The vastly growing Internet of Things trend is very exciting- there are new devices announced every day that connect to the internet to control something. The world is slowly filling up with connected devices, that ultimately make our lives easier. Connected devices are electronic devices, such as appliances, that are able to connect to the Internet. Soon, everyone will have the ability to purchase a product in which they can turn off their lights and close their garage when they are not home. We will be living in a world where everything is “smart.” It may be many years until people start utilizing these types of devices, but the technology is inherently available for everyone with a smartphone in their hand.
The future of IoT is home automation. You might be thinking, “Our homes have been automated for years, we open our garages with a remote, and turn on lights by just flipping a switch!” However, over the past few years, ‘home automation’ has transformed into an increasingly prominent trend for the development of the ‘smart home’. There is nothing impressive about opening a garage with a remote anymore, but there is about double-checking that you remembered to shut your garage by simply picking up your cell-phone when you are miles and miles away from your home.
Smart home automation systems have made it possible for users to do things such as: put their shades up, turn their lights on, adjust their thermostat, unlock their door, and turn their dishwasher on, all from a voice command, or a simple tap on the phone. All this is great, but what are the benefits of having a smart home?
Having a smart home is beneficial for many reasons including: control, convenience, savings and security:
Convenience: Having a smart home is simply convenient. Having your lights turn on when you walk in the room, or having your refrigerator alert you when you are out of eggs, is a convenient way to live.
Control: Individuals have always had control over things occurring while they are in their homes, but they now have control over their home when they are away at work, or at the store shopping.
Savings: Smart homes can cut down on energy and water usage in your home, which could also save you money in the long run. Wi-fi enabled lights, smart sprinklers, and controlled thermostats are all factors in home automation that can help you save on energy usage, and put money in your wallet!
Security & Safety: Devices connected to your smartphone, such as: smart sensors to detect: carbon monoxide, motion, heat, smoke and water leaks will all keep your home secure and safe. It will not take you until a week after you come home from a vacation to realize that water has been leaking. Any emergency that occurs in your home, you can know about right away and get an immediate solution.
Building a smart home is not as much of a hassle as it used to be. Today, home-automation technologies are way more user-friendly, accessible, and most importantly, way more affordable than they used to be. Adapting to the smart-home world can change your life, and it is as easy as screwing in a lightbulb!
