Whether you have just bought a new home or have been living in your home for many years, you might be interested in transforming your home into a smart home. Today’s technology is making it easier to turn any home into a smart home. With all the new smart home items on the market, it is easier and more affordable than ever to create a smart home.
What is a smart home?
A “Smart Home” uses devices connected to the Internet of things (IoT) and are used to automate the systems of a home. In a home, things like electronics, appliances and security systems can be controlled using apps on a smartphone or using a computer. The systems in the house, including thermostats and lights, can be turned off and on using the apps or set to a timer which turns them on or off. Users can control the systems in their house while they are home or away, to create a more energy efficient and secure home.
A Smart Home not only makes a house more secure, it also saves money. When the systems are controlled and set to a system, the home usually uses fewer utilities which means replacing products less often and lowering bills.
Home Assistants and Home Hubs
Using Home Assistant systems that work as a home hub. Using systems like Alexa by Amazon, Google Assistant or even Siri from Apple, these systems are an artificial intelligence that responds to your voice after a command, for example, “Hey Google.” Once the assistant is activated by the command, the user tells it what needs to be done. Alexa, please turn off the light.” These hubs work to control multiple smart devices in a home and do not usually work as mart devices themselves. The device can not shut off the light unless that light or plug is a smart device and is compatible with that system.
IFTTT
There are apps online that can control smart home technology. The If This Than That app lets you set applets that can control smart devices. Set the applet to send you a weather report each morning, turn the lights on at a certain time or turn the thermostat to a certain temperature when you are 15 minutes from home.
Smart Thermostats
A smart thermostat is a way to control the temperature in the house even when you are not there to physically change the thermostat. A smart thermostat helps control the temperature and lets the house reduce the electric and heating bills.
Smart Locks
Smart Locks are a great way to keep your house safe from intruders. Locks that use keys can be picked or a key can unknowingly be copied. The idea behind a smart lock is that it works with a smartphone to be unlocked. While there are still ways to unlock a smart door even without a smartphone or if the power has gone out, a smart lock gives a new level of protection to a door.
Doorbells
Doorbells have come a long way from just a button to ring to let people know you are there. Today’s smart doorbells work on the home’s Wi-Fi systems to connect to an app on the owner’s smartphone. See who is ringing the bell without having to go to the door. Some doorbells also include an intercom system.
Smart Appliances
Smart appliances, like refrigerators, can bring a kitchen to a smart age. Users can control temperature while away, know if there is an issue with the workings of the appliance, know when food is set to expire and know what is in the fridge even when they are away.
Smart Light Bulbs
Smart light bulbs give the user the ability to turn lights on and off on a schedule or using an app on their phone. These light bulbs use the home’s Wi-Fi in order to be turned on and off with an app. This helps is the owner is not home and do not want to come home to a dark house, or while traveling to give the appearance that someone is in the home.
Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide detectors
For decades, smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors have kept people inside the home safer. The detectors would alert if there was smoke in the room or if the furnace wasn’t working properly and emitting carbon monoxide. Smart detectors take it one step further and can alert the officials to come to the home.
Smart TVs
Smart TVs let the user connect to the internet through the tv itself. The tv can then stream movies or favorite shows, YouTube or even connect to Facebook. The television no longer needs a device to watch things like Netflix or Hulu. The user simply downloads the app for whatever it is they want to use.
Smart Vacuum
Smart vacuums, like the Rumba, clean the floor on a schedule. The vacuum also clean when it detects a mess. It comes out, cleans when it is told or when someone tells the apps, and then returns to the docking station to charge for the next cleaning.
Smart Windows
Many people hate the idea of curtains because they want to be able to see out the windows, but that doesn’t mean that they want people to be able to see in. Smart windows contain a film or a frosted effect that lets the light in through the window without letting outsiders see inside.
Home Security Systems
While there have security systems that alerted the security company when someone entered a home when it was armed, smart security systems have taken home security to a new level. Using many of these smart home technologies, the smart security system can monitor who is coming and going from a home, take video of the front door, even tell a user how many times a door was opened and closed in a certain time. When it is activated, it can monitor everything pertaining to the home. Now a home can be more secure than just alerting the security company if someone has broken in.
