The core of smart homes can be summarized into five key components: device capability, communication, data collection, computation, and control. These five capabilities are like five gears, each indispensable, working together to drive the operation of smart homes. Any shortcoming in one of these areas will directly impact user experience. Therefore, the development of smart homes is not about ‘who runs faster’, but rather ‘who can fill in the gaps’. Firstly, device capability is fundamental, determining what the device can do. Secondly, communication serves as a bridge, enabling devices to ‘talk’ to each other, transmitting status and data. Thirdly, data collection acts as the ‘eyes’ and ‘ears’ of intelligence, responsible for gathering environmental information and user behavior. Fourthly, computation acts as the brain, such as AI analyzing user habits and making decisions. Finally, control is the executor, turning decisions into actual actions. Currently, many companies are competing in AI, but AI is just one of the five capabilities. The other aspects are equally important: without device capability, smart homes are just castles in the air; if communication is poor, data is like being stuck in traffic; insufficient data collection makes the system like a ‘blind man touching an elephant’; if control fails, even the smartest decisions cannot be implemented. The experience of smart homes is like the water level of a barrel, determined by the shortest plank. Only with balanced development of all five capabilities can we truly achieve ‘ease of use’. This is also why the implementation of smart homes is so challenging—it requires all aspects to progress simultaneously, rather than focusing on breakthroughs in isolated areas.