“Smart home,” domotics, or smart homes are some words that have become fashionable in recent years, but what exactly do they mean?
What Is a Smart Home or Smart House?
In short, a smart home is a house, apartment, or place of residence equipped with a series of devices that automate the tasks you would normally perform.
Tasks as simple as automatically turning on the lights in a certain room with just a voice command or as complex as activating security cameras, answering through a “video doorbell,” and opening and closing the front door automatically, all through a mobile app.
Smart home technology, also known as domotics or home automation (from the Latin “Domus,” meaning house), not only provides its users with comfort, security, and energy efficiency but allows simple control of devices either through an app, interfaces such as tablets or switches, or voice commands.
For some people, turning a home into a smart home may be as simple as having a virtual assistant connected to the internet. For others, it may involve connecting several different devices, including speakers, cameras, computers, cell phones, light bulbs, televisions, security systems, appliances, and more.
But perhaps the most important thing about a smart home is the integration of all the devices, which often work together, sharing usage data with each other and automating actions based on the preferences of those who use them.
Why Have a Smart Home?
Now that you know what a smart home is, why should you equip your home with smart devices and have your smart home?
- Saving energy (and money) – For many, the main reason to get started with a smart home is the ability to save energy and money with automated heating, air conditioning, and lighting systems. Smart thermostats quickly and accurately automate space heating and air conditioning, reducing electric bills. Other elements, such as lights and appliances, can consume less energy by automatically turning off when not in use.
- Simplify daily tasks – For everyone, convenience is key, so it is obvious that this is one of the main reasons to start with our smart home. Elements as simple as smart lights can be turned on and off by voice commands, location rules, sensor detection, or even specific schedules.
- Safety and security – While you can install alarm systems to protect your home, smart homes can offer you extra security.
With connected sensors that will inform you through a notification on your cell phone if any of the alarms have been triggered, to being able to check through live video, not to mention integration with the lighting system.
- Manage the usual household chores – Why not use the technology at our fingertips to get rid of those tedious household chores, systems that adapt to our lifestyle, and not the other way around?
One of the most obvious devices is smart vacuum cleaners; however, we can also include other appliances such as smart refrigerators, which keep an inventory of food and inform us which ones are about to run out or why not, blinds that open or close automatically according to the weather or the time of day.
Devices that can adapt to our needs and make our daily tasks easier.
- It takes care of the entertainment – What could be better than a smart home, a place to enjoy, have fun and enjoy? With interconnected speakers, combined with AI-based digital assistants and lighting systems that recreate the perfect environment with just a voice command.
In Сonclusion
Smart home technology can make your life easier, more comfortable, and even more profitable with the right devices. And best of all, you don’t have to buy or install them all simultaneously. With the advice of a Control4 professional, you can gradually turn your home into a truly smart home according to your needs and budget.
