This Day, That Year

Editor’s Note: This year marks the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening-up policy.

In 1980s, owning a color TV, a refrigerator, a telephone and a washing machine was a dream for many families in China.

They made life more con- venient and colorful.

Thanks to development, home appliances are moving to the next level.

Smart homes and smart technology are changing our life. In a smart home, you can remote control your appliances via a smartphone.

Take smart refrigerators for example, they are voicecontrolled, and equipped with high-definition touch screens and sensors, which show the nutrition level of the food inside.

As more Chinese consumers are seeking higher-quality consumer goods, traditional home appliance manufacturers are pressing ahead with smart home products, such as air conditioners, televisions and refrigerators, by applying artificial intelligence technologies to transform and innovate products, as well as grab a larger market share.

According to statistics from market consultancy Statista, China’s smart home market is expected to reach 130 billion yuan ($20.8 billion) in value this year, with an annual growth rate of about 48 percent, a big jump from the 40.3 billion yuan market in 2015.