A smart home consists of devices that use computer networks to allow the remote monitoring and control of certain aspects of the home, such as heating or lighting.
By offering homeowners security, convenience, and energy efficiency through the automation of various household tasks, Smart home devices and systems often operate together to share consumer usage data, automate actions based on homeowners’ preferences, and provide other advantages.
Examples of smart home technologies include:
In nearly every aspect of daily life where technology has entered the domestic space—from lightbulbs to dishwashers—there is now a smart alternative.
Smart home pros and cons
Home automation gives homeowners peace of mind, allowing them to monitor their homes remotely and protect against dangers such as a forgotten coffee maker left on or an unlocked front door.
Domotics can also benefit seniors and the elderly by providing monitoring that allows them to remain at home comfortably—and safely—rather than moving into a nursing home or requiring 24/7 care.
A smart home can be programmed to perform various actions upon the arrival of its user, such as pivoting on lights and playing music. Homeowners can use home automation systems to make their lives easier. For instance, a smart system could learn when its users leave for work in the morning and turn off the air conditioning before they get home so that it’s not on all day while no one is around.
An irrigation system connected to the Internet can monitor weather and soil conditions to determine when water should be delivered. Home automation systems reduce the amount of energy, water, and other resources used by a home. It helps to protect natural resources while also saving money for those who implement these technologies in their homes.
However, home automation—from lights and locks to thermostats and entertainment systems—has struggled to become mainstream due in part to its technical nature. The drawback of smart homes is that some people see them as being too complicated to use or give up on the technology after encountering one inconvenience. Smart home plants and alliances are working on making their products more appealing to customers by simplifying the user experience.
For home automation systems to work effectively, devices of different makes must be able to intercommunicate with each other and use the same language. Although home automation is a new market, it needs a universal standard for connectivity and control. Industry alliances are partnering with manufacturers to develop protocols that ensure interoperability—the ability of different systems to exchange information so they can work together —and ease of use for the end user.
In addition to home security, many smart-home opponents worry about data privacy. A report by NTT Data found that 73% of consumers are concerned regarding the privacy of the data shared by their devices—and for a good reason: research has shown how easily internet companies can mine and monetize household information. While smart home device and medium manufacturers may collect customer data to better tailor their products or deliver new and improved services, trust is critical if they want customers’ continued business.
The benefits of smart homes/smart home implementation
New homes may have smart home infrastructure during construction, while older houses can be retrofitted with the necessary technology. While X10 and Insteon are still used in many systems, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (or wireless transmission) are more common now.
Zigbee and Z-Wave are the most common The House automation communications protocols today. Both create short-range, low-power radio signals that allow devices to talk with one another. Though both target the exact smart home applications, Z-Wave has a much greater range (30 meters) than Zigbee’s 10 meters. It gives it an advantage over its competitor, which is also perceived as more complex due to having multiple chip manufacturers. In contrast, Z-Wave chips are only available from Sigma Designs.