The smart home
The concept behind the smart home is that an automation system will be able to operate systems in the home. The variety of potential options is considerable and includes environmental systems (lighting, heating, climate control, etc.), entertainment systems, individual appliances, and home security systems. While the idea is that many operations can be automated, saving the home owner time and effort, these systems can also be controlled by the user. An example would be being able to set the heating to turn on later if you are coming home later or telling the entertainment system to find you suitable music for work.
There is great potential for smart home IoT solutions to change the way we live. The main ways include:
- Saving time. Many of the IoT smart home products are designed to get our hands off the various nugatory activities we have to do on a daily basis, leaving more time for important or enjoyable activities.
- Improving the quality of life. By making the home easier, healthier, and less stressful, smart home automation using IoT can help improve quality of life.
- Saving money. Fully utilizing IoT can save money on house operating costs, for example by reducing unnecessary heating or lighting bills and by integrating with smart grids to give the user greater visibility into the electricity they are using.
The health and safety benefits
One of the main areas that has been explored for smart homes is related to improving health. Various smart home IoT products have been developed that aim to monitor the state of the environment in the house. This includes, for example, monitoring the state of the air in a number of categories: humidity, temperature, dust, CO2, etc. This information is then transmitted to a control interface where the user (the home owner or occupant) can examine it and take appropriate action. Alternatively, this can be linked to other systems whereby automatic action can be taken to bring conditions back to the desired level, such as automatically turning on the cooling or air filtration systems.
Other appliance-based solutions that are on the market include refrigerators that can monitor the condition of food, verifying that it is not spoiled or the like, while automated cleaning can help reduce dust and dirt in the house.
Meanwhile, linking security systems with IoT has made homes safer. One of the most popular ways to do this is by using IoT-enabled cameras in or around a home that allow sending an image or video so that the home owner-occupant can verify the situation when absent or when they meet. in another part of the property. Often times, these types of devices have multiple built-in functions, such as automated motion sensors, sound detection, event-triggered video recording, and so on.
Future developments
It is generally accepted that there are three generations of home automation development so far:
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First generation: wireless technology with proxy server, eg Zigbee automation;
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Second generation: artificial intelligence controls electrical devices, for example, Amazon Echo;
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Third generation: robot friend who interacts with humans, for example, Robot Rovio, Roomba.
While state-of-the-art technology often makes the headlines, in many homes there is still substantial progress to be made with the first and second generation of systems. Often times, it’s systems tied to entertainment that get the most media coverage, and various personal home assistants – like Amazon’s Echo, Google Home, Sonos One, Apple HomePod, and others – have been particularly popular. With the growing and accelerating deployment and customer acceptance of smart home IoT tools and solutions, the demand for additional tools or services is likely to increase. The wide range of potential within the smart home will ensure that the IoT within the home continues to develop for years to come.
