Follow
While totally connected houses are not yet here you can set up your own smart home device by device.
Smart house devices have already been invented, just that they are not yet connected to each other. However, you have access to shades that lift by themselves when you just say ‘good morning’, light-controlling thermostat or the phone you can use to turn on the coffee machine while you are still in bed.
Strategy Analytics – a research company – has estimated that 1 in 5 homes in the United States have some kind of smart-home system.
According to Samsung’s smart-home business (SmartThings) co-founder Andrew Brooks, most people buy their first smart-house products for security, such as smart locks and smart garage doors. Brooks also says that Samsung’s new generation of smart TVs will be able to act as a smart-home hub.
If you don’t want to replace all your lights and other small home-devices you can make them smart(er) by buying a smart plug which allows voice command to turn the plugged-in devices on and off.
One configuration of smart house can be started with a Nest camera which allows you to watch your house through an app on your smartphone. Smart plugs can be connected with HomeKit system developed by Apple and your lights and other devices can be connected to the plugs. So if for example when you leave for vacation you can check on the Nest cam if you forgot the lights on. If you did, you can tell Siri to turn them off since it is connected to the HomeKit, connected to the smart plug.
If you are worried about security, besides smart locks and garage doors you can also install motion sensors and sync them with a SmartThings hub. This way you will be alerted if anyone gets inside your house without your permission.
When you go to sleep you can activate the voice command for your TV and lights to turn off when you tell them ‘good night’.
What is good is that all these devices are not necessary bought at the same time. You can start with the ones you truly need and then as the budget allows you, just add more to increase your comfort. You could eventually end up having some smart sprinklers which turn off when they feel your presence so you will always have your grass wet and your clothes dry.
Image source: freeimages
