Internet of Things (IoT) has changed the way through which people access the world around them. Sophisticated home and kitchen appliances such as refrigerator, washing machines, thermostats etc. have become IoT devices and it has made all easier to automate our home’s activities. Homeowners can manage all aspects of their home from lighting and security to the locks and home appliances with a click of a button or a voice command. The renowned Internet of Things is still expanding, and is slowly bringing changes in human life, which are more convenient, faster and more secured accommodation.
In this article, we will discuss how IoT devices are changing the home automation systems currently in the market, use of IoT devices and how you can start making smarter home.
1. IOT and Its Working Model Applied to Home Automation
a. What exactly is the Internet of Things?
- Internet of Things (IOTs) are objects or things that are in some way connected to the Internet and can gather information or data as well as transfer it. IoT are supplemented with sensors and software that enable the devices to connect directly with each other or their users through smart phones, tablets or through voice applications.
- In the sphere of home automation IoT helps the homeowner to control and monitor other devices from a distance. From setting the temperature in the house, lighting up the house, or even closing the main door, to monitoring the cameras, IoT devices keep the management of a home easy and natural.
2. Best IoT gadgets to use at home
The market for smart home IoT systems presents customers with various gadgets to improve comfort and safety. Some of the most popular IoT devices include:
a. Smart Thermostats
- A smart thermostat such as Nest Thermostat or Ecobee enables the user to adjust the temperature of the inside of the house from a distance. These devices can adapt to your preferred temperature and regulate heating in a way that will conserve energy whilst still giving you the comfort you need. Some can sense when you are not home, and modify temperature setting to reduce heating and cooling bill charges.
b. Smart Lighting
- Smart bulbs include Philips Hue or LIFX; allows users to control lighting in their homes, vary the intensity and even choose color. Some smart lighting system can be controlled through voice, you can say ‘turn on the light’ or ‘switch off the light’.
- Smart lighting also is programmable to come on/off at certain times of the day, or based on your presence in or out of a certain room.
c. Smart Locks
- Smart Lock brings an additional feature of convenience and security to the traditional door lock. Smart locks such as August smart lock or Schlage encode enable the homeowner to lock or unlock his/her door from Smartphone or simply using voice commands. Some of the smart locks can therefore operate door locks and control access with keyless options, or allow visitors and other service providers limited access.
d. Smart Security Cameras and Doorbells
- Technologies like Ring, or Nest Cam allow homeowners to watch their home and property from any location in real time. These features including movement detection and two way audio enables you to see who is at the door or monitor other parts of your house .
- There are connected doorbells like the Ring Video Doorbell that can show you who is at your door or let you talk to anyone at the door without having to open the door.
e. Smart Plugs and Appliances
- Smart plugs enable the user to remotely switch or adjust appliances connected to it through a Wi-Fi connected gadget. Our smart home devices allow you to switch lights, fans, coffee makers, and other devices on or off via your smartphone or your voice, or set timers on when those devices should be turned on automatically.
- Some of the benefits are that one can control their refrigerator, washing machine and even oven from a distance, which leads to additional comfort and energy saving. For instance, a smart refrigerator can be able to calculate the items inside, recommend recipes, as well as restock groceries when they are out of stock.
f. Smart Sensors
- Smart sensors are essentially multi-purpose gadgets that can be utilized to effectivly track any segment of your home ranging from the temperature and moisture content of the air within your home to the quality of the air that exists within your homes environment. These sensors can cause specific reactions such as switching on a fan, air purifier when the temperature is high or air quality is low.
3. Some Advantages of Home Automation using IoT Appliances
The use of IoT devices brings several advantages to improve the quality of life at home, and to turn a house into an intelligent, secure, and environmentally friendly place.
a. Convenience and Comfort
- To be able to manage home devices from the smartphone, tablet or voice command is an added advantage. No matter whether you’re coming home weary from work or simply relaxing on the couch you can control the lighting, heat or security settings without getting off the couch.
- Comfort is also realized because automation helps to change conditions in the house to fit your routines. For example, a thermostat can potentially preheat your house, or a light bulb can be designed to switch on when you step into a particular room.
b. Importance of Energy Efficiency and Associated Cost Savings.
- Energy efficiency is perhaps one of the many ways through which IoT devices has had a positive impact on home automation. Smart thermostats for instance assist homeowners to effectively reduce both heating and cooling expenditures by automatically regulating temperature in relation to usage and residents. Also, smart lighting systems can automatically switch off the light when the rooms are empty, as a result eliminating wasteful usage.
- Accumulatively, the above stated energy-conserving measures result in a huge difference on the bills to be paid to the suppliers.
Conclusion:
Smart devices have made us transform our homes dramatically by introducing more comfort, energy, safe-guarding and no-more worry. That is why even smarter and ‘cleverer’ home automation is possible because of the constant advancement in technology. Thus, the use of IoT devices at homeowners’ homes becomes the possibility to create a smart environment of living spaces that enrich the life of people. Whether it’s controlling the temperature using smartphone applications, watching video surveillance cameras from anywhere, or saving on electricity bills through efficient power usage, home automation is the new thing about the Internet of Things.