billion in 2030 compared to $ 4.83 Billion in 2022. The five-fold growth worth of opportunities is also a cue for interior designers to augment the experience of homeowners. Infusing tech gadgets into the interiors adds an elegant, modern, and sophi-sticated look and feel to any home. This yearly special issue of CIO Insider dives deeper into the IoT ecosystem in the country. Do let us know your thoughts.