The Smart Home is the trend of the future. Our world is becoming more computerized and interconnected, and many of the everyday devices that share our homes are beginning to take part in what’s become known as the Internet of Things. In the past several years, remarkable advances in technology have allowed microchips to be made smaller and more cheaply, and easily integrated into some of our most mundane household objects.

We’re growing more sensitive to the increasing cost of energy and the environmental impact of choices that we make as consumers, and the market is demanding higher-efficiency and lower-cost options for the many machines that work for us on a daily basis. Advancements in product design have helped maximize the usage of electricity, gas, and water in our home appliances, and computerization has allowed those advances to go even further. These new technologies are enabling our devices to optimize energy usage, and they’re also providing extra measures of comfort and convenience in our busy lives.

Climate Control

Smart thermostats allow you to remotely control your climate systems, such as heating, cooling, and humidity, as well as set schedules. Some systems can communicate with your phone’s GPS to detect when you’re on your way home and activate systems to ensure that you’ll be comfortable from the moment you walk in the door. Smart vents are able to work in conjunction with your HVAC systems to further optimize climate control, closing off airflow to rooms that are rarely used or controlling temperature room-by-room.

Intelligent Lighting

Like an advanced version of those old-fashioned dial timers we used to plug our lamps into, smart lighting controls allow users to set schedules to turn individual lights on or off at certain hours. Beyond that, new technology enables sensors to detect when you’ve entered or exited a room and adjust lights accordingly or fine-tune the spectrum of the lighting to perk you up in the morning and calm you down as bedtime approaches in the evening.

 

Security Systems

There is a multitude of wi-fi enabled security systems on the market which allow the user to remotely view security camera feeds and other sensors, some of which are even equipped with cellular connectivity to provide an extra measure of safety in case your wi-fi connection fails. Satellite internet providers that offer advanced end-to-end encryption, such as BusinessCom, can also provide an added measure of security.

Gone are the days when you may have headed to work in the morning to realize halfway through the day that you forgot to lock the door on your way out. Now, with a smart door lock, you can simply pull out your phone, tap the button, and your home is securely locked. Perhaps that scenario will never occur because as you walked out the front door and out of range of your home wi-fi network, your phone sent a signal back to the house and locked the door for you!

Kitchen and Convenience

You’re at the grocery store and can’t remember whether you needed milk. Just pull out your phone and open the fridge to check! Smart refrigerators equipped with wi-fi cameras and information panels are just a single example of the plethora of kitchen and home gadgets that can make your life easier. Coffee makers, ovens, deep fryers, juicers, and even trash cans can be connected to the Internet of Things!

We’re only at the beginning of the smart home revolution. Many of these devices are very reasonably priced, and as the trend goes, they will drop in price as time goes on. Even though we’ve seen amazing advances in Internet of Things technologies, they’re still in their infancy. Only time can tell what’s next!

 

David Glenn

David Glenn

David Glenn is a home improvement expert. He occasionally freelance writes about home maintenance and DIY home repair. He’s also knowledgeable about topics like how to improve social presence and building a reputation online.