What is a “smart home”? You might have heard this term thrown around, but what does it mean? In short, a smart home is a residence that has been equipped with technology that allows the occupants to control various systems and devices using a computer or mobile device. This could include anything from turning on the lights to adjusting the thermostat to locking the doors.
According to security systems Sydney owner Dave Williams, the idea of a smart home has been around for quite some time, but it has only recently become a reality thanks to the advent of affordable and easily accessible technology. Home automation can seem like a daunting task, but there are many companies out there that make it easy for even the most technophobic person to get started.
There are several different functionalities that a smart home can have. Let us take a look at some of the most popular ones:
You can have the house perform tasks using voice commands.
No need to get up and find your phone to send a text message you’ve been meaning to send for hours. Simply say, “Hey Alexa (or OK Google), Send a text message to [contact name]!” and it can be done in just seconds!
You can control the lights around your house with a simple command.
No more worrying if you left your living room lights on or off because now you can use voice commands to do all the work for you! With smart light bulbs, all you need to do is say, “Alexa (or OK Google), turn on bedroom lights.” and voila! The lights will turn on.
You can control the temperature of your house with a simple command.
If you are someone who likes to be in complete control of their environment, or if you just like to be comfortable, then this is the benefit for you! With smart thermostats, you can use voice commands to change the temperature in your house without even having to get up!
You can hide all of your devices so that visitors will not see them.
This one is especially great for people who are always hosting guests over at their house! With smart home automation, you can hide all of your devices so that your guests will not be able to see them. Not only does this keep things looking sleek and clean, but it will also prevent embarrassing moments for those who are not as tech-savvy as others (or those who do not want to seem like they are not as tech-savvy as others).
You can turn on the porch light without having to get out of the car!
This one is great for anyone who has a long commute home after work and would like a little extra help once they get close to their house. Instead of getting out of the car and walking over to the front door to turn on your porch light, just sit in the car and say, “Alexa (or OK Google), turn on front porch lights.” and voila! The light will be turned on.
You can program specific tasks for certain times of the day or night.
You could have all of the exterior lights at your house turn on at 7 am sharp every morning so that it will be easier to get ready in the morning without being blinded by a bright sunrise. Or you could have your coffee machine start brewing a fresh pot of coffee at 6:45 am every single weekday before work so that when you get to the office at 8 am, there will be a hot cup of coffee waiting for you. The possibilities are endless!
You can set up security cameras to keep an eye on your house while you are not there.
This one is especially great for those who like to travel! With smart home automation, you can set up security cameras to keep an eye on your house while you are away. This way, you will be able to relax and enjoy your vacation knowing that your home is safe and sound.
