SmartHousesTech is the best blog and provides the best guides if you want to build a smart home. I share step-by-step, how-tos, FAQs, and other general information that assist people in converting their normal homes into smart homes.
I also encourage people to ask me their questions if they have any, and I will assist them further. It is because I introduced this blog to assist as many as possible people.
Now, let’s discuss it further.
What is Smart Home?
A smart home is a relatively new term, also known as Home Automation. In this modern home, many internet-connected devices are working together to share information with each other and then with the owner.
Let me explain further.
In a smart home, we use special devices called smart home devices, like smart bulbs, smart vacuums, and so on. What makes them different from the rest ones? Its ability to connect with the internet. Yes, these smart devices can connect with the home WiFi.
What is the benefit of that? Well, once it is connected to the internet, we can control that device using our smartphone. For this, we install the compatible mobile application and all the settings start appearing on our mobile phone.
For example, you can control the Philips Hue bulbs using its mobile application Philips Hue .
Another amazing thing is that it will also let you control these devices using your voice commands, yes! For this, you will also connect these devices with your favorite voice assistants like the Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa .
Now, you understand the basic concept. To make a proper smart home, you can add as many as possible smart devices. Here comes the problem of managing all the applications for each smart device you install!
There are smart hubs in the market to solve this problem. You can connect multiple smart devices with a single smart hub to let you control all the appliances from one place.
Let’s recap:
- You purchased a smart device
- Connect with the internet and install it in the desired place
- Add more smart devices in the home
- Purchase a smart hub to control these devices
- and your Smart Home is ready
What is home automation?
So, a smart home is a group of smart devices. Once we installed these smart appliances, then comes the automation.
In the home automation, we make a group of smart home devices and assign a specific task for a specific time. For example, you can set a schedule for your smart bulbs that it automatically turns off when you go to the bed.
Google called it Routine and Alexa called it Skill . You can check the settings of the voice assistant you are using for further instructions.
Smart Home Pros
A smart home has many advantages, like ease of use, energy efficiency, automation, time-saving, and much more.
Ease-of-use: Some people are not comfortable with the access technology. For them, a smart home might not be a much more attractive thing.
But if you analyze deeply, you will see every appliance in the smart home is easy to use. Most of the appliances are automated and you don’t have any need to manually go on or off them. And you are controlling the rest of the appliances with your voice commands, which is great ease of use. All this is also great for elders .
Energy Saving: These modern technologies can learn your behavior to know when more energy is needed. Then, it will automatically save energy from the times when there isn’t a need for it. For example, a smart thermostat .
It is a smart way of saving energy. Think about it, how much energy can you save annually? 30%.
You can also check the energy consumption. Where is the energy going and then you can make decisions with the data to save the energy.
Remote Operations: It is the best benefit of having a smart home. It allows you to control it from every corner of the world. Imagine if you are at the office and forgot that either you turned off the fan or not?
With a smart home, you can check and command your home appliances while sitting anywhere in the world.
Automation: You can entirely automate your routine tasks with these modern internet-of-things. For example, when you wake up, the lights will turn on automatically, and your coffee maker will make a coffee for you.
You just go, pick up the coffee and enjoy. Similarly, when you sit on the couch, automation will automatically switch on your TV.
Time-Saving: Turning on/off home appliances manually takes time and effort. But with a smart home, you can do it while staying in the comfort of the couch.
It is also like heaven for lazy persons like me.
Smart Home Cons
Like the pros, intelligent homes also have some downsides.
Expensive: Smart home tech is damn expensive. As it is a relatively new tech, a few people can afford it only.
A starting smart home can cost you around $10000+.
Monthly or yearly expensive: a few companies like Ring also promote their subscription plans. This increase the extra cost.
First, you purchase their product, which is expensive, by the way. Then you will pay them monthly for a lifetime.
Security risks: smart home entirely depends on the internet by which a hacker can get into your home! It is the biggest threat.
Although, companies are investing to improve their security loopholes. But still, the risk is there. Learn more: can a smart home be hacked
Privacy Concerns: a smart speaker or hub is the one who is listening to you all the time to obey your order. Here privacy concerns arise. What if it is also recording your personal conversations? Who is using these audios?
Well, you can technically turn off the microphone and cut off its power, but still, privacy concern is there.