What Is Home Automation
Home automation (commonly referred to as Smart Home) is the process of applying automation to attributes of your home that will give you, the owner, control. It can also be used as a way for you to monitor specific details regarding your abode. This will help you decide on certain changes. With the emergence of modern technology, the variety in which how you can automate your home has grown and continues to this day to provide you with the home you can call your own.
It might be a reasonably new concept in terms of technology. But home automation has been around since the 1900s with the birth of electricity and its distribution. The use of stoves, refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, water heaters, and more paved the way for reducing manual work for every homeowner back in the day. In just a century, these devices have evolved to change the way we live our lives at home rapidly.
Home devices can now do multiple tasks and help you live your daily life more easily. Innovations in programming, hardware, energy consumption have changed for the better and given us more options for our home to function. Furthermore, the internet has also been a massive contribution to how we can monitor our homes even if we’re miles away.
Home automation has also paved the way to improving home security and how we can protect ourselves and our homes. Smart locks, video monitoring, alarm systems, and much more are readily available to the public these days and are relatively easy to install and use. Now, you won’t have to worry about your home even if you’re miles away.
Back in the day, it would cost you a fortune to automate your home and would require a lot of technical knowledge to make them work. With advancements in technology and its availability, everyone can now enjoy the benefits of Home Automation.
Most Common Home Automation
These days, there’s bound to be a home device for a particular task you need to finish. With the help of the internet, people can now connect each device to create a network of electronics and appliances to fit their home needs. Below are some of the most common home automation that you can find today.
For Security
Sensors
Knowing what happens in your home is essential in terms of security. Sensors are commonly placed in entry points like doorways or windows to alert us if there is an unexpected entry. They can also be partnered with phone applications to receive notifications in real-time.
Video Surveillance
CCTVs have been around for quite a while, mostly in monumental buildings and locations. However, these days, they are now being used in homes to monitor property 24/7. The development in their size, installation, technology, and storage has made it easier for homeowners to install them. Real-time monitoring has also improved, making it easier for us to check in on our homes.
Flood, CO, and Fire Detectors
Setting up sensors to detect certain elemental aspects of your home is a great way to react appropriately to them. Aside from the typical smoke detector that implies fire, many systems are now being implemented for security purposes. Flood sensors help homeowners analyze the water level surrounding the inside and outside of their homes. CO Detectors warns you if a dangerous amount of Carbon Monoxide is present inside your home, which can be fatal if taken in for an extended period.
Locks
Mechanical locks, although a bit primitive compared to today’s standards, are still widely used in many homes. However, technological advancements have also turned them into something that you can personalize and monitor with your phone’s screen. A wide arrange of Automated Lock systems gives you an extra layer of protection in terms of personalizing and making sure you are updated with the security of your home wherever you are.
Doorbells
Wouldn’t you like to know who is standing in front of your doorsteps without coming near your door? Video and audio doorbells allow us to find out first who our uninvited guests are without them even knowing where you are. You can also monitor your front door anytime, even if you’re not home, as it can be connected to your phone or computer.
For Entertainment
Smart TVs
Multimedia entertainment has changed drastically over the past decades. Satellite and Cable TVs are now near obsolete compared to the joy you can get from the Internet. TVs have also adapted to this change, offering functions that let you connect to the web in the comfort of your living room. They also provide further customization based on the user’s preference.
Ai Speakers
What if you can control the music you listen to without even pushing a button or screen? With advancements in Ai, manufacturers have started offering audio devices integrated with Ai assistance that you can talk to. Algorithms that follow your preference and taste, as well as answer questions on a whim, make these devices a must-have for people who like to multitask.
Lighting
Switches have been a part of lighting for home set-ups. On the other hand, technology gives us the option to not even touch any switches inside and outside our homes. Sensors that detect motions and help switch lights have slowly become a trend and we can also use them for home security. Clappers see sharp sounds from claps, hence the name, and turn on the lights with just a simple clap. There have also been material improvements resulting in lesser electric consumption and variety in terms of color and intensity.
For Kitchen
Refrigerators
Keeping food cold has always been the purpose of refrigerators. With the integration of Home Automation, Smart Refrigerators can track your food supplies, adjust the temperature to keep food fresh, and connect to the internet to show you recipes that you can enjoy.
Dishwashers
Soaking, scrubbing, rinsing, and drying are past when washing dishes. Automated Dishwashers can now do it all at once with a touch of a button. You can also make monitoring and adjustments, so you don’t have to worry if your dishes are squeaky clean.
Trash cans
What if your trash can monitor what you throw away and remind you of what you need on your next trip to the grocery store? Thanks to the integration of scanners, making sure that your stock isn’t depleted is possible. The integration of odor control into technologically advanced trash cans makes you worry less about your kitchen smelling like rotten food.
Ovens
You can not underestimate the versatility of ovens when it comes to preparing your family’s meal. With modern ovens, not only do you get to explore more cooking options, but it also provides you with data to help you cook without worrying about messing up. Integration of intelligent assistants also provides you with cooking tips from the web through your phone, so you can explore more dishes to enjoy.
For Comfort
Beds
You don’t have to sleep in your old bed anymore. That costs a lot should you want to adjust something. Smart Beds can give you the power to customize how you sleep. On top of that, some even have the added function of helping you monitor your sleep should you have any trouble sleeping.
Fans and Air Conditioning
Comfort is a must in your home, and one way to achieve that is through your home’s temperature. Nowadays, you can control most of the cooling devices from an app on your phone, set to a schedule, or establish to sense when needed.
Restrooms
Going to the bathroom should be comfortable. There’s nothing more relaxing than using a toilet that offers a wide variety of functions without even needing to stand up. Cleaning technologies such as automatic bidets and temperature control helps us relieve ourselves in peace.
For Medical Needs
Health Tracking
Technology has helped us monitor and track things about our help that our senses can’t see. You can now trace your heart rate, temperature, sugar levels, hydration in the comfort of your home. Prevention is better than cure. These devices can help us identify problems even before they show up. They give us a sense of preparedness and safety for our well-being.
Medical Alerts
A simple device that notifies medical personnel is a big help, especially for unexpected needs. You can easily connect them to intercoms and call centers should our loved ones need help. Other devices can even notify us if the user has fallen or become unresponsive, ensuring that we’ll be there in times of need.
Video Surveillance
Having an extra set of eyes for our loved ones is a great help to ensure that they are okay. From our youngest to eldest family members, you can rest easy knowing that you can check up on them wherever you are.
Advantages of Home Automation
Technologies from the past are still viable to this day. However, with advancements in energy consumption, Smart Devices efficiently use your home’s energy for less. With the damage to our environment increasing every day, it’s good to know that we can contribute to preserving it. Home automation can monitor and decide whether to save or expend power based on your needs. They can also assist them with alternative power sources such as winds or solar, further helping us reduce waste in terms of energy consumption.
Integration of multiple devices also gives us complete control of our home, even the screen of our phones. You can connect and manage most of these devices through a centralized system removing the need to monitor each device individually. What’s better is that we can also check on our devices wherever we are as long as we have an internet connection.
Home automation also gives us an extra layer of security. You can now personally secure your home with your settings without worrying about blind spots. Utilizing alarm systems that can be triggered based on our preferences is a must-have. Communications to authorities have also been made more accessible. We can be notified in real-time of what’s happening in our homes.
Things to Consider
Not all technology is foolproof. In reality, our modern devices are still relatively new and will still undergo development shortly. Changes will inevitably happen, so seriously consider choosing what’s best for your home. Future-proofing is a good way of ensuring that we are up-to-date in our home’s automation.
Take privacy into consideration, especially in personalizing our homes. Cyber attacks are rampant, and it’s best to make sure to secure your data. The internet can be a wonderful and dangerous place, and you should protect yourself and your data. Read up on guides on how you can be safe online so that you can enjoy your home’s automation without worrying about exposing your data.
Technology and electricity go hand-in-hand, so it’s best to analyze how our devices will work should power outages occur. Turned on home automation devices will only work best. Having a backup power supply such as generators or alternative sources will help you make sure that your home will function in times of emergencies.
If you are unsure how to set up your home’s automation, you can contact the local and trusted security company that can help you decide what’s best for your home. It can be a daunting task to set up your home for automation, but there are professionals out there who can help you decide. Not only will it save you time and effort, but you can also make sure that you are getting the best of what today’s technology has to offer.