Home automation is the automatic control of electronic devices in your home. These devices are connected to the Internet, which allows them to be controlled remotely. With home automation, devices can trigger one another so you don’t have to control them manually via an app or voice assistant. For example, you can put your lights on schedules so that they turn off when you normally go to sleep, or you can have your thermostat turn the AC up about an hour before you return to work so you don’t have to return to a stuffy house. Home automation makes life more convenient and can even save you money on heating, cooling and electricity bills. Home automation can also lead to greater safety with Internet of Things (IoT) devices like Lights, Thermostats, Locks, Video doorbells, Security cameras, Security systems, Speakers, Displays, Medical care, etc.
A smart home is any home that includes automated, Internet of Things devices connected to mobile applications. Using these IoT devices, users can control many things in their home from lights to security systems to appliances. Increasingly, more and more homes are built with automation from the original construction, but technically, any home with an internet connection and IoT devices counts as a smart home.
Home automation works via a network of devices that are connected to the Internet through different communication protocols, i.e Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, Z-Wave and others. Through electronic interfaces, the devices can be managed remotely through controllers, either a Voice Assistant like ‘Alexa or Google Assistant or Siri’ or an app. Many of these IoT devices have sensors that monitor changes in motion, temperature and light so the user can gain information about the device’s surroundings. To make physical changes to the device, the user triggers actuators, the physical mechanisms like smart light switches, motorized valves or motors that allows devices to be controlled remotely.
Monitoring: Monitoring means that users can check in on their devices remotely through an app. For example, someone could view their live feed from a smart security camera.
Control: Control means that the user can control these devices remotely, like panning a security camera to see more of a living space.
Automation: Finally, automation means setting up devices to trigger one another, like having a smart siren go off whenever an armed security camera detects motion.
Like anything in life, home automation has its pros and cons. Overall, we think it’s more than worthwhile, but it may not be for everyone, depending on your personal preferences.
Remote access: Being able to control devices remotely means things like unlocking the door for a plant sitter without having to leave a key under the mat.
Comfort: You know when you’re all comfy in bed but realize you’ve left the bathroom light on? With smart light bulbs, you can turn them off from the comfort of your bed without having to leave those high thread count sheets.
Energy efficiency: How many times have you left the heat on blast while you’re out of the house for eight hours? With home automation, you can set things like thermostats on schedules to make sure you’re not wasting energy. That means that over time, these smart thermostats can actually pay for themselves in savings.
Convenience: Being able to control devices remotely or via voice commands, set them on schedules, and even sync them with the sunrise and sunset is nothing inconvenient. Imagine being able to come down in the morning to freshly made toast without you having to push a button!
Safety: Finally, there are many smart security products that can increase your home’s safety, like sensors for doors and windows, security cameras that can detect people, and video doorbells that let you greet whoever’s knocking from anywhere with Internet.
Costs: IoT devices are certainly more expensive than their non-WiFi-connected counterparts. Overall, home automation isn’t cheap, depending on where you shop.
Security issues: It’s scary but true: anything that has to do with the Internet like checking in on a motion notification from a smart security camera, can be hacked, and that includes IoT devices. Unfortunately, we’ve seen a fair share of hackings and security breaches from large tech companies that manufacture IoT devices; Of course, this is an issue you wouldn’t have with devices that aren’t connected to the Internet, but if you want IoT devices, you’ll have to adhere to some best digital security practices.
New technology: Since IoT is a relatively new technology, you may run into some bugs, like devices having trouble connecting to the Internet or experiencing lag, depending on the device’s make and model.
Surveillance: If privacy is a huge concern, then smart security is probably not for you, as users can livestream footage from the camera’s respective app. Instead, you might want to opt for a local alarm system.
