What is Home Automation?
Home Automation is the system that controls lighting, climate, entertainment systems and home appliances. It may also include home security such as access control and alarm systems. It provides homeowners security, comfort, convenience and energy efficiency by allowing them to control smart devices, often by smart home app on their smart phone and other networked device. When connected with the internet, home devices are an important constituent of the internet of Things. Smart home systems and devices often operate together, sharing consumer usage data among themselves and automating actions based on the homeowners’ preferences.
Why we need Home Automation?
Home Automation is the ideal way to save energy. The benefits of home automation typically fall into categories i.e. saving, safety, convenience and control. Some consumers purchase home automation for comfort and peace of mind. Home automation that provides some of the biggest benefits i.e.
- Safety: Many home automation technologies fall under the umbrella of home security. Consumers purchase these devices because they want to make their homes safer and more secure. Automated lighting thwarts would-be burglars, and motion sensors help people enter doors and walk hallways late at night.
- Saving: Smart thermostats and smart light bulbs save energy, cutting utility cost over time. Some home automation technologies monitor water usage, helping to prevent exorbitant water bills. Certain devices even offer rebates.
- Convenience: Because home automation technology performs rote tasks automatically, end users experience great convenience. Lots of smart gadgets are compatible with one another, and you can set different triggers between devices to automate regular home processes. For instance, you could set your smart locks to turn on your smart lighting when you unlock the front door.
- Control: Consumers also choose smart home devices to better control functions within the home. With home automation technology, you can know what’s happening inside your home at all times.
- Comfort: Some people use smart technology to record shows or to play music throughout the home. Connected devices can also help create a comfortable atmosphere—they provide intelligent and adaptive lighting, sound, and temperature, which can all help create an inviting environment.
- Peace of Mind: Finally, many consumers invest in home automation technology for peace of mind. A new mom or dad can check on their little one thanks to smart cameras and other technologies. Or, if you can’t remember whether you closed the garage after you left, you can verify remotely with an app.
Despite these benefits, it could still take some work to convince people of how great home automation can be.
What kinds of things can be part of a home automation system?
Anything that can be connected to a network can be automated and controlled remotely can be part of a home automation. Home automation connects simple binary devices. This includes “on and off” devices such as light, power outlets and electronic locks, but also device such as security sensors which have only two states, open and closed.
Where home automation becomes truly “smart” is in the Internet-enabled devices that attach to this network and control it. The classic control unit is the home computer, for which many of the earlier home automation systems were designed. Today’s home automation systems are more likely to distribute programming and monitoring control between a dedicated device in the home, like the control panel of a security system, and a user-friendly app interface that can be accessed via an Internet-enabled PC, smartphone or tablet.
Manufacturers have produced a wide variety of “smart” devices, many of which are full of innovative features but few of which offer the kind of integration needed to be part of a complete home automation system. Much of the problem has been that each manufacturer has a different idea of how these devices should be connected and controlled. So while you may have a “smart” TV, washing machine, refrigerator, thermostat, coffee maker or any of the other Internet-ready household devices on the market, the end result is usually a separate control scheme for each device.
In the near future, home automation may be standardized to let us truly take advantage of all of these additional possibilities. For the time being, the home security providers that specialize in home automation have focused on the most critical and useful parts of a connected home. At a basic level, this means the doors and windows and environmental devices (thermostat, smoke detectors, temperature, humidity, fire and carbon dioxide sensors) that keep you safe and comfortable. For additional real-time security, convenience and control, home automation systems from security providers should also include options for video cameras. With the best systems, you’ll also be able to include lights and individual electrical outlets into your home automation package.
