Within a few decades, we’ve gone from relying on corded phones to tiny computers in our pockets that perform many more functions along with communication. Smart home automation is the next big thing that allows you to tap into the benefits of high-tech and the beauty of luxury that wasn’t possible in the past.
What Is Smart Home Automation
Home automation gives you access to control devices in your home from a mobile device anywhere in the world. The term describes homes in which nearly everything, including lights, appliances, electrical outlets, heating and cooling systems, is hooked up to a remotely controllable network.
From a home security perspective, this also includes your alarm system, and all of the doors, windows, locks, smoke detectors, surveillance cameras and any other sensors that are linked to it.
Until recently, this was reserved for expensive homes or large commercial buildings but this is no longer the case.
Advantages of Smart Products
The first and most obvious beneficiaries of an automated home are “smart” devices and appliances that can be connected to a local area network, via Ethernet or Wi-Fi. Although we cannot use our phones to track down our keys, yet, there are still plenty of cool things we can do.
Programming
The programming may include time-related commands, such as having your lights turn on or off at specific times each day. It can also include non-scheduled events, such as turning on all the lights in your home when your security system alarm is triggered. Plug your motorized blinds into a “smart” outlet and program it to close at noon each day. Do you have someone come by at the same time each day to walk the dog? Program your home automation system to unlock the front door for them, and lock it up again when they’re done.
Remote monitoring
Monitoring apps can provide a wealth of information about your home, from the status of the current moment to a detailed history. With cameras as part of your home automation system, you can even pull up real-time video feeds and literally see what’s going on in your home while you’re away.
Increased energy efficiency and lower utility bill
Smart homes bring an unmatched potential for energy savings, and therefore cost savings on your Atlanta Gas Light utility bill. Moreover, you will be provided with valuable insights on how your home operates and what are your energy consumption habits.
Improved appliance functionality
A smart TV will help you find better apps and channels that suit your taste. A smart oven will help you to cook your meal to perfection.
Best Smart Products for Your Home
Although the market is expanding rapidly with tech companies evolving at incredible speed, below are some of the best smart gadgets.
The smart speaker
Amazon Echo has a powerful sound output and a few forward-looking features. Google’s Nest Echo isn’t as powerful as Amazon’s, but it is more budget-friendly.
The smart display
This time round, Google refined Amazon’s Echo Show and created Nest Hub that is the most affordable marriage of a voice assistant and a display interface on the market.
The smart plug
Smart plugs break the myth that green devices are expensive. These are cheap, simple to install and they perform a function that’s pretty easy to grasp, turning power on and off remotely, saving you money on your electricity bill. TP-Link’s Kasa Mini is just one of the many smart plugs out there.
The smart lightbulb
Philips Hue has the broadest range on the market to easily equip your entire household, while supporting Amazon, Google, and Apple’s voice assistants.
The smart thermostat
The Ecobee SmartThermostat is a Wi-Fi-based thermostat that lets you control your home heating and air conditioning system with an app or using your voice. Moreover, it can read the ambient temperature of whatever room it’s in and adjust accordingly.
The smart lock
Although many are reluctant about this particular type of device, fearing you could get locked out of your household or allow a stranger in, August Wi-Fi Smart Lock relieves that concern as it doesn’t replace the lock mechanism itself, meaning you can still use your original, physical key. Additionally, you can assign and revoke timed virtual keys to anyone you like, from your in-laws to your dog sitter, at no extra cost. There is also a sensor that lets the lock tell you if it’s locked or unlocked and if the door itself is open or closed.
Takeaway – Once you start to understand the possibilities of smart devices, you can come up with new ways to make your life even better. This will surely be the case as technology continues to advance. If smartphones were one of the major tech developments of the 2000s, the next big step is the development of smart homes.
