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The fully connected "Smart Home" is getting a lot of attention, with good reason, as it reaches the next stage of the function and connectivity path. The first stage of enhancing the home was providing near-complete wireless coverage to a higher-speed internet connection, targeted at providing basic web connectivity as well as multimedia and streaming video as the primary applications. The next stage expanded this to include smart speakers, home security and alarms, video doorbells, smart temperature control, and other functions. Now we are seeing the third stage: The Smart Home, which leverages Internet of Things (IoT) capabilities by adding web-connected appliances. This functionality is gaining acceptance and traction as costs drop and the benefits become more apparent. These appliances do more than just allow homeowners to see, sense, and control them from anywhere inside or outside the home, although doing that brings benefits. They can also continuously implement monitoring in the background to diagnose and report problems as they occur, and even recognize fault-related trends before they become critical. There's a large element of irony here. "Removing the roof" of the house and looking deeper inside at the smart appliances that are part of the wireless connected home will reveal that this fully connected, so-called wireless system needs a lot of copper wires and their associated connectors. The reason is simple enough. Most appliances need to transfer power—from the AC line, as well as to loads such as motors or heating elements—and that cannot be achieved by wireless links. As a consequence, the wired connections IoT Reaches into the Connected Home By Bill Schweber for Mouser Electronics "As the Smart Home evolves to more IoT and wireless connectivity, including sensors, security, and appliances, there is a need for wired cabling and connectors that are tailored for both internal electronics as well as higher- voltage/current needs." 14

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