If you are not a user of such devices, you must have wondered exactly what it means to have a smart home, what would things look like if you decided to invest in technology, and of course, what and where to find us? Let's start right ...
What is a smart home?
The smart home is actually a combination of devices that aim to make our home a simpler and more beautiful place to live using technology, but also to save us a penny with reduced power consumption. Because they go hand in hand with home automation.
The first devices from this industry appeared in the 1900s when electricity distribution to homes was introduced. We are talking about the washing machine (1904), as well as refrigerators, dishwashers, sewing machines, and clothes dryers.
Although this looks pretty early on, the first home automation network was not developed until 1975, when the X10 protocol for communication between electronic devices was introduced. It uses radio frequencies to transmit data, and despite the fact that today there are many protocols that do this work, it remains one of the most widely used. The first devices to use this protocol were a 16-channel control panel, a lamp module, and a household module.
This is expected to change soon, thanks to the “Connected Home over IP” project. The project is run by the Zigbee Alliance, along with companies such as Apple, Google, and Amazon. It has one purpose, that is, all products used in the smart home use the Zigbee communication protocol. This would dramatically simplify the situation since all devices will be able to communicate with each other, which is the purpose of the concept itself. But don't worry - Apple, Google, and Amazon are assuring that existing product will continue to work as they do today, despite new products moving to another standard.
All currently certified products with this protocol can be found at the following link.
What devices could you get started with?
If you are thinking of investing and making your home a better place to live, you are probably wondering which of the many devices to get started with. Of course, it would be wise to buy the devices that you most benefit from first, and those that are less important (and more expensive) to stay for later.
Smart assistant
Following that logic, the first and foremost device to buy is a speaker with a built-in smart assistant. In addition to Google Home with Google Assistant and Amazon Echo with Alexa, we also have Apple HomeKit devices that come with Siri, as well as devices from other manufacturers that support one (or more) of these three assistants.
Without going into a deep debate about which option is best, you should know that Amazon Echo and Alexa have the best compatibility with devices from other manufacturers. Apple's HomeKit with Siri is the easiest to use, but their compatibility is pretty weak as they are relatively new players in the industry, while Google Home with Google Assistant is somewhere in the middle.
Sure, you can also buy devices that connect to your Wi-Fi network and don't need a speaker, but that means you're pretty much limited in terms of functionality and capabilities to your smart home. Also with such devices, you are forced to use your smartphone to control them.
Smart lighting
Once you have determined which smart assistant is best for you, you should equip your home with smart lighting. This kind of lighting will give you a lot. You get lights in any color anywhere around the home (for example Philips with their Hue product offers 16 million color changing lamps), which can be controlled via your phone or the speaker mentioned above.
This also gives you the ability to customize full scenes that change from a bright and 'living' room to day-to-day, muted atmosphere with less lighting, ideal for watching a movie or series and relaxing after work.
And another pretty important benefit is the fact that smart lighting can give the impression that someone is home, even when you are on vacation at the opposite end of the world. This is a great security benefit, as thefts rarely occur when perpetrators think someone is home.
The last two devices that we consider to be the basis of a smart home are the smart lock and the video bell. Smart locks replace the ordinary lock and completely eliminate entry with a plain key. Not only do you not have to carry a key with you anymore, but you do not have to hide a key outside the house in case you forget about it. Unlocking is enabled either by digit code or by your smartphone.
There is also the fact that with a smart lock you have the ability to unlock and lock your front door from anywhere in the world. And, let's not forget, thanks to the fact that the lock is connected to your home network, you have a complete overview of who, when and how it came into your home. It's good to note that such locks are available for your garage door, not just the home.
Along with the smart lock, a nice investment is a video bell. In addition to the usual bell functionality, you also get a video camera that is activated each time someone rings. Not only do you have to be physically present to see who is at your door, but you also have the opportunity to talk, using the speaker and microphone that such bells have.
This combination lets you see who is at your door at any time, and decide whether or not to unlock the door, even when you're not home. Most bells also have a motion sensor, which means you will know that someone is outside even without him or her letting the bell ring.
More advanced (and more expensive) devices
The few things mentioned above are just the beginning. As part of a smart home, there are a myriad of other devices that can be purchased, but most are expensive and they need to be well thought out if you can really reap the benefits.
Such appliances include smart home appliances, such as refrigerators, stoves, washing and drying machines, dishwashers, and the like. Devices themselves are a significant investment, and with the addition of smart functionality such as connecting to the internet and controlling devices wherever you are, such an investment is growing. Also, thermostat is one of the more expensive things to consider.
An alternative to this, which could save you a little bit, is to buy smart power outlets. This way, you can determine whether a particular device has access to electricity or not through your smartphone. Of course, how much this will use depends on the particular device, as well as what you will use it for.
The fact that there are different manufacturers available means that you can choose a system that would consist of the basic components that would save you, but you could also go for something more expensive and advanced. The choice is yours.
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