The idea of a smart home has been getting a lot of attention for the last couple of years. After all, don't we all enjoy the convenience of having access to the functions of our home with just a touch of our mobile devices? Think about something as basic as switching the lights on and off around the house, to more complex things, such as controlling our home appliances, maintaining comfortable thermal levels, presetting our curtains to open with the sunrise or close at sunset, automatically starting our irrigation system in the garden, waking up to a freshly brewed cup of coffee, making sure we've locked the doors while we are on vacation, and so on. The list is virtually endless.
Some of the major challenges in a smart home are intelligent decision making, secure identification, and authentication of the IoT (Internet of Things) devices, continuous connectivity, data security, and privacy issues. The existing systems are targeting one or two of these issues whereas a smart home automation system that is not only secure but also has intelligent decision making and analytical abilities is the need of time.
If smartphones were one among the main tech developments of the 2000s, the big step within the 2010s was the development of smart homes, with advancements going to a whole new level in the next decade thanks to AI.
What is smart home automation anyway?
Smart home technology generally refers to any suite of devices, appliances, or systems that connect into a standard network which will be independently and remotely controlled. When your home technology works together in one system, it also can be referred more loosely as a “connected home”. For example, your home’s thermostat, lights, audio speakers, TVs, security cameras, locks, appliances, and more are all connected into a standard system, which may be controlled from your smartphone or through a mobile touch screen device. Smart home automation allows you to tap into high-tech functionality and luxury that wasn’t possible within the past. As technology development continues to expand, so will the chances for consumer home automation to form life easier and more enjoyable.
In case you are still wondering what the benefits of home automation are:
1. Managing all of your home devices from one place. This is highly convenient, no doubt. Having the ability to have all of the technology in your home connected through one interface may be a massive breakthrough for technology and residential management. Theoretically, all you’ll need to do is find out how to use one app on your smartphone and tablet, and you’ll be ready to tap into countless functions and devices throughout your home.
2. Flexibility to add new devices and appliances. Smart home systems tend to be wonderfully flexible when it involves the accommodation of latest devices and appliances and other technology. Regardless of how state-of-the-art your appliances seem today, there'll be newer, more impressive models developed as time goes on. Beyond that, you’ll probably increase your suite of devices as you replace the older ones or discover new technology to accompany your indoor and outdoor spaces. Having the ability to integrate these newcomers seamlessly will make your job as a home-owner much easier, and permit you to keep upgrading to the newest lifestyle technology.
3. Maximizing home security. Once you incorporate security and surveillance features in your smart home network, your home security can skyrocket. There are plenty of options here - only a couple of dozen of which are currently being explored. For instance, home automation systems can connect motion detectors, surveillance cameras, automated door locks, and other tangible security measures throughout your home so you'll activate them from one mobile device before heading to bed. You’ll also receive security alerts on your various devices depending on the time of day an alert is triggered, and monitor activities in real-time whether you’re within the house or halfway round the globe.
4. Remotely controlling your home functions. Don’t underestimate the benefit of having the ability to manage your home’s functions from a distance. On an exceptionally hot day, you'll order your house to become cooler in only enough time before you get home from work. If you’re in a hurry to start making dinner, but you’re still at the shop, you'll have your oven start to preheat while you’re still on your way home. You’ll even check if you've left the lights on, who is at your front entrance, or confirm you turned off all of your media while you’re away. Isn't that fantastic!
5. Increased energy efficiency. Based on how you make use of your smart-home technology, it’s possible to turn your home more energy-efficient. For instance, you'll have more precise control over the heating and cooling of your home with a programmable smart thermostat that learns your schedule and temperature preferences, then suggests the simplest energy efficient settings throughout the day. Lights and motorized shades are often programed to modify to a night mode because the sun sets, or lights can activate and off automatically once you enter or leave the space, so you never need to worry about wasting energy.
6. Improved appliance functionality. Smart homes can also assist you run your appliances better. A smart TV will help you find better apps and channels to locate your favorite programs. A smart oven will assist you with cooking your chicken to perfection, without ever worrying about overcooking or undercooking it. An intelligently designed home theatre and sound system can make managing your movie and music collection effortless when entertaining guests. Ultimately, connecting your appliances and other systems with automation technology will improve your appliance effectiveness and overall make your lifestyle far easier and enjoyable!
7. Home management insights. There’s also something to be said for your ability to tap into insights on how your home operates. You’ll monitor how often you watch TV (and what you watch), what meals you cook in your oven, the sort of foods you retain in your refrigerator, and your energy consumption habits over time. From these insights, you'll be ready to analyze your daily habits and behaviors.
There’s another advantage to smart homes, but it might be cheating to incorporate it within the above list. Instead of all the benefits of smart home technology today, this is about how smart home technology will develop within the coming years. The sheer amount of consumer interest generated by smart home technology means the world’s biggest tech companies and innovators have entered a race to outdo each other. Meaning bigger, better smart home tech is consistently being developed to match our digital needs and therefore the industry is on an incredible upward trajectory. It’s exciting stuff, and it’s certainly worth seeing for yourself what home automation can do for you. If you’re curious about learning more about the way to upgrade your home, or what smart home technology can do for you, your family, or your business, be sure to watch this space, we will keep you updated with the latest trends and innovations.