But could our fascination with smartphones hold the key to a connected future beyond our 3-inch screens?
The idea of a connected future is nothing new.
Despite our smartphone connections to voice assistants and fitness wearables, something is missing.
The problem is that our devices do not work well together.
Rival brands may host apps on different platforms, but cohesive connections between their connected devices are limited.
The reality is consumers are not beholden to one brand or key in of gadget.
Huaweis mission is to break the mold of the brand-specific connected ecosystems weve been sold.
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But I think both of those things are changing, Garrihy told TNW.
Frictionless connectivity is a necessity for connected living.
Huawei aims to create ubiquitous connections between different devices, irrespective of the manufacturer.
Huawei has partnered with 800 companies to bring these integrations to life.
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The technology exists today but lacks seamless integration.
Take, for instance, family video calls, which have become a lockdown staple.
Every family member will show on the call because Huaweis 360-degree camera will pivot to the speaker.
Cohesively connected tech is the aim, which is why the smartphone isnt the sole consideration for Huawei.
Our technology should fit around our lives, not the other way around.
Beyond our smartphones, a truly connected world lays at our fingertips.
He recounted a pre-lockdown trip where he was racing to catch his flight.
Upon his return weeks later, he had forgotten where he parked his car at the airport.
Convenience and context are king in Huaweis Seamless AI Life Strategy, but this is just the beginning.
In the future, cars fitted with the HiCar system could do much more.
Remote work has blurred the boundaries between work and home life.
Connected living can help draw those distinctions by increasing personal productivity.
Remote learning is also getting a connected living makeover, beyond the typical laptop or smartphone setup.
Privacy concerns
A connected world sounds exciting, but these innovations present new privacy and security vulnerabilities.
As Garrihy notes, the tide has turned now that more consumers are reckoning with the cost of privacy.
Weve gone through a period where giving all our data away, we become the products.
Now were starting to see a global awakening of, Am I happy to be the product anymore?
and were seeing people willing to pay a premium, he tells TNW.
Huaweis privacy measures are three-fold.
This limits the severity of a possible hack and ensures the security of the connected ecosystem is not compromised.
The reality is you will still firmly be in charge, Garrihy tells TNW.
So, what will it take for connected living to become an everyday occurrence simply living?
