With the progress in technology, we have had our hope high on having a smart home with everything automated. We dreamed of most of these things – automatic vacuum cleaners, smart mirrors, wireless kitchen appliances, and many other things that would alter our lives forever. IoT smart devices are expected to reach a value of $40 billion by 2020 end, and $53 billion by 2022. Read also about the trends and forecast this year you’ll find Internet of Things (IoT)
These figures shouldn’t come to a surprise, especially when most of us dream of such convenience and can have it when it is actually available. It becomes a lot simpler to manage various operations because the IoT devices are interlinked. These devices also help in cost reduction and energy saving.
What is a smart home?
A smart home can refer to home automation. Many automated gadgets are a part of the Internet of things. The household gadgets made smart with internet connectivity or by connecting to other smart devices through your Wi-Fi router. A smart home is a home with such automated gadgets. The more gadgets, the better your home!
There is a wide range of devices boosted by IoT. This includes refrigerators, thermostats, security systems, dryers, kettles, Google Home, and Alexa.
How is IoT connected with home automation? Let’s take a look!
IoT is a term for all technologies that allow the connection of a gadget to the Internet. These frameworks rely on the collection of data. The data gets later used to examine, regulate, and transfer data to other devices through the Internet. This permits particular actions to be automatically triggered whenever specific conditions arise. For instance, consider a smart kettle. The kettle can get controlled to turn off after it reaches a particular temperature automatically. It might also notify the user of the same.
You can now apply the same concept to the entire home powered by IoT; it is referred to as a smart home. Rather than manually switching on the device and taking action, those actions can be done at the tap of a button. Nowadays, almost all smart IoT home automation gadgets enable you to regulate them with an app or voice commands.
Let’s look at the IoT innovations that can make our homes smart.
Google Home & Alexa
Almost all companies with proprietary frameworks support Google, Alexa, or both. This enables the users to control a spectrum of smart products from multiple brands, with a single speaker.
Many devices also work with Apple’s Siri assistant, but only Apple devices like iPhone, HomePod smart speaker, or the Apple Tv have the assistant inbuilt to operate as a central smart hub.
Manufacturers are slowly including these assistants to other gadgets as well. Latest TVs can receive the same commands as your smartphone or smart speaker via a microphone in the remote control.
Lightning
Nowadays, smart lighting is picking up. The lightning can get controlled to switch on and off and alter their intensity. With IoT advancing, this can be taken one step ahead in the coming days. With IoT empowered home, the lights can also respond to other things that you do.
For instance, the lights can respond to your home theater. They can switch off or dim whenever you begin watching a film. They can even react to the type of movie you are viewing. Suppose, if you are watching a horror show, the lights can go entirely off, giving you a real feel.
Doors
In the upcoming days, the doors can become smarter too. Think about the doors opening only when you enter or close. This is possible with a smart device or facial recognition.
This can also coordinate with lighting. For instance, the light can switch on when you walk inside through the door and switch off when you walk out of the door.
Windows
Yes, windows can be smart too. Now think of windows opening when the sun rises and closing when the sunsets. You can also control them to close automatically when it rains. You can consider the instance of a home movie. The curtains can lower when you are watching a film.
Thermostat
Nowadays, you can manage your home thermostat distantly through apps. In the future, this won’t be required too. The thermostat can identify if you are closer to your home. It will then inspect the room and the external temperature and adjust the one for you accordingly. It can even set the temperature according to your actions automatically, such as exercising or bathing.
Gardens
IoT can even make your garden smarter in the future. You can place the IoT detectors in the garden. If the detectors sense dryness in the soil, they will automatically activate the irrigation system. Automated lawn mowers can get automatically deployed if the grass surpasses a specific height.
Home routines
Much of your home can already get connected with smart gadgets. There are smart sockets that robotically switch on and off the devices. Smart alarms can turn on the music when you are awake or even give you news as per your settings. Voice assistants can also run the whole routines where the home appliances, lights, alarms, thermostats, and other gadgets get controlled.
Moving ahead, this will get expanded across your home. Consider the morning routine. The windows will open just before you wake up to support you get rid of exhaustion. The coffee maker will start your coffee preparations even before you are awake. The washroom will heat your water for your shower. Your music player will turn on some soothing music as you have your morning coffee. Your TV will automatically switch on and display your preferred news channel. And lastly, the thermostat will adjust as per your comfortable temperature.
Final Words
Above mentioned innovations are the future of IoT. Some all these are already in use, while some will arrive shortly. There are some hurdles to mass adoption of IoT empowered smart homes; the main one is cost. Another primary concern is privacy. There are also a few technological limitations that can be challenging in a smooth connection between various IoT devices. However, technology and our experts always have a way to solve them and offer us the best things. Gravum brings in smart solutions as part of our IoT expertise by unlocking the power of connected devices beyond only home automation
